Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 2.

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and
select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
When trees are illegally or irresponsibly cut, forest ecosystems are (1)______. Their ability to
store carbon, shelter wildlife, filter water, and to provide food, products, and jobs for
(2)______ is compromised. Global forest loss also leads to more greenhouse gases in the
(3)______. This is much more than what comes from all cars, trucks, trains, planes and ships
in the world. But when forests thrive, they absorb carbon dioxide and (4)______ down climate
change. Protecting forests does much more than just keep trees standing because forests are
the (5)______ of the planet and serve as the home, market and apothecary of people living on
it.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is option 4, i.e. people.

Context: The sentence talks about how forests provide essential benefits such as food, jobs, and shelter for a group of humans.

Meaning of the words:

Human – Used as an adjective or singular noun, not suitable when talking about a group.
Persons – Grammatically correct but less commonly used in general contexts like this.
Personalities – Refers to famous or known individuals, not suitable here.
People – Common and appropriate plural word used for groups of humans.

Correct word: “People” fits well because we are talking about all those who benefit from forest resources—a group of humans.

Reason: The line says – “...to provide food, products, and jobs for (2)______ is compromised.” So the noun should refer to many humans. The most natural and commonly used word in this context is people.

Final Sentence: ...to provide food, products, and jobs for people is compromised.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.

SSC Selection Post 2022 PYQ — Question 9