In the same passage about guru dakshina, choose the correct word to complete the blank in the sentence: "The concept of gurudakshina is very ancient and it is ________________ to the Indian culture and tradition."

Introduction / Context:
This cloze question continues from the passage on guru dakshina and asks you to choose an adjective that describes how this concept relates to Indian culture and tradition. The passage suggests that gurudakshina is deeply characteristic of India and not shared in the same way by other cultures, so the correct word must reflect exclusive association.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Sentence fragment: The concept of gurudakshina is very ancient and it is ________________ to the Indian culture and tradition. - Options: unique, rare, different, particular. - The blank describes the relationship between gurudakshina and Indian culture.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase unique to is a standard collocation used to indicate that something exists only in or is characteristic only of a particular place, group, or culture. Saying that the concept is unique to the Indian culture and tradition therefore means that this practice is distinctively Indian. Rare simply indicates low frequency, different expresses contrast without exclusivity, and particular is too vague without additional detail. Thus, unique is the most appropriate choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider the standard expression unique to, which is used widely in descriptive writing. Step 2: Insert option A into the sentence: it is unique to the Indian culture and tradition. This sounds fluent and meaningful. Step 3: Try option B: it is rare to the Indian culture and tradition. This is not a standard phrase and does not clearly state exclusivity. Step 4: Try option C: it is different to the Indian culture and tradition. This is grammatically awkward and does not describe a concept that belongs to that culture. Step 5: Try option D: it is particular to the Indian culture and tradition. Although particular to can sometimes be used, unique to is more natural and stronger in meaning. Step 6: Conclude that unique gives the best collocation and captures the intended idea.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine similar sentences you may have read in textbooks: Yoga is a practice unique to Indian tradition or This festival is unique to this region. The pattern unique to followed by a culture or region is familiar and idiomatic. In comparison, rare to or different to in such sentences would sound unusual or incorrect, which confirms that unique fits best in the passage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rare focuses on frequency and does not indicate that something belongs specifically to a culture. Gurudakshina is not just rare; it is characteristic of a tradition. Different simply suggests that one thing is not the same as another, but does not express the idea of being closely associated with a particular culture. Particular can sometimes mean specific, but particular to is weaker and less idiomatic than unique to in this context, and exam keys normally favour the more common collocation.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse rare with unique, assuming both mean special. However, rare means uncommon, while unique means one of a kind or exclusively associated. Keeping this distinction clear is important for reading and cloze tests. Paying attention to common phrases like unique to, endemic to, or typical of in reading practice will help in similar questions.

Final Answer:
unique correctly completes the sentence, giving the phrase it is unique to the Indian culture and tradition.