Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: susceptible
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This blank is part of a passage about hygiene and children. It focuses on how likely children are to suffer from hygiene-related disorders such as skin problems and infections. The correct word should describe their vulnerability to these disorders, not their moral qualities or personality traits.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The adjective susceptible is commonly used to describe people who are easily affected or likely to suffer from something, especially illnesses or external influences. Typical phrases include susceptible to disease, susceptible to infection, and susceptible to damage. None of the other options convey this specific medical or health related vulnerability, even though they may fit grammatically in other contexts.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Read the sentence with each option: “Children are the most innocent to hygiene-related disorders…” sounds incorrect; innocence is not a measure of health vulnerability.“Children are the most responsible to hygiene-related disorders…” also fails, because responsible describes duty or accountability, not likelihood of infection.“Children are the most pliable to hygiene-related disorders…” is odd; pliable means easily influenced or bent, usually about character or material, not disease risk.“Children are the most susceptible to hygiene-related disorders…” fits perfectly, because susceptible means easily affected by such disorders.Thus, susceptible is the correct choice for the blank.
Verification / Alternative check:
Complete the sentence: “Children are the most susceptible to hygiene-related disorders like skin issues, rashes, infections, wounds, etc.” This reads naturally and matches standard health advice, where doctors often warn that children and the elderly are more susceptible to infections due to weaker or developing immune systems.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Innocent refers to being free from guilt, often used in legal or moral contexts. Responsible refers to ability and willingness to take charge or be accountable. Pliable describes someone who is easily influenced or something that is easily bent or shaped. These meanings do not align with the idea of being easily affected by diseases. Susceptible is the only option that carries the correct health related sense in this sentence.
Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students pick innocent because they associate children with innocence, or responsible because they connect it with teaching discipline. However, when the sentence clearly refers to disorders and diseases, focus on the medical or vulnerability context. In such passages, susceptible to is a standard and important collocation to remember.
Final Answer:
The correct word for the blank is susceptible, giving “Children are the most susceptible to hygiene-related disorders…”.
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