In the following passage-based cloze test, select the linking word that best completes the final blank so that the sentence reads naturally: "_____________, society seems so indifferent."

Introduction / Context:
This question completes the reflective passage and tests your understanding of discourse markers or linking words that show contrast or result. The sentence is "_____________, society seems so indifferent." It follows sentences describing concern, silence, and emotional reactions of students. The author wants to highlight a contrast between the intense emotional responses and the wider society's lack of concern.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Previous lines mention students crying during discussions of disturbing events.
• The writer is surprised that the larger society remains unmoved.
• We need a connector that introduces this surprising contrast.
• Options are "Yet", "Thus", "Hence", and "So".

Concept / Approach:
"Yet" is a conjunction and adverb used to introduce a surprising contrast, similar to "however" or "nevertheless". In the passage, the fact that students cry shows deep sensitivity, but the wider society is still indifferent, which is paradoxical. "Thus" and "Hence" usually introduce logical results or conclusions, not contrasts. "So" expresses result in a more informal way. Therefore, the most suitable word to bring out the contrast between emotional reactions and social indifference is "Yet".

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the last two sentences together: "As a professor, I can recollect the number of occasions when my students have cried as we discussed such events in class. _____________, society seems so indifferent." Step 2: Notice that the writer is comparing the sensitivity of students with the indifference of society. Step 3: Test each link word: "Thus, society seems so indifferent", "Hence, society seems so indifferent", "So, society seems so indifferent". Step 4: Observe that these result markers do not reflect contrast; they would suggest that indifference is a logical consequence of earlier points. Step 5: Test "Yet": "Yet, society seems so indifferent" clearly shows that despite the strong emotional responses, the larger community remains uncaring, which is the intended contrast.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine the passage in full: the author describes concern about events, the possibility of "noncaring", silence, indifference, and students crying in class. Then they say, "Yet, society seems so indifferent." This flows like a typical reflective essay, where "Yet" introduces a surprising or disappointing reality. None of the other options capture this nuance of contrast as accurately.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b: "Thus" is used to introduce a conclusion or result, which does not match the idea of a contrast between sympathy and indifference. Option c: "Hence" similarly marks logical result or consequence, not a paradoxical contrast. Option d: "So" is informal and again expresses result, not the surprising opposition that the writer wants to highlight.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes memorise "thus" and "hence" as formal connectors and overuse them without checking whether they indicate result or contrast. It is very important to understand the function of each connector in context. Reading good essays and noting how writers move from one idea to the next will improve your sense of which linking word is appropriate.

Final Answer:
The appropriate contrastive linker is Yet, producing the sentence "Yet, society seems so indifferent.".