Which pairing is incorrect?

Which pairing is incorrect?

• A. Scotophobia — fear of darkness
• B. Ophidiophobia — fear of snakes
• C. Arachnophobia — fear of spiders
• D. Arachibutyrophobia — fear of darkness

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that these phobia names are built from roots that point to what is feared. Scotophobia is fear of darkness, ophidiophobia is fear of snakes, and arachnophobia is fear of spiders. The long word arachibutyrophobia actually means fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. Therefore, pairing arachibutyrophobia with darkness is the incorrect one—the fear described is peanut butter on the roof of the mouth, not darkness. The other pairings are consistent with their roots.

The key idea is that these phobia names are built from roots that point to what is feared. Scotophobia is fear of darkness, ophidiophobia is fear of snakes, and arachnophobia is fear of spiders. The long word arachibutyrophobia actually means fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. Therefore, pairing arachibutyrophobia with darkness is the incorrect one—the fear described is peanut butter on the roof of the mouth, not darkness. The other pairings are consistent with their roots.