To determine the correct word to fill in the blank, we need to understand the context of the sentence provided. The sentence is: "Mr. Mehta, a biologist, spends three seasons in the US and returned with clear perceptions of that ______ and uninhabitable place."
The key phrase here is "uninhabitable place." Let's analyze each option in the context of this phrase:
Based on these analyses, the word "deserted" is the most fitting choice because it clearly conveys the idea of an uninhabited and uninhabitable place.
Thus, the correct sentence is: "Mr. Mehta, a biologist, spends three seasons in the US and returned with clear perceptions of that deserted and uninhabitable place."