Find the synonym of the underlined word.
That railroads were the ultimate mode of transport was a widespread belief before the 20th century.
a)Contagious
b)Expansive
c)Common
d)Broad
e)Esteemed

Hint: A synonym is a word that is exactly the same or nearly similar in meaning to another word. Example- Dull is the synonym of boring.

Complete answer:

 Widespread refers to a common or general thing or situation that is distributed globally or internationally to a large number of people. The word widespread was first used in the late 17th century.
We know the meaning and the origin of the word widespread. Now, let’s look at its usage:
Example- Smoking is a widespread problem. Here, we can understand that smoking is a common international or global problem spreading at an extreme rate.
Let’s examine the given options-
a)Contagious- It refers to a disease that is infectious or transmissible. It is different in meaning to widespread. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
b)Expansive- It refers to something that is extensive or broad. It is different in meaning to widespread. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
c)Common- It refers to something that is general and universal. It is similar in meaning to widespread. Hence, it is the correct option.
d)Broad- It refers to something that is wide or large in size. It is different in meaning to widespread. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
e)Esteemed- It refers to someone or something that is highly respectable or valuable. It is different in meaning to widespread. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is Option ‘c’.

Note: Both common and widespread refer to something that is universally known and practiced.