In the following question, some of the words in the passage have been left out. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer to each question out of the four alternatives and fill in the blanks.
The REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle is a sleep stage (1)_____ by rapid eye movements, low muscle tone throughout the body, and vivid dreaming. It is a deeply fascinating stage of our sleep that plays a (2)_____ role in brain development and mental health. During a normal night, our body cycles through different sleep stages every ninety minutes. REM sleep is the final stage of this cycle, occurring mostly in the early morning hours. It gets its name because our eyes rapidly dart back and forth behind our closed eyelids, signalling (3)_____ brain activity. To protect us from physically acting out these wild dreams and hurting ourselves, our brain temporarily (4)_____ our major muscles. This temporary lockdown is called muscle atonia. Neurologists view the REM cycle as the brain's ultimate overnight cleanup crew; it (5)_____ our daily emotions, sharpens our memory, and stores everything we learned during the day.
What should come in blank 5?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer: Processes
Explanation
• The passage describes the restorative and organizing functions of the brain during REM sleep, comparing it to an "overnight cleanup crew."
• Processes means to systematically handle, organize, or assimilate information and feelings, making it the most contextually appropriate fit alongside "sharpens our memory" and "stores everything we learned."
• The other options—ignores (disregards), invents (fabricates), and suppresses (forcibly holds back)—do not align with the constructive cognitive role highlighted in the sentence.