Understanding the Blank in the Sentence

The sentence we need to complete is: "The employees of our company are not ______ of their freedom." This sentence talks about the state of freedom among the employees of a company. We need to find a word that fits grammatically and makes sense in the context of someone having or not having their freedom.

Analyzing the Question: Employees' Freedom

The structure "not ______ of their freedom" suggests that the blank needs a past participle that, when combined with "not," indicates that the employees still possess their freedom or are allowed to exercise it. Let's look at the options provided.

Evaluating the Options

We have four options to consider:

• Option 1: denied
• Option 2: dissipated
• Option 3: deprived
• Option 4: deployed

Let's examine the meaning of each word and how it fits in the sentence.

Meaning of Each Option:

• Denied: This means refused access to something or refused to grant something. If freedom is "denied," it is not given or allowed.
• Dissipated: This means scattered or caused to vanish. It is often used for things like energy, money, or mist. Freedom cannot be "dissipated" in this sense.
• Deprived: This means prevented from having or using something, especially something essential. To be "deprived of freedom" means to have one's freedom taken away or restricted.
• Deployed: This means moved into position for military action, or brought into effective action. This word is irrelevant to the context of freedom.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word

The sentence states that the employees "are not ______ of their freedom". We need a word that describes the opposite of what is happening to their freedom. If they are "not ______ of their freedom", it means they *do* have their freedom.

Let's test the most plausible options:

• "are not denied of their freedom" - "Denied of" is not a standard English phrase. We usually say "denied freedom" or "denied access to freedom".
• "are not deprived of their freedom" - "Deprived of" is a standard phrase meaning "prevented from having". If they are "not deprived of their freedom", it means they are *not* prevented from having it, i.e., they *have* their freedom. This fits the context perfectly.

Comparing "denied" and "deprived": While "denied freedom" is a valid phrase, "deprived of freedom" is a very common and fitting expression when talking about the loss or restriction of freedom. The structure "not ______ of" strongly suggests that the word "deprived" is required to complete the common idiom "deprived of".

Options 2 ("dissipated") and 4 ("deployed") are clearly incorrect as their meanings do not fit the context of freedom at all.

Therefore, the most appropriate word to fill in the blank is "deprived".

The complete sentence reads: "The employees of our company are not deprived of their freedom."

Revision Table: Understanding Key Vocabulary

Additional Information: Using 'Deprived Of'

"Deprived of" is a common idiom used to describe a situation where someone is without something, often something important or necessary. It highlights the lack or removal of that thing.

Examples:

• The villagers were deprived of food and water during the flood.
• Children growing up in poverty are often deprived of educational opportunities.
• Being in prison means being deprived of your liberty.

In our sentence, saying the employees are "not deprived of their freedom" emphasizes that their freedom has *not* been taken away or restricted.