In this passage about cultural identity, choose the verb that best completes the sentence: “It has _______ just like a tree … ”

Introduction / Context:
The passage uses an extended metaphor comparing culture to a tree. After saying that the culture has never been closed, the writer states “It has _______ just like a tree, open to external influences but holding its roots hard.” The verb in the blank must fit both the image of a tree and the idea of gradual cultural development.

Given Data / Assumptions:

1) The sentence fragment is “It has _______ just like a tree”.
2) The options are: grown, risen, expanded, branched.
3) The earlier lines mention “rich cultural heritage” and roots in antiquity.
4) The next part says “open to external influences but holding its roots hard”.
5) The verb must capture natural, organic development over time.

Concept / Approach:
Trees “grow” from their roots and can also “branch”, “expand” or “rise”. However, in English we most commonly say “grown like a tree” to refer to organic development. When describing cultures or traditions, “grown” is the primary metaphorical verb. “risen” fits more with sun or prices, “expanded” with businesses or empires, and “branched” with specific parts rather than the whole entity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the metaphor: a tree develops over time; we talk about it as growing from its roots. Step 2: Test “grown”: “It has grown just like a tree” is a very natural and common expression for something that develops organically. Step 3: Test “risen”: “It has risen just like a tree” is unusual; trees grow upwards but we rarely say they “rise” like the sun or smoke. Step 4: Test “expanded”: “It has expanded just like a tree” sounds off; expansion fits better with territory or markets than with the image of roots and branches. Step 5: Test “branched”: “It has branched just like a tree” focuses only on division into branches, not overall growth, and is less standard. Step 6: Therefore, “grown” is the verb that best completes both the literal and metaphorical meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the extended metaphor with “grown”: “Ours has never been a closed culture. It has grown just like a tree, open to external influences but holding its roots hard.” This paints a clear picture of a culture that develops over time, responds to outside influences, yet remains rooted. None of the other options express this gradual, organic development as clearly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“risen” suggests a more sudden upward movement and is not the standard verb used with trees. “expanded” sounds technical or economic and does not match the natural imagery. “branched” would make sense if the focus were on diversification into different branches of culture, but that is not what the sentence stresses; it highlights the overall growth from deep roots.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes learners are tempted by “expanded” because it suggests growth, but they forget to test it against the exact metaphor of a tree and roots. Others choose “branched” because trees have branches, without noticing that the sentence is about the whole culture, not about its subdivisions. Always match the blank not just to a single word (like “tree”) but to the entire image and idea being expressed.

Final Answer:
The verb that best completes the sentence is grown.