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 7
changing
Understanding Word Choice for Sentence Completion
The question asks us to fill in the blank labeled (7) in the provided text about the science of habits. Let's look at the sentence containing blank (7):
"The problem is that there isn't one formula for (7)_________ habits."
We need to choose the word or phrase that logically and grammatically completes this sentence, explaining what the formula is for in relation to habits.
Analyzing the Options for Blank (7)
Let's examine the given options:
- changing
- changed
- having changed
- changes for
Now let's consider each option in the context of the sentence:
- Option 1: changing
If we use "changing", the sentence becomes: "The problem is that there isn't one formula for changing habits."
In this case, "changing" is used as a gerund, functioning like a noun. It refers to the act of altering habits. A "formula for changing habits" makes perfect sense – it's a method or recipe for accomplishing the task of changing habits.
- Option 2: changed
If we use "changed", the sentence becomes: "The problem is that there isn't one formula for changed habits."
"Changed" is the past tense or past participle. "Formula for changed habits" doesn't grammatically fit the intended meaning. A formula is used to *cause* change, not for habits that have already been changed.
- Option 3: having changed
If we use "having changed", the sentence becomes: "The problem is that there isn't one formula for having changed habits."
"Having changed" is a perfect gerund. While grammatically possible in some contexts, here it implies a formula for the state of *having already completed* the change. This doesn't fit the natural flow and meaning of the passage which discusses the process of changing habits.
- Option 4: changes for
If we use "changes for", the sentence becomes: "The problem is that there isn't one formula for changes for habits."
This option is grammatically awkward and redundant. "Formula for changes for habits" repeats the idea of change unnecessarily and doesn't sound natural in English.
Comparing the options, "changing" is the only word that forms a grammatically correct and meaningful phrase "formula for changing habits". It clearly indicates that the formula is intended to facilitate the process of altering habits.
Conclusion on Word Choice for Blank (7)
Based on the analysis, the most appropriate word to complete the sentence at blank (7) is "changing". It fits the context of discussing methods or recipes used to alter habits.
The completed sentence is: "The problem is that there isn't one formula for changing habits."
| Blank Number | Sentence Context | Correct Word | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (7) | ...formula for (7)_________ habits. | changing | Refers to the act or process of altering habits, fitting the phrase "formula for [action]". |
Revision Table: Key Concepts
Reviewing the concepts helps in understanding sentence structure and vocabulary.
| Concept | Definition | Example in Context |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | A form of a verb, ending in -ing, that functions as a noun. | "Changing" in "formula for changing habits" acts as a noun representing the act of change. |
| Sentence Completion | Selecting the best word or phrase to fill a blank space in a sentence to make it grammatically correct and meaningful. | Choosing "changing" makes the sentence logical within the passage. |
| Contextual Clues | Words or phrases surrounding a blank that help determine the meaning and appropriate word. | "Formula for" indicates that a process or action related to habits is needed. |
Additional Information: The Science of Changing Habits
The passage discusses the complexity involved in changing habits. While scientists understand how habit patterns work (often described as a loop involving a cue, a routine, and a reward), there isn't a single, universal "formula" for everyone to change every habit easily.
- Habits are deeply ingrained behaviors.
- They are triggered by specific cues.
- Different habits serve different purposes and are driven by various cravings or rewards.
- Therefore, diagnosing and changing a habit requires understanding the specific cue-routine-reward loop for that individual and that particular habit.
- The passage suggests a framework for understanding how habits work and experimenting with ways to change them, rather than offering one simple prescription.
This context reinforces why a single "formula for changing habits" is presented as an ideal but unrealistic expectation.
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