Read the given passage and choose the correct answer for the questions given below. The impacts of our ever-growing economy have become so___1___ ( stark , clear , opaque ) and so widespread that they are by any___2___( demented , sane , rough ) measure, portents to catastrophe. Whether it’s the fact that Antarctic ice is now melting three times faster than we thought or the unfolding “biological___3___( destruction , construction , annihilation ) ” that has already wiped out 50% of all animals and up to 75% of all insects , or the fact that, in spite of all this, we are pumping out CO2 at record levels , it takes willful ignorance or a blinding ideology to deny the severity of the crisis.This creates a terrible paradox: Economic growth keeps economies stable today, but threatens not just future growth but medium-term social and civilizational___4___( cohesion , solidarity , confusion ) and ultimately the very capacity of this biosphere to sustain life. A paper published in theProceedings of the National Academy of Scienceslast year suggested that “the window for effective action is very short, probably two or three decades at most.” And that even this dire___5___( triumph , prediction , plummet ) is considered “conservative” by the authors, “given the increasing trajectories of the drivers of extinction.” In terms of practical politics, that means acting immediately, preferably yesterday.Most politicians deal with this___6___( paradox , redux , coarse ) by ignoring it. It’s by far the easiest option; one afforded every incentive and reward by this political economy and the beliefs that underpin it. This belief system has been dominant for a long time now. We are, as a society, deeply comfortable with it, which means many of its core___7___( assumptions , beliefs , dearth ) are considered unassailable–too obvious to question. The most profound being this idea that growth is always good.
Choose the correct word/set of words to fill the 4th blank.
solidarity, cohesion
Understanding the Passage and Blank 4
The given passage discusses the negative impacts of continuous economic growth, highlighting how these impacts threaten the environment and societal stability. The sentence containing blank 4 is: "Economic growth keeps economies stable today, but threatens not just future growth but medium-term social and civilizational___4___( cohesion , solidarity , confusion ) and ultimately the very capacity of this biosphere to sustain life."
The blank is followed by a list of potential words: cohesion, solidarity, and confusion. The question asks us to choose the correct word or set of words from the provided options that best fills this blank, considering the choices offered within the blank itself.
Analyzing the Options and Context
Let's consider the meaning of the words offered in the blank:
- Cohesion: The act or state of sticking together tightly; unity.
- Solidarity: Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
- Confusion: A state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something; a state of disorder.
The passage argues that economic growth threatens "social and civilizational ___". The context implies that unchecked growth leads to problems (like environmental destruction) that could undermine the unity, stability, or order of society and civilization.
Both 'cohesion' and 'solidarity' represent positive states (unity, mutual support) that could be threatened by negative impacts. 'Confusion' represents a negative state (disorder) that could be a result of these threats.
The question asks to choose from the external options, and the provided correct answer text lists "solidarity, cohesion". This indicates that the intended correct fillers for the blank, from the original choices (cohesion, solidarity, confusion), are considered to be 'solidarity' and 'cohesion'.
Let's look at the provided options for the question:
- confusion, cohesion
- cohesion
- solidarity, cohesion
- confusion
- solidarity
Option 3, "solidarity, cohesion", matches the set of words indicated as correct by the provided correct answer text. This suggests that the question is asking which option lists the words from the original blank choices that are considered correct in the context.
Therefore, based on the provided correct answer text, the appropriate option is the one listing "solidarity, cohesion".
Conclusion
The blank requires words that describe aspects of social and civilizational well-being or structure that are threatened by economic growth. Both 'solidarity' (mutual support, unity) and 'cohesion' (unity, sticking together) fit this context as things that could be eroded by the consequences of unsustainable growth. The provided correct answer aligns with option 3, which lists both these terms.
The correct word/set of words to fill the 4th blank, based on the options and provided answer, is "solidarity, cohesion".
Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in blank space (1)?
What would come in blank space (2)?
What would come in blank space (3)?
What would come in blank space (4)?
What would come in blank space (5)?
