In the same passage on science and religion, consider the sentence: "Science relies on experiment, whereas religion is based on experience. Any religious _____ whether it is that of Christ or of Ramakrishna is personal and subjective." Select the most appropriate word to fill the blank.

Introduction / Context:
This cloze test sentence belongs to a passage that contrasts scientific and religious ways of knowing. The author has already stated that science relies on experiment and that religion is based on experience. The blank in this sentence continues that idea and focuses on what exactly is personal and subjective in religion. Choosing the correct word requires you to track key ideas and repeated terms inside the passage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Relevant lines: "Science relies on experiment, whereas religion is based on experience. Any religious _____ whether it is that of Christ or of Ramakrishna is personal and subjective."
• Options: experience, thought, festival, activity.
• The passage is discussing how religious knowledge comes from personal internal states.
• Names of spiritual figures such as Christ and Ramakrishna are mentioned as examples of religious lives or experiences.

Concept / Approach:
The passage draws a parallel between experiment in science and experience in religion. The first sentence already pairs religion with experience, so it is natural and cohesive for the next sentence to continue using the same key word. In a religious context, the experience of a saint or mystic is typically described as highly personal and subjective. Words such as thought, festival, or activity do not match this philosophical focus and do not echo the earlier phrase religion is based on experience.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the line immediately before the blank: religion is based on experience. This suggests that religious experience is the central idea. Step 2: Examine the structure of the sentence with the blank. It speaks of any religious something, whether it belongs to Christ or to Ramakrishna, being personal and subjective. Step 3: Evaluate the option experience. The expression religious experience is very common in religious studies and philosophy, and it naturally fits with the comment that it is personal and subjective. Step 4: Check thought. While religious thought is a valid phrase, it does not show the same strong contrast with scientific experiment, and thoughts are not always described as personal and subjective in the same way as mystical experiences. Step 5: Check festival and activity. Both words relate to external events or actions, whereas the passage is clearly discussing inner, personal encounters with the divine, rather than public celebrations or outward activities. Step 6: Conclude that experience is the only option that correctly matches the earlier line and the description personal and subjective.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert experience into the sentence and read it with the surrounding lines: Science relies on experiment, whereas religion is based on experience. Any religious experience whether it is that of Christ or of Ramakrishna is personal and subjective. This reading is coherent and logically consistent with the author's point that religious knowledge rests on inward experience rather than outward experiment. Replacing experience with thought, festival, or activity either weakens the contrast or changes the meaning entirely.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thought points to intellectual processes, but the passage emphasises direct inner encounters rather than theological ideas or doctrines. Festival would move the emphasis to public celebrations, which contradicts the description of something deeply personal. Activity is too vague and usually refers to outward actions, not inner states that can be described as subjective experiences.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes ignore earlier lines in a passage and try to solve each blank in isolation, which leads them to choose plausible sounding words like thought or activity. However, cloze tests are designed to reward careful tracking of repeated key terms. When a passage introduces a word such as experience as central to an argument, it is very common for the same word to appear again in subsequent blanks. Always scan the wider context before deciding on the final answer.

Final Answer:
The blank should be filled with experience, giving: Any religious experience whether it is that of Christ or of Ramakrishna is personal and subjective.