Question 131·Medium·Words in Context
In her keynote address, environmental activist Aiko Tanaka criticized worldwide reliance on disposable plastics, arguing that such products _____ the planet with waste that persists for centuries.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words in Context questions, first read the full sentence and identify the tone (positive, negative, neutral) and the basic situation being described. Pay special attention to any phrases around the blank that show cause and effect or describe the result (here, "with waste that persists for centuries"). Then, plug each choice into the sentence and quickly eliminate any that sound too positive, too mild, or illogical in context. Among the remaining options, choose the one that most precisely matches the scale and type of action implied by the sentence, not just a word that seems vaguely similar.
Hints
Pay attention to the tone of the sentence
The speaker is an environmental activist criticizing disposable plastics. Is she describing something good or bad happening to the planet?
Look closely at the phrase after the blank
The phrase "with waste that persists for centuries" tells you what is happening to the planet. Think about how that waste is affecting the Earth.
Test each choice in the sentence
Read the full sentence with each option in the blank. Which verbs sound completely unrealistic or too positive when combined with "the planet with waste"?
Focus on scale and harm
The sentence suggests a large-scale environmental problem. Which choice best captures a strong, negative impact on the planet caused by this long-lasting waste?
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the overall context and tone
Focus on what the sentence is saying: Aiko Tanaka is criticizing disposable plastics and arguing they harm the environment. The phrase "waste that persists for centuries" shows this is about serious, long-term pollution. So the missing word must describe a negative, harmful effect on the planet caused by plastic waste.
Check the grammatical structure
Look at the structure of the clause: "such products _____ the planet with waste." The blank needs a verb that can take an object and be followed by "with" plus a noun, like "fill the planet with," "cover the planet with," etc. So we want a verb that sensibly describes what the products do to the planet, in a negative way, and that works naturally before "the planet with waste."
Evaluate and eliminate the illogical options
Test each choice in the sentence:
- "ornament the planet with waste" means decorate the planet with waste, which is illogical and too positive for pollution.
- "refurbish the planet with waste" means renovate or improve the planet using waste, which contradicts the idea of a serious environmental problem.
- "illuminate the planet with waste" means light up the planet with waste, which does not make sense; waste is not something that provides light. All three clash with the negative, harmful tone and do not describe pollution correctly.
Identify the precise word that fits the meaning
The remaining option, "inundate", means to flood or overwhelm something with a large quantity of something. Saying disposable plastics "inundate the planet with waste that persists for centuries" clearly and precisely expresses the idea that plastics are overwhelming Earth with huge amounts of long-lasting trash, so "inundate" is the most logical and precise completion.