In the following passage, some words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank. 'Morality is _____ with ethics and symbolises the doctrine of actions right or wrong.'

Introduction / Context:
This cloze test question comes from a passage contrasting morality, ethics and politics. The sentence 'Morality is _____ with ethics and symbolises the doctrine of actions right or wrong.' needs a verb that correctly collocates with 'morality' and 'ethics' to express the idea that morality is generally seen as the same thing as ethics. Examiners often test such academic style expressions in passages about philosophy, civics or social science.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sentence fragment: 'Morality is _____ with ethics and symbolises the doctrine of actions right or wrong.'
- Options: 'discussed', 'identified', 'recognised', 'rectified'.
- The passage is making a general statement about the relationship between morality and ethics.

Concept / Approach:
The most natural formal phrase here is 'Morality is identified with ethics', meaning that people often treat morality and ethics as the same or equate them. 'Identified with' in philosophical or academic writing means 'regarded as identical to'. 'Discussed with', 'recognised with' or 'rectified with' do not form standard collocations and fail to express this idea of being treated as the same thing. Therefore, 'identified' is the correct choice to complete the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the idea: the passage is likely stating that morality and ethics are closely connected and often considered equivalent. Step 2: Test 'discussed': 'Morality is discussed with ethics' sounds awkward and suggests a joint discussion rather than equivalence. Step 3: Test 'identified': 'Morality is identified with ethics' is a standard academic expression meaning morality is treated as the same as ethics. Step 4: Test 'recognised': 'Morality is recognised with ethics' is not correct usage; we usually say 'recognised as' or 'recognised for'. Step 5: Test 'rectified': 'Morality is rectified with ethics' does not make sense; 'rectify' means to correct something and does not take 'with ethics' as a natural complement.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider how textbooks talk about these concepts: they often say 'morality is often identified with ethics' or 'morality is closely related to ethics'. The verb 'identify' in passive voice plus 'with' is commonly used to express equivalence or close association. None of the other verbs form such a recognised phrase in philosophical writing. So 'identified' best fits both the grammar pattern and the philosophical discussion of concepts.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
'Discussed' is wrong because it focuses on debate or conversation and would normally be used as 'discussed along with', not 'is discussed with'. 'Recognised' is wrong here because 'recognised with' is not a standard combination; we might say 'recognised as equivalent to', but that wording is not offered. 'Rectified' is wrong because it means corrected or put right and does not describe a relationship between two abstract concepts like morality and ethics.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners see 'recognised' and think about respect or acknowledgement and may choose it mistakenly. Others may try to force a meaning onto 'discussed' or 'rectified'. In cloze tests, always pay attention to typical word pairings (collocations) in academic language. Phrases like 'identifed with', 'concerned with', 'related to' are common, while 'recognised with' or 'rectified with' are not. Learning such patterns helps you quickly eliminate unsuitable choices.

Final Answer:
The correct word to complete the sentence is identified, giving 'Morality is identified with ethics and symbolises the doctrine of actions right or wrong.'