In the passage about the quest for a happy life, choose the correct word for the blank: "Hedonists have a _____ notion that happiness lies in the gratification of physical appetites."

Introduction / Context:
This sentence belongs to the same philosophical passage about happiness and human desires. It reads: "Hedonists have a _____ notion that happiness lies in the gratification of physical appetites." Hedonism is the doctrine that pleasure, especially physical pleasure, is the highest good. The blank must be filled with a word that correctly describes the character of this belief. The key is to understand that hedonistic ideas about happiness are very straightforward and focused on bodily pleasure.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Hedonists emphasise pleasure of the senses as the main or only component of happiness.
- Their doctrine is not complicated or multi dimensional; it centres on gratification of appetites.
- The options are "complex", "distinct", "varied", and "simple".
- The rest of the passage contrasts different views of happiness, suggesting evaluation of these notions.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase "simple notion" is commonly used to describe a belief that is straightforward, perhaps even too narrow. Hedonists see happiness almost purely as pleasure, which is conceptually simple. "Complex notion" would suggest a rich and multi layered philosophical theory, which does not match hedonism in this basic description. "Distinct" and "varied" are adjectives that do not convey the idea of simplicity or narrowness in focus. Therefore, "simple" is the most natural choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand hedonism: it is the view that pleasure or happiness equals satisfaction of physical desires. Step 2: Consider "complex notion". This would suggest that hedonists hold a highly intricate view, which contradicts the straightforward formula "happiness equals pleasure". Step 3: Consider "distinct notion". This only means "clearly different", not necessarily simple, and does not improve the sentence meaning. Step 4: Consider "varied notion". This would mean the idea changes or has many forms, again inconsistent with the clear definition provided. Step 5: Choose "simple notion", which matches both the directness of hedonist thinking and the structure of the sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert "simple" into the sentence: "Hedonists have a simple notion that happiness lies in the gratification of physical appetites." This reads naturally and emphasises that their view, while clear, may be too one dimensional. Other adjectives make the sentence either confusing or inconsistent with what we know about hedonism. The overall argument of the passage is more persuasive with "simple".

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- "complex": Misrepresents hedonism as something intricate when the given description shows it is direct and focused.
- "distinct": Adds almost nothing to the meaning; any philosophical view might be distinct without implying anything about its content.
- "varied": Suggests multiple changing ideas, but the sentence presents a single fixed belief about physical appetites.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates overthink and choose "complex", imagining that philosophical notions are always complicated. However, the sentence itself signals simplicity by reducing happiness to gratification of appetites. Always align your choice with both world knowledge and the precise wording of the sentence, rather than choosing the most impressive sounding adjective.

Final Answer:
The correct word is simple, giving the phrase "Hedonists have a simple notion that happiness lies in the gratification of physical appetites."