Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 3.

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
In 1981, the US Surgeon General issued a public health warning that alcohol use by women (1)______________________ pregnancy was the cause of physical and mental birth (2)__________________ in children.This warning came in (3)___________________ to growing recognition that a group of (4)__________________ physical and mental impairments in children, now commonly known as foetal alcohol syndrome, were correlated with maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.Today, doctors and scientists (5)___________________ that as many as 1 in 20 US school children may exhibit some form of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, many of which cause lifelong challenges for those affected

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. response.

Context: The sentence says: “This warning came in (3) ______ to growing recognition …”
Here, the warning was issued as a reaction to the increasing awareness of the problem. The missing word must mean reaction.

Meaning of the words:

Repose = rest or relaxation (not suitable here).
Response = a reply or reaction to something (correct).
Repulse = to drive back or reject (wrong meaning here).
Recuse = to excuse oneself from a case because of conflict of interest (legal term, not related).

Correct word: The correct word is response.

Reason: The US Surgeon General’s warning was a response to (reaction to) the growing recognition of foetal alcohol syndrome.

Final Sentence: “This warning came in response to growing recognition that a group of severe physical and mental impairments in children … were correlated with maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.”

Hence, the chosen option will be correct.

SSC GD 2025 PYQ — Question 3