Question:medium

Directions: Replace the number with the word(s) that best fit(s) the meaning of the passage as a whole.

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.

Choose the option that best fits blank (50).

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The blank continues a list of shortcomings alongside "gaps in our knowledge" and "(49) of our observations"; pick the word meaning a lack of depth.
Updated On: Jul 20, 2026
  • Showiness
  • Resistance
  • Certainty
  • Superficiality
  • Plausibility
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

This is a three-item list, so the fastest way in is to see what the other two items in the list are doing before picking the missing word.

The sentence lists three things the author draws attention to: gaps in our knowledge, the (49) of our observations, and the (50) of our theories. All three are weaknesses, not strengths, because the sentence closes by saying these weaknesses show that many aspects of planetary evolution must be better understood.

So blank (50) needs a word meaning some kind of weakness in our theories. Superficiality directly means a lack of depth, so it fits naturally: the theories are only superficial, not deeply worked out. None of the other words carry that same sense when paired with theories. Certainty directly contradicts the passage's point, Showiness and Resistance make no sense in this context, and Plausibility only says the theories seem believable, which is not the same as saying they are underdeveloped.

Hence the answer is (d) Superficiality.

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