Analyzing Blank 2 in the Passage

The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank 2 in the given passage. The passage describes a farmer's experience with changing farming methods.

Let's look at the sentence containing blank 2:

"Another farmer’s cotton harvest increased from 10 quintals to 14 quintals (1)______ using pesticides and fertilizers on the suggestion (2)______ the local agriculture extension officer."

We need to fill the blank in the phrase "on the suggestion (2)______ the local agriculture extension officer". This phrase explains the origin or source of the suggestion that led the farmer to use pesticides and fertilizers. The suggestion came from the local agriculture extension officer.

Evaluating Options for Blank 2

Let's examine the provided options for blank 2:

1. of
2. to
3. for
4. with

We need to determine which preposition correctly connects "suggestion" to the source of the suggestion, which is "the local agriculture extension officer".

Based on standard English grammar, when indicating the source or origin of something like a suggestion, idea, or proposal, the preposition "of" is typically used. For example, "the idea of a picnic," "the proposal of the committee," or "the suggestion of the teacher."

In this specific context, "on the suggestion of the local agriculture extension officer" correctly means that the farmer acted based on a suggestion that originated from the officer.

Using "to" would imply the farmer was making a suggestion *to* the officer, which contradicts the narrative. Using "for" or "with" does not fit the standard grammatical construction for indicating the source of a suggestion.

Conclusion for Blank 2

The most appropriate word to fill blank 2 is "of". This makes the phrase "on the suggestion of the local agriculture extension officer", which clearly indicates that the officer was the source of the suggestion.

Therefore, option 1, "of", is the correct choice for blank 2.

Revision Table: Understanding Prepositions with "Suggestion"

Additional Information: Agriculture Extension Officers

An agriculture extension officer is a professional who advises farmers on agricultural techniques and practices. They often work for government agencies or universities and play a key role in transferring research findings and best practices from laboratories to farms. Their suggestions can cover various aspects of farming, including crop selection, pest management, fertilizer use, irrigation techniques, and post-harvest handling. Farmers often rely on the guidance of agriculture extension officers to improve their yields and profitability, as highlighted in the passage where the farmer's harvest increased significantly after following the officer's suggestion.