In the same passage about guru dakshina, choose the correct word to complete the blank: "If you are absolutely ______________ about India, then it is advisable that you first try to understand the meaning of a guru."

Introduction / Context:
This cloze test item asks for a word that describes someone who lacks knowledge about India. The sentence suggests that such a person should first learn about the concept of a guru in order to understand guru dakshina. Thus, the correct answer must directly express ignorance or lack of knowledge, rather than general innocence or metaphorical blindness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Sentence fragment: If you are absolutely ______________ about India, then it is advisable that you first try to understand the meaning of a guru. - Options: unknowing, unknowledgeable, naive, blind to. - The blank describes the reader's level of knowledge about India.

Concept / Approach:
The adjective unknowledgeable directly indicates that a person does not know much about a subject. The preposition about naturally follows it, as in unknowledgeable about Indian culture. Unknowing is more literary and usually appears with of rather than about. Naive refers to lack of worldly experience and sophistication, not specifically lack of information. Blind to is a phrasal expression, but it suggests wilful ignorance or refusal to see, rather than simple lack of knowledge. Therefore, unknowledgeable is the best fit.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase pattern in English: absolutely ______ about India. Step 2: Insert option B: absolutely unknowledgeable about India. This phrase is grammatically correct and clearly means lacking knowledge about India. Step 3: Try option A: absolutely unknowing about India. This sounds unusual; unknowing usually takes of and is less commonly used to describe factual ignorance in modern English. Step 4: Try option C: absolutely naive about India. Naive about can appear in usage, but naive focuses on innocence or lack of sophistication, which is not as precise as lacking knowledge. Step 5: Try option D: absolutely blind to India. This suggests deliberate refusal to notice or appreciate India, which does not match the explanatory tone of the passage. Step 6: Conclude that unknowledgeable most clearly and directly fits the context.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the full sentence with the chosen option: If you are absolutely unknowledgeable about India, then it is advisable that you first try to understand the meaning of a guru. The sentence now clearly addresses readers who do not yet know much about India and offers them sensible advice. With naive, the focus subtly shifts from factual ignorance to general simplicity, which is not the main idea of the passage. With blind to, the tone becomes accusatory, suggesting unwillingness to see facts, which again does not match the teaching tone.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Unknowing is less natural with about and is often used of people who are unaware of specific actions or events, not entire countries or cultures. Naive is broader and refers to innocence or lack of sophistication, which may not describe someone who simply has not studied India yet. Blind to suggests that the person consciously ignores India or its culture, which is stronger and more negative than what the passage implies.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes choose words like naive because they have seen them used with about, without considering whether the nuance matches the passage. When answering cloze questions, it is important to check both grammatical fit and subtle meaning. Asking whether the author is criticising the reader or simply describing lack of information can guide you; here, the author is gently describing ignorance, so unknowledgeable is the most accurate match.

Final Answer:
unknowledgeable is the correct word to complete the sentence.