In the generation gap passage, choose the correct word to complete the phrase "its own ______ about life and living."

Introduction / Context:
This is the final blank from the generation gap passage. After discussing how every generation faces the generation gap, the sentence states that each generation tries to formulate "its own ______ about life and living." We must choose a noun that describes the overall way in which a generation looks at life and the world.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The phrase is "its own ______ about life and living".
The missing word is a plural or abstract noun representing views, attitudes, or ways of understanding.
The preceding part of the sentence uses "standards" with "formulate".
The passage talks about outlook differences between young and old.

Concept / Approach:
The word "perspectives" refers to ways of thinking about something, or particular viewpoints. This is exactly what different generations develop regarding life and living. Although "standards" has already been used earlier, the author now wants another related but distinct word. "Perspectives" fits perfectly because it emphasises mental and cultural viewpoints, which are central to the idea of a generation gap.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase "its own ______ about life and living." The blank should represent ideas or viewpoints. Step 2: Consider the options: "happiness", "standards", "living", "perspectives", "opinions". Step 3: The passage already used the word "standards" in combination with "formulate", so repeating it here would be clumsy. Step 4: "Perspectives" is a natural word for different ways of seeing life, and it is frequently used in discussions of generational differences. Step 5: Insert "perspectives" into the sentence: "its own perspectives about life and living." The sentence is grammatically correct and semantically rich.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by rewriting the sentence in simple words: every generation tries to develop its own way of looking at life. "Way of looking at life" is a direct paraphrase of "perspectives about life". Thus, "perspectives" matches the meaning exactly. The other options either do not capture the idea of viewpoint or are less suitable in this formal social science style passage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

"happiness": Happiness is an emotional state, not a general way of thinking about life. The sentence is not about feeling happy but about forming views and ideas.
"standards": This word already appears earlier in the same sentence as part of the phrase "formulate its own standards". Repeating it in the blank would be redundant and stylistically poor.
"living": "Its own living about life and living" is incorrect and ungrammatical. "Living" is not used as a countable noun for opinions in this context.
"opinions": Although opinions are related to viewpoints, "opinions about life and living" sounds less broad and deep than "perspectives". The passage is about overall outlook, and exam setters usually prefer the more formal and comprehensive term "perspectives".

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often choose "opinions" because it is familiar. However, cloze passages often test recognition of slightly more advanced words such as "perspectives" in social commentary. Another error is to repeat "standards" without noticing that it has been used immediately before. Always check for repetition and for words that carry the exact nuance of the passage, not just a rough similarity.

Final Answer:
The correct word to complete the phrase is "perspectives".