In this cloze passage on yoga and health, choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The Trikonasana, or triangle pose, stimulates the function of the entire body and _____________ a lateral (side) stretch to the spine."

Introduction / Context:
This question is part of a cloze passage about the Trikonasana, also known as the triangle pose in yoga. The passage describes the benefits of the asana and uses present tense to talk about general truths. You must select the verb form that fits both the grammar and the meaning of the sentence, which talks about what the pose does for the body and spine.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The relevant sentence is "The Trikonasana, or triangle pose, stimulates the function of the entire body and _____________ a lateral (side) stretch to the spine."
• The subject is "The Trikonasana, or triangle pose".
• The first verb is "stimulates", which is present simple.
• The second verb must match the subject and tense and complete the coordinate structure.

Concept / Approach:
When one subject has two verbs connected by "and", those verbs usually share the same tense and use the base form with appropriate agreement. The sentence already uses present simple "stimulates", so the second verb should also be in present simple form. The subject "pose" is singular; therefore, the verb should be "gives". The infinitive "to give" or past forms like "gave" and "given" do not fit directly within this coordinated structure.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the subject "The Trikonasana, or triangle pose" as a singular noun phrase.Step 2: Note that the first verb "stimulates" is in present simple tense and agrees with this subject.Step 3: Understand that the second part must also describe a general fact about what the pose does.Step 4: Choose the verb form "gives", which is present simple and agrees with the singular subject.Step 5: Read the complete sentence: "The Trikonasana, or triangle pose, stimulates the function of the entire body and gives a lateral (side) stretch to the spine."

Verification / Alternative check:
Try replacing the blank with each option. "Stimulates the function of the entire body and given a lateral stretch" is incorrect as it mixes finite and non finite forms. "Stimulates the function and gave a lateral stretch" switches tense from present to past, which is inconsistent. "Stimulates and to give a lateral stretch" also breaks the parallel structure. Only "stimulates the function of the entire body and gives a lateral stretch" is grammatically clean and expresses a present general truth about the asana.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A "given" cannot be used directly as a main verb with this subject and structure; it would require an auxiliary verb.
• Option B "gave" is past tense and breaks the consistent present simple description of the asana's benefits.
• Option C "to give" would require a different structure, such as "stimulates and is known to give", which is not present here.

Common Pitfalls:
In cloze passages, learners sometimes pick options by sound rather than by checking agreement and tense consistency. A reliable technique is to locate the main subject and find the tense of the first verb, then ensure that coordinated verbs and phrases match this tense and agreement pattern. This habit will reduce errors in long passages where multiple blanks must work together.

Final Answer:
The correct word to complete the sentence is "gives", giving a smooth present tense description of the pose's effects.