Direction: Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space with four-word or a group of words given. Select whichever word or group of words you consider the most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the answer sheet accordingly. The difficult thing about (1)_________the science of habits is that most people when they hear about this field of research (2)______ to know the secret formula for quickly changing any habit. If scientists have discovered how (3)______ patterns work, then it stands to reason that they (4)________ have also found a recipe for rapid change, right? if only it (5)_________ that easy. It's not (6)________ formulas don't exist. The problem is that there isn't one formula for (7)_________ habits. There are thousands. Individuals and habits are (8)_________ different and so the specifics of diagnosing and changing the patterns in our lives differ from person to (9)________ and behaviour to behaviour. Giving up cigarettes is different (10)________ curbing overeating, which is different from changing how you communicate with your spouse, (11)_______ is different from how you prioritize tasks at work. What's more, each person's habits are (12)______ by different cravings. As a result, this book does not (13)________ one prescription, Rather, I hoped to deliver something else: a framework for understanding (14)_________ habits work and a guide to experimenting with how they (15)________ change. Some habits yield easily to analysis and influence. Others are (16)______ complex and obstinate and require prolonged study. And for others, change is a (17)_______ that never fully concludes. But that does not (18)_______ it can't occur. Each chapter in this book explains a different aspect of why habits exist and how they function. The framework (19)___________ in this section is an attempt to distill, in (20)_________ very basic way, the tactics that researchers have found for diagnosing and shaping habits within our own lives.
What would come in place of 2
want
Understanding the Science of Habits Passage: Filling Blank (2)
The question asks us to select the most appropriate word to fill in blank (2) in the provided passage about the science of habits. The sentence containing blank (2) is: "most people when they hear about this field of research (2)______ to know the secret formula for quickly changing any habit."
Let's analyze the sentence structure to determine the correct verb form for blank (2).
Analyzing the Subject and Verb
The main clause of the sentence is "most people ... (2)______ to know...". The subject of the verb at blank (2) is "most people". The word "people" is a plural noun, and "most" modifies it, indicating a plural subject.
The passage generally uses the present tense to discuss the nature of habits and the research field. The phrase "when they hear about this field of research" uses the present tense verb "hear". This suggests that the main verb in the independent clause should also be in the present tense.
Evaluating the Options
We need a present tense verb form that agrees with the plural subject "most people". Let's look at the options provided:
- wanting
- wanted
- wants
- want
- Wanting: This is a present participle. It's often used with a form of 'be' (e.g., 'are wanting') or in continuous tenses, or as a gerund/participial phrase. Standing alone as the main verb here would be grammatically incorrect in this structure.
- Wanted: This is the past tense form of the verb 'want'. The context of the passage is primarily in the present tense, describing current beliefs and facts about habit science. Using the past tense here would be inconsistent with the surrounding text.
- Wants: This is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb 'want' (used with he, she, it, or singular nouns). The subject is "most people", which is plural. Therefore, "wants" is incorrect for a plural subject.
- Want: This is the base form of the verb, used as the present tense form for plural subjects (I, you, we, they, plural nouns) and also with 'I' and 'you'. Since the subject is "most people" (plural), "want" correctly agrees with the subject in the present tense.
Therefore, the grammatically correct and contextually appropriate word for blank (2) is "want". The completed sentence segment reads: "most people when they hear about this field of research want to know the secret formula..."
Subject-Verb Agreement in Present Tense
This question highlights the importance of subject-verb agreement in the present tense. For most verbs in the present tense:
- Use the base form of the verb (e.g., want, go, play) with plural subjects (they, we, you, plural nouns) and with 'I' and 'you'.
- Add '-s' or '-es' to the base form (e.g., wants, goes, plays) with singular subjects (he, she, it, singular nouns).
Since "most people" is a plural subject, the correct verb form is "want".
| Subject Type | Example Subject | Present Tense Verb (want) |
|---|---|---|
| Singular (3rd person) | He, She, It, A person | wants |
| Plural | They, We, You, People | want |
| 1st/2nd Person | I, You | want |
Revision Table: Key Grammar Point
| Grammar Concept | Explanation | Application in Question |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Agreement | The verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. | Subject "most people" is plural. Verb must be plural form ('want'). |
| Present Tense Usage | Used for general truths, facts, habits, and ongoing situations. | Passage discusses general aspects of habit science. Present tense is appropriate. |
Additional Information: Understanding Habit Science
The passage discusses the challenges of understanding and changing habits. It emphasizes that there isn't one simple formula because habits and individuals are highly variable. This complexity means diagnosing and changing habits requires personalized approaches. The science of habits explores the neurological, psychological, and behavioral processes behind how habits form and how they can be modified. Key concepts in habit science often include cues, routines, rewards, and cravings, and how these elements interact to create automatic behaviors.
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