In the following passage about voting behaviour, select the word that best completes the blank in the sentence: "But what does this enthusiasm for voting actually _________?"

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension and vocabulary question is based on a passage about voting behaviour. You are asked to choose the word that best fits the blank in the sentence But what does this enthusiasm for voting actually _________? The task checks your sense of context, collocation, and meaning, especially with verbs commonly used in analytical or argumentative writing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence is part of a discussion about enthusiasm for voting.
• The writer is trying to explore what this enthusiasm means or represents.
• The blank requires a verb that fits grammatically and semantically.
• We must choose from the options answer, signify, ponder, suppose, question.
• The overall tone is formal and analytical.

Concept / Approach:
In analytical writing, when we ask what something actually means or represents, we commonly use verbs like signify, indicate, or represent. The verb signify means to mean, to be a sign of, or to represent something. The other options either do not fit grammatically with the object this enthusiasm for voting or do not convey the intended idea of what it stands for. Therefore, we must look for the verb that naturally collocates with what does this X actually and smoothly continues the author's reasoning.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Rewrite the sentence mentally with each option: what does this enthusiasm for voting actually answer, signify, ponder, suppose, or question.Step 2: Notice that answer usually needs a direct question or problem, and ponder means to think deeply, which does not fit as a direct object here.Step 3: Suppose usually takes a clause, as in suppose that, and question is typically used as a verb with an object that is a fact or statement.Step 4: Signify, on the other hand, naturally fits an abstract object such as enthusiasm and directly expresses the idea of what it means or indicates.Step 5: Conclude that signify best captures the writer's intention and fits the grammatical structure of the sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can test the answer by replacing the blank in the full sentence: But what does this enthusiasm for voting actually signify. This sounds natural, formal, and logically consistent with someone analysing voter behaviour. If you try answer or ponder, the sentence becomes awkward and does not express the idea of meaning or representation. Therefore, signify is the only choice that maintains both meaning and grammatical correctness.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• answer: This verb would usually take a direct object such as a question or a need. Enthusiasm cannot literally answer something in this context.
• ponder: Meaning to think about something deeply, ponder is not used as a verb that directly describes what enthusiasm does.
• suppose: This normally introduces an assumption or clause, such as suppose that, and does not fit after what does this enthusiasm actually.
• question: To question means to doubt or challenge. Enthusiasm for voting does not question something here, it is being questioned by the author.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners ignore collocation and simply pick any verb that seems vaguely academic. Another common mistake is to choose answer because the sentence is itself a question, but grammatically and semantically that does not make sense. Always read the whole sentence aloud and ask whether the subject and verb together form a natural and meaningful unit in the context.

Final Answer:
The word that best completes the blank is signify.