Understanding Context and Vocabulary for Fill-in-the-Blanks

The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank number 4 in the provided passage. To do this, we need to carefully read the sentence containing the blank and consider the meaning and grammatical function of each option.

Analyzing the Sentence with Blank 4

The sentence is: "So even if the (4)______ population of the planet could somehow be vaccinated (5)______ yellow fever, its eradication could not be guaranteed."

We are looking for a word that describes the "population of the planet" in the context of vaccinating *all* or *every* person on the planet.

Evaluating the Options for Blank 4

Let's look at the given options:

• Option 1: full
• Option 2: completely
• Option 3: absolute
• Option 4: entire

Let's analyze how each option fits into the blank:

1. full: "full population" is sometimes used, but it often implies 'full capacity' or 'full number'. In this context, referring to the *whole* global population, "full" isn't the most natural or common choice.
2. completely: "completely" is an adverb, meaning 'totally' or 'entirely'. It modifies verbs or adjectives. Grammatically, it cannot directly modify a noun like "population". So, "completely population" is incorrect.
3. absolute: "absolute" means 'definite', 'certain', or 'not relative'. While "absolute" can describe quantity in some contexts (like absolute zero or absolute majority), "absolute population" doesn't convey the meaning of 'the total global population' effectively in this sentence.
4. entire: "entire" means 'whole' or 'complete'. It is commonly used to describe the whole of something, like "the entire class", "the entire day", or "the entire population". This fits the meaning of 'the whole global population' perfectly in this context.

Selecting the Most Appropriate Word

Comparing the options, "entire" is the word that naturally and correctly completes the phrase "the ______ population of the planet" to mean 'the whole population of the planet'. The sentence talks about vaccinating everyone, indicating a need for a word that signifies the totality of the population.

Therefore, "entire" is the most appropriate choice for blank number 4.

Completed Sentence (Blank 4)

Putting "entire" into the sentence, it reads: "So even if the entire population of the planet could somehow be vaccinated..."

Revision Table: Vocabulary Choices

Additional Information: Language and Context

This question tests vocabulary and understanding of how words function in context. The passage discusses yellow fever eradication challenges, specifically highlighting the role of animal reservoirs. Words like "reservoir", "infect", "species", "mosquito", "bites", "vaccinated", and "eradication" are key to understanding the passage's topic: disease transmission and control.

Understanding words that describe quantities or groups, like "entire", "whole", "complete", etc., is crucial for accurately interpreting texts. In this case, "entire" clearly communicates that the vaccination scenario being considered involves every single person on Earth, emphasizing why eradicating yellow fever is difficult even under such extreme circumstances due to the animal reservoir.