Analyzing the Passage: Human Interaction with Animals

The provided passage discusses how humans interact with different types of creatures based on whether they perceive them as harmful or useful. We need to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 3, which describes the human attitude towards useful creatures.

Let's look at the relevant part of the passage:

"Man wages war against the creatures which he 1 ______ harmful even when his warfare makes 2 _______ or no difference to the numbers of his enemies. He 3 ______ those creatures that are useful."

The first sentence tells us that humans fight against creatures they consider harmful. The second sentence contrasts this action with how they treat creatures that are useful. The word for blank 3 should represent an action or attitude opposite to "wages war against".

Examining Options for Blank No. 3

Let's evaluate each option provided for blank number 3:

• decides: If we insert "decides", the sentence becomes "He decides those creatures that are useful." This doesn't make grammatical or logical sense in the context of how humans treat useful animals.
• favours: If we insert "favours", the sentence becomes "He favours those creatures that are useful." To "favour" means to support, prefer, or treat with special kindness. This fits perfectly as the opposite action to "waging war against". Humans prefer and protect creatures they find useful.
• proves: If we insert "proves", the sentence becomes "He proves those creatures that are useful." This phrase is grammatically incorrect and doesn't fit the meaning of the passage. You might prove *that* something is useful, but you don't "prove" a creature itself in this context.
• declines: If we insert "declines", the sentence becomes "He declines those creatures that are useful." To "decline" means to refuse or to decrease. This is the opposite of how humans would treat creatures they find useful; they would likely encourage or protect them, not refuse or decrease them.

Determining the Correct Word

Comparing the options, "favours" is the only word that logically and grammatically completes the sentence and provides the required contrast with the action taken against harmful creatures. Humans protect and support useful animals, which is accurately described by the word "favours".

Therefore, the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3 is "favours".

The completed section would read: "He favours those creatures that are useful."

Revision Table: Key Concepts

Additional Information: Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary

This type of question tests your ability to understand the context of a passage and choose words that fit both grammatically and logically. When filling blanks, always read the sentences before and after the blank to grasp the full meaning. Consider the tone and the relationships between different parts of the passage.

Understanding vocabulary is crucial. Knowing the meanings of words like "favours", "declines", "wages war", "harmful", and "useful" allows you to make the correct choice. Practice with synonyms and antonyms can also help in such questions.

In this passage, the structure clearly sets up a comparison between how humans treat creatures based on their perceived value (harmful vs. useful). The word chosen for blank 3 must reflect a positive treatment contrasting the negative treatment of harmful creatures.