Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: evolved
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This cloze test question continues the same passage on gurudakshina and the traditional role of the guru in Indian culture. The line you must complete is "In ancient India, a teacher or a guru was a spiritually _____________ guide." The focus here is on finding an adjective that naturally describes a guru's level of spiritual development, fitting both grammar and meaning. This tests your sense of collocation and subtle vocabulary usage.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
When we talk about a person's spiritual state, we commonly use the expression "spiritually evolved" to mean advanced in spiritual growth, wisdom or enlightenment. This is a set phrase in English and religious or philosophical writing. Words like "enlarged", "grown" and "enhanced" do not fit naturally between "spiritually" and "guide" when describing a person. The approach is to identify which adjective collocates correctly with "spiritually" and makes sense in describing a guru as a developed spiritual teacher.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the target phrase: "a teacher or a guru was a spiritually _____________ guide."
Step 2: Think about common expressions: people often talk about "spiritually evolved souls" or "a highly evolved spiritual master".
Step 3: Test "enlarged": "spiritually enlarged guide" sounds odd; we enlarge objects or areas, not usually a person's spirituality.
Step 4: Test "evolved": "spiritually evolved guide" sounds natural and widely used; it clearly conveys advanced spiritual development.
Step 5: Test "grown": "spiritually grown guide" is grammatically possible but not idiomatic; we say "he has grown spiritually" rather than using "grown" as an adjective here.
Step 6: Test "enhanced": "spiritually enhanced guide" also sounds technical or mechanical, as though spirituality were a feature on a device.
Step 7: Conclude that "evolved" is the best-fitting and most idiomatic word.
Verification / Alternative check:
The phrase "spiritually evolved" appears frequently in spiritual discourses, books and lectures to describe gurus, sages and enlightened beings. It suggests that the person has progressed through inner growth and transformation. Re-reading the full sentence with "evolved"—"In ancient India, a teacher or a guru was a spiritually evolved guide"—shows that it is both grammatically smooth and semantically precise. No other option offers such a good fit.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Students may be tempted by words that indicate improvement, such as "enhanced" or "grown", because they vaguely suggest development. However, English often uses specific fixed combinations, and "spiritually evolved" is a recognised collocation, especially in religious or philosophical contexts. Always consider not just the dictionary meaning of a word, but also how it commonly appears with other words in real usage.
Final Answer:
The blank should be filled with evolved, giving "a spiritually evolved guide".
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