Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 2.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. defects.
Context: The line says: “…alcohol use by women (1) ____ pregnancy was the cause of physical and mental birth (2) ____ in children.”
The missing word must describe the negative outcomes at birth caused by alcohol use.
Meaning of the words:
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Defects = faults, problems, or abnormalities (correct here).
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Process = a series of actions (does not fit in context).
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Collects = gathers (completely unrelated).
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Affection = feeling of love (opposite meaning).
Correct word: The correct word is defects.
Reason: Alcohol use during pregnancy causes birth defects (physical and mental abnormalities). Other options don’t match the idea of harmful effects.
Final Sentence: “In 1981, the US Surgeon General issued a public health warning that alcohol use by women during pregnancy was the cause of physical and mental birth defects in children.”
Hence, the chosen option will be correct.