Analyzing the G20 Passage and Filling Blank 4

The passage discusses the G20, an international forum formed in 1999. It highlights its focus on global economic challenges such as international financial stability, climate change, and sustainable development. We need to select the most appropriate word to fill blank number 4.

Understanding the Context of Blank 4

The sentence with blank 4 is: "In 1999, the G20 was formed in (4) ______ to various global economic crises." This sentence explains the reason or trigger for the formation of the G20 in 1999. The blank requires a word that indicates the relationship between the formation of the G20 and the global economic crises.

Examining the Options for Blank 4

Let's look at the given options for blank 4:

1. retaliation
2. reply
3. response
4. result

Analyzing Each Option

Let's consider how each word fits into the sentence "In 1999, the G20 was formed in ______ to various global economic crises."

• Retaliation: This word means returning like for like, especially evil for evil. It implies a counterattack or revenge. The formation of the G20 was not an act of revenge against economic crises; it was a measure taken to address them. So, 'retaliation' is incorrect.
• Reply: This word typically means an answer, usually to a question or statement. While related to reacting, it doesn't fit the context of forming an organization "in reply to" crises. 'Response' is a more general term for reacting to events or stimuli.
• Response: This word means a reaction to something. Forming the G20 was a direct action taken as a reaction to the global economic crises of the late 1990s. The phrase "in response to" is commonly used to indicate that something was done as a reaction or answer to a specific event or situation. This fits the context perfectly.
• Result: This word indicates an outcome or consequence. The G20 was not formed "in result to" the crises; it was formed *because of* the crises, as a way to manage them. "Formed in result to" is also grammatically awkward and incorrect phrasing in this context.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word

Based on the analysis, the phrase "in response to" is the most natural and correct way to express that the G20 was formed as a reaction to the global economic crises. It clearly conveys the purpose and timing of the G20's creation.

Therefore, the most appropriate word to fill blank number 4 is 'response'.

The completed sentence is: "In 1999, the G20 was formed in response to various global economic crises."

Revision Table: Blank 4 Options

Additional Information: The G20's Formation and Purpose

The G20 was initially formed in 1999 at the level of finance ministers and central bank governors following the Asian financial crisis and other global economic instability. Its purpose was to bring together systematically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. The decision to elevate the G20 to the level of Heads of State or Government came in 2008, in the wake of the global financial crisis, further solidifying its role as a premier forum for international economic cooperation.