In this passage about democracy and dictatorship, choose the verb that best completes the phrase: “are difficult to ________ ; but one thing is clear … ”

Introduction / Context:
This question checks whether you can recognise a common fixed expression in English: “difficult to define”. In the passage, the author is talking about the conditions under which democracy can flourish. These conditions are abstract and complex, so the author says they are not easy to capture in a neat, precise definition.

Given Data / Assumptions:

1) The sentence fragment is: “The conditions under which democracy can flourish are difficult to ________ ; but one thing is clear”.
2) The options are: examine, define, experience, discuss.
3) The previous blank was filled with “difficult”, yielding “are difficult to …”.
4) The author is emphasising the complexity of conditions, not their visibility or emotional impact.
5) We need a verb that collocates naturally with “difficult to”.

Concept / Approach:
We commonly use “difficult to define” for abstract ideas that cannot be clearly described in a single sentence. “Examine”, “experience” and “discuss” can also follow “difficult to”, but they change the meaning in ways that do not fit this political context. The passage is about theoretical or conceptual conditions, so defining them is what is hard, not necessarily examining or experiencing them.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Pair “difficult to” with each verb and test whether it fits the overall idea. Step 2: “difficult to examine” suggests that we cannot inspect the conditions, which is not the main point here. Step 3: “difficult to experience” would mean that people rarely go through such conditions, which is not being emphasised. Step 4: “difficult to discuss” would suggest the topic is awkward or sensitive, which again is not the focus. Step 5: “difficult to define” perfectly captures the idea that the exact nature of the conditions is hard to pin down in words. Step 6: Additionally, “define” is very commonly used with abstract nouns like “conditions”, “freedom” or “democracy”.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert “define” into the full sentence: “The conditions under which democracy can flourish are difficult to define; but one thing is clear, that democracy is always a slow growth.” This is a standard structure in analytical writing. Replacing “define” with any other option makes the author’s message less precise and less natural, confirming that “define” is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“examine” could theoretically fit, but examination is a practical activity, whereas the passage is about conceptual clarity. “experience” focuses on personal encounters, which is not what the writer is discussing. “discuss” would imply that the topic is hard to talk about rather than hard to clearly state, which changes the meaning.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes choose verbs like “examine” or “discuss” because they sound academic, without checking whether they faithfully represent the author’s point. Another pitfall is not thinking about the broader context: the next clause begins with “but one thing is clear…”, which strongly pairs with “difficult to define” (hard to define fully, but one thing is clear). Always consider how the chosen word interacts with what comes before and after the blank.

Final Answer:
The verb that correctly completes the phrase is define.