In the following passage about the purpose of education, choose the most appropriate word to complete the blank: the _____ of our educational curriculum as well as that of our teachers and students is likely to remain inadequate.

Introduction / Context:
This question continues the same passage about education being for life and not merely for livelihood. After stressing the importance of remembering this truth, the passage comments that something about the educational curriculum, teachers and students will remain inadequate if this truth is ignored. The blank requires a noun that logically connects with inadequate and summarises what aspect of curriculum and people in education is being judged. Understanding the usual collocations in educational discourse is key to answering correctly.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The sentence is: As long as we are unmindful of this truth, the _____ of our educational curriculum as well as that of our teachers and students is likely to remain inadequate. - Options given are efficiency, effectiveness, quality and quantity. - The tone is evaluative and critical of the current state of education. - In educational debates, quality of education is a very common phrase.

Concept / Approach:
We need to choose the noun that most naturally takes inadequate as a descriptor and that is widely used in the context of education. While all four options are abstract nouns, some are more appropriate than others. Efficiency refers to how well resources are used; effectiveness refers to how well goals are achieved; quantity refers to amount or number. Quality refers to the standard or excellence of something. When we talk about educational curriculum, teachers and students together, the most usual phrase is quality of education or quality of curriculum and teaching. Therefore, quality is the strongest candidate.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Observe the structure with inadequate. The expression inadequate quality is common and natural, whereas inadequate quantity or inadequate efficiency are used in narrower technical contexts. Step 2: Consider the collocation with educational curriculum, teachers and students. All three are aspects of the educational system, and we normally talk about raising their quality. Step 3: Insert quality into the sentence: the quality of our educational curriculum as well as that of our teachers and students is likely to remain inadequate. This reads smoothly and expresses a clear criticism. Step 4: Check other options in the same slot. The efficiency of our educational curriculum sounds odd, because curriculum itself is a plan, not a process immediately judged for efficiency. Step 5: The effectiveness of our educational curriculum may sound possible, but adding teachers and students to the same phrase makes quality a more comprehensive and natural choice, as we rarely speak of the effectiveness of students in this direct way.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of common education policy slogans. Campaigns talk about quality education, improving quality of teaching, and quality of learning outcomes. Reports often state that the quality of curriculum and teaching is inadequate. This confirms that quality is the most idiomatic term here. Quantity would change the meaning toward numbers of students or schools, which is not suggested by the passage. Also, if quantity were intended, the author would more likely mention numbers directly rather than teachers and students together in this way.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: Efficiency suggests how well time or resources are used. While efficiency matters, the sentence is making a broader moral and educational judgment, not a technical one. Option B: Effectiveness refers to achievement of objectives, but when combined with teachers and students, the more comprehensive term quality is preferred in standard educational writing. Option D: Quantity refers to how much or how many. The sentence criticises the standard of education, not the number of teachers, students or courses, so quantity does not fit the context.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overcomplicate cloze questions by choosing less common academic terms like efficiency or effectiveness because they sound technical. However, the best choice is often the simplest word that matches usual collocations in that domain. Another pitfall is ignoring the full list of items linked by as well as that of our teachers and students and focusing only on curriculum. Always read the entire phrase around the blank to ensure the selected word fits every part of the sentence.

Final Answer:
The most appropriate word is quality, so option C is correct.