In the same passage about phrasing, choose the correct noun to fill the blank in "such rests do not break the _____ of a thought or the progress of the sense".

Introduction / Context:
This question is also based on the passage that explains how rests or pauses influence phrasing. The sentence we focus on is "such rests do not break the _____ of a thought or the progress of the sense." The blank clearly needs a word that means an unbroken, ongoing flow of thought. Many words in English share the same root "continue", but have different grammatical roles. To answer correctly, you must choose the noun that fits both grammatically and semantically in this sentence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The fragment is "do not break the _____ of a thought or the progress of the sense".
• The options are "continuity", "continue", "continuous", "continuously" and "continuance".
• The rest of the passage talks about phrasing, rests, and the flow of sense.
• "Break the _____ of" suggests a structure where a noun should follow "the".
• We assume the author wants to emphasise that pauses do not disturb the uninterrupted flow of thinking.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase "the continuity of" is a standard English expression meaning the unbroken or consistent existence of something. Grammatically, after the article "the", we need a noun. Among the options, "continuity" and "continuance" are nouns, whereas "continue" is a verb, "continuous" is an adjective and "continuously" is an adverb. Between the two noun options, "continuity" is the more natural and common collocation in the phrase "break the continuity of a thought". "Continuance" has a more legal or formal flavour and is less often used in this sense. Therefore, we choose the noun that fits both collocation and meaning best.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that "the _____ of a thought" requires a noun after "the". Step 2: Identify which options are nouns. "Continuity" and "continuance" qualify, while "continue", "continuous" and "continuously" do not. Step 3: Compare the phrases "break the continuity of a thought" and "break the continuance of a thought". The first is natural and frequently used. Step 4: Conclude that "continuity" best matches both the passage context and normal English usage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the complete sentence with the chosen word: "Correct phrasing is regulated by rests, such rests do not break the continuity of a thought or the progress of the sense." This reads smoothly and clearly conveys that small pauses do not destroy the ongoing train of thought. If we try "continue", the sentence becomes "break the continue of a thought", which is ungrammatical. With "continuous", we get "break the continuous of a thought", which is also wrong. "Continuously" is an adverb and does not fit after the article. "Continuance" would be grammatically possible but sounds unnatural in this context. These tests confirm that "continuity" is the best choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Continue" is a verb and cannot directly follow the article "the" in this structure. "Continuous" is an adjective, and we would need a noun after it, such as "continuous flow". "Continuously" is an adverb and normally modifies a verb, not a noun phrase. "Continuance" can mean the state of continuing, but it is more often used in legal or formal settings such as "granting a continuance" in court. It does not commonly appear in the phrase "continuance of a thought". As a result, all these alternatives either break grammar or sound awkward in the given literary context.

Common Pitfalls:
Students frequently confuse words that share a root because they focus on the familiar part rather than on the full form and its grammatical role. In time-pressured exams, they may see "continue" and choose it quickly since it seems related to "continuity". To avoid this, always identify the part of speech required by the structure around the blank. Words after "the" are usually nouns, and fixed expressions like "the continuity of" are worth memorising. Practice with such word families helps you quickly sort verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs when you see them mixed together in options.

Final Answer:
The correct word is continuity, giving the phrase "do not break the continuity of a thought or the progress of the sense".