One of the general English spelling rules is: Double the consonant when adding a suffix that starts with?

The correct answer is that you should double the consonant when adding a suffix that starts with a vowel. This rule applies primarily to one-syllable words or words where the final syllable is stressed. For example, if you take the word "run" and add the suffix "-ing," it becomes "running," where the final consonant 'n' is doubled because the suffix begins with a vowel. Another example is "big" becoming "bigger."

This rule helps maintain the correct pronunciation and keeps the vowel sound short in words where it would otherwise become long if the consonant were not doubled. It's an essential aspect of English spelling that helps convey the proper form of words as they change in tense or when used in different grammatical contexts.

The other choices do not trigger the doubling of the consonant according to these spelling rules, which is why they don't apply in this context.