In the following passage, there are blanks each of which has been numbered.…
2025
In the following passage, there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers correspond to the question numbers; against each question, five words have been suggested, one of which fills the blanks appropriately.
Banks have a long history and have _____(1)______economies and politics for centuries. The development of central banks, responsible for the monetary policy of their country and with supervisory powers over banks, _____(2)______ that financial institutions do not behave recklessly or fraudulently. In most countries, the central bank is state-owned and has a minimal degree of_____(3)______ to allow for the possibility of government intervention in monetary policy. While commercial banks serve individuals and businesses,_____(4)______ the flow of money and thus supporting economic transactions, the central bank's function is to maintain economic_____(5)______ by storing and regulating the flow of money, much as various organs in the human body regulate the production and flow of blood, including the production and flow of red and white blood cells, to support the health of the body as a whole.
Find the appropriate word in case 2.
- A.
concludes
- B.
addresses
- C.
ensures
- D.
alters
Attempted by 191 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct answer: ensures
Definitions of the choices:
concludes: to bring to an end or to infer/deduce.
addresses: to deal with or attend to an issue.
ensures: to make certain or guarantee that something will happen.
alters: to change or modify.
Why 'ensures' is correct:
Grammatical fit: The blank is followed by a 'that' clause, so we need a verb that naturally takes a 'that' clause. 'Ensures' is commonly followed by 'that' and fits the sentence structure.
Semantic fit: The context describes a role of central banks in overseeing financial institutions. The verb should convey making certain or guaranteeing proper behaviour; 'ensures' carries this meaning.
Why the others fail: 'concludes' indicates ending or deducing, not guaranteeing; 'addresses' means to deal with an issue but is not naturally used with a following 'that' clause here; 'alters' means to change, which does not match the intended meaning.
Therefore, 'ensures' correctly completes the sentence: "The development of central banks ... ensures that financial institutions do not behave recklessly or fraudulently."