Question

A computer program can provide information in ways that force students to --- learning instead of being merely ---- of knowledge.

• A. shore up.. reservoirs
• B. accede to.. consumers
• C. participate in .. recipients
• D. compensate for.. custodians
• E. profit from.. beneficiaries

Hint:

Look for keywords that signal relationships between different parts of a sentence. Words like "instead of," "while," "although," and "however" indicate contrast, which can help you predict the type of words needed for the blanks.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This sentence completion question tests vocabulary and logical reasoning. The sentence presents a contrast, indicated by the phrase "instead of being merely," between an active form of learning and a passive one. We need to select a pair of words that accurately reflects this contrast.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The structure of the sentence requires the first blank to describe an active role and the second blank to describe a passive role.
The phrase "force students to --- learning" suggests an active engagement.
The phrase "merely ---- of knowledge" suggests a passive role, simply receiving information without interaction.
Let's evaluate the options:
(A) To "shore up" learning means to support it, which is somewhat active, but being "reservoirs of knowledge" is a metaphor for holding knowledge, not passively receiving it. The contrast is not clear.
(B) To "accede to" learning means to agree to it, which is not the intended meaning of active engagement. "Consumers of knowledge" is a possible description of a passive role, but the first word doesn't fit well.
(C) To participate in learning is a clear description of an active role. Being mere recipients of knowledge perfectly describes the passive role. This pair creates a strong and logical contrast.
(D) To "compensate for" learning makes no sense in this context. "Custodians of knowledge" implies protecting knowledge, which is not the passive role described.
(E) To "profit from" learning is a possible outcome but not the action itself. "Beneficiaries of knowledge" is similar to recipients, but "participate in" provides a much stronger contrast.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The pair "participate in .. recipients" establishes the most precise and logical contrast between active engagement and passive reception. Therefore, option (C) is the correct choice.