Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: record
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This cloze test item continues the discussion of India performance in addressing malnutrition. The phrase "Our track _________ in reducing the proportion of undernourished children" appears in many evaluations and policy reviews. The missing word must form a standard collocation that reflects a history of performance. Such nuances are important in reading development reports and interpreting policy language.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The phrase is "Our track _________ in reducing the proportion of undernourished children".
- Options are "progress", "record", "report", and "result".
- The surrounding context evaluates India efforts over a decade.
- The correct word must collocate naturally with "track".
Concept / Approach:
The common collocation in English is "track record", which means a documented history of performance or achievement in a particular area. Policymakers and analysts frequently refer to a country "track record in reducing poverty" or "track record in improving literacy". "Track progress" is less common and would usually be a verb phrase, as in "to track progress". "Track report" and "track result" are not standard expressions. Therefore the noun that must follow "track" here is "record".
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the fragment "Our track _________" suggests that a fixed phrase may be required.
Step 2: Recall the idiomatic expression "track record", which describes historical performance in a specific domain.
Step 3: Try option a, "progress": "Our track progress in reducing the proportion of undernourished children" does not sound idiomatic and mixes metaphors.
Step 4: Try option b, "record": "Our track record in reducing the proportion of undernourished children" is a standard expression that fits both grammar and meaning.
Step 5: Try option c, "report": "Our track report" is not a recognised phrase; one may speak of "our report" but not of "track report".
Step 6: Try option d, "result": "Our track result" is also not standard, and "result" is usually used differently in evaluative writing.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, consider similar contexts: "Our track record in reducing maternal mortality has improved," or "The company track record in innovation is strong." These examples show that "record" is the natural partner for "track". If you place "progress", "report", or "result" after "track" in such sentences, the phrases sound unidiomatic and forced. This confirms that "record" is the necessary word in the passage as well.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a "progress" is wrong because while progress relates to improvement, it usually occurs after "in" directly, as in "progress in reducing", rather than after "track".
Option c "report" is wrong because "track report" is not a common phrase, and the word order would normally be "report on our track record" if used at all.
Option d "result" is wrong because "track result" is not standard, and "result" would refer to outcome, not the history of performance.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes overlook fixed combinations like "track record" and pick a word that seems more directly connected to improvement, such as "progress". However, cloze passages often test knowledge of such collocations, not just general meaning. Regular reading of editorials and policy documents helps students internalise these fixed expressions and improves their performance in similar questions.
Final Answer:
The correct completion is record, giving the phrase "Our track record in reducing the proportion of undernourished children".
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