In the same context, choose the verb that best completes the ending phrase "and _____________ what other countries with comparable socioeconomic indicators have achieved" to show that India performance falls behind others.

Introduction / Context:
The final cloze item in this passage compares India performance in reducing undernourishment with that of other countries. The partial phrase reads "and _____________ what other countries with comparable socioeconomic indicators have achieved". The correct verb must express the idea that India progress is behind the progress of those countries. This kind of comparative statement is common in development reports and requires familiarity with specific verbs used to express lagging performance.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The phrase is "and _____________ what other countries with comparable socioeconomic indicators have achieved". - Options are "leads", "fails", "lags", and "falters". - The preceding text states that India progress has been modest at best. - The passage wants to show India is behind, not ahead, of comparable countries.

Concept / Approach:
In comparative performance language, the verb "lag" is commonly used to express that someone or something is behind others, typically with "behind" as a preposition. For example, "The country lags behind its neighbours in literacy." When used without "behind", as in "lags what others have achieved", the idea of falling short is still clear in context. The verbs "lead" and "fail" do not capture this specific comparative nuance, and "falters" focuses more on stumbling or weakening rather than consistent underperformance relative to others.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider option a, "leads". If the sentence read "and leads what other countries have achieved", it would imply that India is ahead, which contradicts the earlier description of modest progress. Step 2: Consider option b, "fails". "Fails what other countries have achieved" is not grammatically natural; "fails to match" would be needed, and the structure of the sentence does not include "to match". Step 3: Consider option c, "lags". "And lags what other countries with comparable socioeconomic indicators have achieved" communicates that India performance is behind that of those countries, which fits the context. Step 4: Consider option d, "falters". "Falters what other countries have achieved" is ungrammatical and does not provide a clear comparison. Step 5: Therefore, the only verb that expresses the intended idea of falling short compared to others is "lags".

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, place the option in a slightly expanded version of the phrase: "Our track record has been modest at best, and lags what other countries with comparable socioeconomic indicators have achieved." This clearly indicates that India is behind its peers. Substituting "leads" would reverse the meaning and contradict the evaluative tone. Using "fails" or "falters" would require different grammatical structures to be correct. The fit of "lags" with typical development and economic writing confirms that it is the appropriate choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a "leads" is wrong because it suggests India is ahead of other countries, which conflicts with the description of modest progress. Option b "fails" is wrong because it is not followed by "to" and does not create a grammatical or standard comparative construction. Option d "falters" is wrong because it means to stumble or weaken temporarily and does not naturally combine with the object "what other countries have achieved".

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus only on the negative tone of a verb instead of the exact comparative meaning. Both "fails" and "falters" have negative connotations, but they do not express the idea of being behind others in a measured way. By contrast, "lags" precisely captures the notion of slower progress compared to a benchmark. Paying attention to how development reports phrase such comparisons can help learners build a more accurate sense of which verbs fit this context.

Final Answer:
The correct verb to complete the phrase is lags.