Analyzing the Bhutan Chemical-Free Food Passage

The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 3 in the given passage about Bhutan's chemical-free food and farming.

Let's look at the passage again:

“Everything in Bhutan is chemical-free, all fruits and vegetables are (1)______ organically, so whatever you buy is (2)______ farm produced as the (3)______ of the population indulge in farming for (4)______,” says my taxi driver Karma Chime. “We use turmeric on wounds, also to dye (5)______ and it is added extensively in our cooking. Also, many believe it is anti-cancer and can treat tumours.

We need to focus on blank (3). The sentence segment containing blank (3) is: “...as the (3)______ of the population indulge in farming for...”

This part of the sentence explains why most produce in Bhutan is farm-produced. It says that a certain group or proportion of the population engages in farming.

Analyzing Options for Blank (3)

Let's examine the given options for blank (3):

1. community
2. common
3. majority
4. mass

Now, let's consider how each option fits into the phrase “the ______ of the population” in this context:

• community: “the community of the population” is not a standard English phrase and doesn't convey a proportion.
• common: “the common of the population” is grammatically incorrect. We might say “the common people” or “it is common”, but not “the common of the population”.
• majority: “the majority of the population” is a very common and correct phrase. “Majority” means the greater part or number. If the majority of the population farms, it logically explains why most produce is farm-produced.
• mass: “the mass of the population” can sometimes be used to mean a large number of people, similar to “the masses”. However, “majority” is a more precise term for indicating the greater part or more than half, which fits the explanatory nature of the sentence better than the more general term “mass”. “Majority” directly implies that farming is a widespread activity involving the larger part of the population.

Comparing the options, “majority” is the most suitable word to describe a large proportion of the population that farms, providing a clear reason for farm-produced goods being widely available.

Therefore, the most appropriate option to fill blank number 3 is “majority”.

Revision Table: Understanding Key Terms

Additional Information: Context Clues in Passage Completion

When filling in blanks in a passage, it's important to look for context clues. This involves considering:

• Grammar: Does the word fit the grammatical structure of the sentence? (e.g., singular/plural, part of speech).
• Meaning: Does the word make sense in the sentence and the overall passage?
• Flow: Does the word connect ideas smoothly with the sentences before and after it?
• Collocations: Are the words commonly used together (like "majority of the population")?

In this passage, the structure "as the ______ of the population indulge in farming" requires a word that functions as a noun or pronoun referring to a part or group within the population. "Majority" functions as a noun here and provides a clear explanation for the preceding statement about farm-produced goods.