In the following vocabulary based sentence completion question, choose the correct word to fill the blank: When negative attitudes toward religion, in the West or elsewhere, are motivated by a ______ for justice, they must be respected.

Introduction / Context:
This sentence completion question deals with attitudes toward religion and how they are linked to moral values. The idea is that even negative attitudes can deserve respect if they come from a sincere desire for justice. To solve it, you need to choose a noun that fits naturally with the preposition "for" and matches the positive moral motive described in the sentence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The blank is followed by "for justice".
• The sentence states that negative attitudes must be respected if they are motivated by this quality.
• The options are "disinterest", "concern", "distraction", and "association".
• Justice is a serious ethical ideal, so the word in the blank should reflect that seriousness.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase "concern for justice" is a standard collocation in English and means a deep care or worry about whether things are fair and right. "Disinterest for justice" is unidiomatic and conflicts with the idea of respect, because disinterest suggests not caring. "Distraction for justice" does not make sense semantically, and "association for justice" would refer to a group, not an internal motive in an individual. Therefore, "concern" is the only word that produces a natural and meaningful phrase in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Look at the preposition after the blank: "for justice". This hints at common phrases like "struggle for justice" or "concern for justice".Check the intended meaning: negative attitudes deserve respect if they arise from a sincere moral motive.Review each option. "Disinterest" means lack of interest, which would not motivate respectful negative attitudes. "Distraction" is something that takes attention away, and "association" refers to a link or group.Note that "concern" means care or worry about an important issue, which fits perfectly with justice.Select "concern" as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Insert the word into the sentence: "When negative attitudes toward religion, in the West or elsewhere, are motivated by a concern for justice, they must be respected." This version is logically and grammatically sound. It emphasises that a person may criticise religion because they care about fairness and human rights, and that such criticism can be valuable.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, "disinterest", contradicts the idea of being motivated by anything at all, since it implies apathy. Option C, "distraction", fails semantically because a distraction does not motivate, it diverts attention. Option D, "association", usually refers to a link or organisation and does not fit the pattern "motivated by an association for justice" as an inner motive.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes pick words mainly because they appear formal or abstract, without checking whether they form standard collocations with nearby prepositions and nouns. A good habit is to silently test phrases like "concern for X", "disinterest for X", and so on. Familiarity with common English expressions such as "concern for the environment" and "concern for justice" will give you a strong advantage in this sort of vocabulary question.

Final Answer:
The correct choice is concern, forming the meaningful phrase "a concern for justice".