In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives. Sentence for this blank: “Those nestlings could one day become a great biologist __________ a wildlife photographer or landscape artist to earn fame.”

Introduction / Context:
This cloze passage question tests your understanding of conjunctions, specifically how to link alternative possibilities in a sentence. The sentence talks about “those nestlings” (young people) who might grow up to choose among several nature related careers: a great biologist, a wildlife photographer or a landscape artist. You must select the conjunction that correctly connects “biologist” with “wildlife photographer”.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: “Those nestlings could one day become a great biologist __________ a wildlife photographer or landscape artist to earn fame.”
• Options: nor, but also, but, or.
• The phrase already contains “or landscape artist” after “wildlife photographer”.
• We are listing alternative career paths, not contrasting or excluding in a negative way.

Concept / Approach:
To list choices or alternative options, English most frequently uses the conjunction or. The pattern “a great biologist or a wildlife photographer or landscape artist” presents three possible roles. Nor is typically used after neither and is associated with negative constructions. But and but also express contrast or an addition in a correlative structure (“not only … but also …”). Here we do not have “not only” in the sentence, so but also would be incomplete and incorrect. Therefore, or is the appropriate conjunction to use.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Recognise that the sentence is listing different professions: biologist, wildlife photographer, landscape artist.For listing alternatives, the default conjunction in English is or.Insert or: “a great biologist or a wildlife photographer or landscape artist”.Check flow: the sentence now smoothly presents three possible future careers for the nestlings.Check other options: nor, but also and but do not fit the structure or meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
Examine each option in context:“a great biologist nor a wildlife photographer …” – incorrect, as nor requires a preceding neither and is used in negative structures, which we do not have.“a great biologist but also a wildlife photographer …” – would require an earlier “not only” to balance “but also”.“a great biologist but a wildlife photographer …” – sets up a contrast that is not intended here; the sentence is about choices, not opposites.“a great biologist or a wildlife photographer or landscape artist …” – correctly presents three alternative possibilities.Thus, or is the only logically consistent choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nor is used with neither, as in “neither a biologist nor a wildlife photographer”, which is a negative construction. That is not the structure in this passage. But and but also signal contrast or emphasis in correlative pairs; without “not only”, but also is incomplete and grammatically faulty. Plain but implies a contrast or exception rather than a list of options. Since the writer is highlighting different possible careers rather than contrasting them, these conjunctions are unsuitable.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be attracted to but also because earlier or later lines in similar passages sometimes use “not only … but also …”. However, unless you see the full correlative pair in the text, inserting but also on its own creates an error. For listing careers, hobbies or items, rely on the simple and very frequent coordinating conjunction or (for alternatives) or and (for combined options). This straightforward approach will help you handle many cloze questions reliably.

Final Answer:
The correct conjunction to fill the blank is or, giving: “Those nestlings could one day become a great biologist or a wildlife photographer or landscape artist to earn fame.”