Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
Countries like China and the United States invest ___________ in wind, hydro, solar and biofuels.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. heavily.
Context: The sentence talks about how countries like China and the United States invest in renewable energy sources. The blank needs an adverb that describes the degree or extent of investment.
Meaning of the words:
Heavily: To a great degree; intensely or extensively.
Profoundly: Deeply or extremely, usually in terms of emotion or understanding.
Absolutely: Completely or totally, often used for emphasis.
Achingly: In a way that causes or expresses a dull pain; also used figuratively to describe intense emotion (not suitable here).
Correct word: Heavily
Reason: “Invest heavily” is the correct collocation in this context. It means to put in a large amount of money or resources, which fits the idea of major countries supporting renewable energy sectors. The other adverbs do not match idiomatic usage with “invest”.
Final Sentence: Countries like China and the United States invest heavily in wind, hydro, solar and biofuels.
Hence, the chosen option will be correct.