Directions: Identify the statement(s) where the word given below has been used in a contextually and grammatically correct manner.

PEAL

(I) The chef carefully removed the citrus peal before adding the fruit to the blender.

(II) A sudden peal of thunder echoed across the valley during the storm.

(III) He decided to peal the potatoes before boiling them for dinner.

The correct answer is Only (II).

Let us analyze the meaning of the word PEAL and check the correctness of each statement:
• Peal (noun/verb): Refers to a loud sound or ringing, such as a peal of thunder, a peal of bells, or peals of laughter.
• Peel (noun/verb): Refers to the outer skin or rind of a fruit/vegetable, or the act of removing that skin.

Statement Analysis:
• Statement (I): "The chef carefully removed the citrus peal before adding the fruit to the blender."
This sentence refers to removing the outer skin/rind of a citrus fruit. The correct word here is peel, not "peal". Therefore, statement (I) is incorrect.
• Statement (II): "A sudden peal of thunder echoed across the valley during the storm."
Here, "peal" is used correctly to describe a loud sound or burst of thunder. Therefore, statement (II) is correct.
• Statement (III): "He decided to peal the potatoes before boiling them for dinner."
This sentence refers to removing the outer skin of potatoes. The correct verb to use here is peel, not "peal". Therefore, statement (III) is incorrect.

Hence, only statement (II) uses the word PEAL in a contextually and grammatically correct manner.