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 7th blank.
beliefs, assumptions
Understanding the Passage and Filling the Blank
The passage discusses the severe impacts of continuous economic growth on the environment and civilization. It highlights the paradox that economic growth, while providing stability today, threatens long-term sustainability and even the capacity of the biosphere to sustain life. The passage argues that denying the severity of this crisis requires "willful ignorance or a blinding ideology". It then talks about the "belief system" that underpins our political economy, stating that society is comfortable with it and many of its core ideas are considered unquestionable.
The specific sentence we need to focus on for the 7th blank is: "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."
Analyzing the Context of the 7th Blank
The sentence refers to the "core" of a "belief system". A belief system is built upon fundamental ideas, principles, or tenets. The blank needs to be filled with a word or words that represent these core ideas.
The potential words provided in the parentheses are: assumptions, beliefs, dearth.
- Assumptions: These are things that are accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. Core assumptions form the basis of a belief system or ideology. For example, the assumption that growth is always good is mentioned later in the passage as a profound idea of this belief system.
- Beliefs: These are acceptances that a statement is true or that something exists. Core beliefs are fundamental principles or values that are held strongly within a system of thought. Like assumptions, core beliefs are central to a belief system.
- Dearth: This word means a scarcity or lack of something. This meaning does not fit the context of describing the "core" ideas of a belief system. A belief system is characterized by its presence of ideas, not a lack of them.
Based on the analysis, both "assumptions" and "beliefs" are suitable words to describe the "core" ideas of a belief system. They represent the foundational tenets or principles upon which the system is built and which are considered "unassailable" (unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated).
Selecting the Correct Option for Blank 7
The question asks to choose the correct word/set of words from the provided options (1-5) to fill the 7th blank. The options are sets of words derived from the potential fillers listed in the passage parentheses.
Let's look at the options provided for the question:
- dearth, beliefs
- beliefs
- beliefs, assumptions
- dearth, assumptions
- assumptions, beliefs, dearth
We determined that both "assumptions" and "beliefs" fit the context of describing the core ideas of the belief system. "Dearth" does not fit.
Option 3 includes both "beliefs" and "assumptions". This set correctly identifies the two suitable words from the list provided in the passage parentheses that could describe the "core" of the belief system.
Therefore, the correct set of words that aligns with the context and the suitable fillers for the blank is "beliefs, assumptions". These are the core ideas that are considered unassailable within the dominant belief system.
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)?
