Question:hard

Directions: Replace the number with the word(s) that best fit(s) the meaning of the passage as a whole. Choose the best option for the blank marked (48).
It is _____ (46) to read a book about our planet by an author who does not allow facts to be _____ (47) by politics: well aware of the political disputes about the effects of human activities on climate and biodiversity, this author does not permit them to _____ (48) his comprehensive description of what we know about our biosphere. He emphasizes the enormous gaps in our knowledge, the _____ (49) of our observations, and the _____ (50) of our theories, calling attention to the many aspects of planetary evolution that must be better understood before we can accurately diagnose the condition of our planet.

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The author is guarding his factual description against a harmful effect of political disputes, so the missing verb should describe something negative, not something that strengthens or clarifies the writing.
Updated On: Jul 20, 2026
  • Analyse
  • Garble
  • Obscure
  • Enhance
  • Underscore
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Here the sentence describes the author actively resisting an effect that political disputes might otherwise have on his comprehensive account of the biosphere.
  • "Enhance" and "Underscore" both describe positive effects, strengthening or highlighting the description, but the author is shown guarding against the disputes, not welcoming their influence, so these do not fit.
  • "Analyse" is not something disputes do to a description; it is an odd, illogical pairing.
  • "Garble" means to distort or scramble a message, which is negative and closer to the intended sense, but it is an unusual word to use for a broad, comprehensive account rather than a single message or signal.
  • "Obscure" precisely means to make something unclear or hide it, which is exactly the negative effect political noise typically has on a factual account, and which the author is shown preventing.
The best fit for blank (48) is "Obscure," option (c).
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