In the passage about Bhagat Singh and British measures, choose the correct word to complete the blank: “Instead of finding the root cause of ________ of Indians, the British government took to more ____________ measures.”

Introduction:
Cloze passage questions assess your ability to understand context and select words that fit both meaning and collocation. The passage describes how the British government responded to Indian resistance by choosing harsh measures instead of addressing underlying causes. The blank in this sentence refers to what the British failed to address in relation to Indians as a group. Your task is to choose the noun that best completes the phrase root cause of ________ of Indians in a historically and grammatically appropriate way.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Sentence fragment: Instead of finding the root cause of ________ of Indians. - Options: discontent, problem, sadness, protest. - The context is colonial rule, political oppression, and the reaction of Indians. - The missing word should describe an underlying state that leads to resistance.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase root cause of is typically followed by a noun that describes a persistent condition or issue, such as root cause of unrest, injustice, or discontent. In the context of British rule in India, discontent is a natural fit because it refers to widespread dissatisfaction with policies and oppression. Problem is too vague and does not specifically describe the feelings of Indians. Sadness is mainly an emotional term used for personal grief, and protest refers to outward actions rather than underlying causes. Therefore, discontent best completes the phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase root cause of and recall common collocations like root cause of discontent or root cause of unrest. Step 2: Consider the historical setting: British colonial rule and the rising freedom movement. Step 3: Recognise that discontent refers to general dissatisfaction with a situation, which fits this context. Step 4: Evaluate problem and note that it is too broad and does not clearly express a collective feeling of dissatisfaction among Indians. Step 5: Observe that sadness usually relates to personal sorrow, not political or social frustration on a national scale. Step 6: Notice that protest is an external act of resistance rather than the internal cause the British government should have examined.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the completed sentence in the full passage: Instead of finding the root cause of discontent of Indians, the British government took to more repressive measures. This version clearly describes how the authorities ignored underlying dissatisfaction. If we insert problem, sadness, or protest, the sentence becomes awkward or less precise. For example, root cause of protest shifts the meaning to causes of actions rather than feelings, and root cause of sadness sounds emotionally narrow for a political context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Problem lacks specificity and sounds weak in a historical passage, where writers usually refer to discontent, unrest, or grievance. Sadness does not capture the organised political frustration and anger associated with colonial rule. Protest describes visible actions like marches and demonstrations, which are effects rather than the root causes being discussed. These words therefore do not match the intended nuance of the passage.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates choose words that are generally negative without checking whether they fit the exact phrase and context. To avoid this, always read a few lines before and after the blank in a cloze passage to understand the topic and tone. Also, learn common phrase pairs like root cause of discontent or root cause of unrest so that they come to mind quickly during the exam.

Final Answer:
discontent correctly completes the phrase root cause of discontent of Indians in the passage.