In the passage on the generation gap, choose the correct word to complete the phrase "its juniors for their ______ ways".

Introduction / Context:
This question is another blank from the passage about the generation gap and how elders often criticise younger people. The sentence refers to elders blaming "juniors for their ______ ways". We need a word that describes the behaviour of the younger generation in a negative or disapproving manner, which fits the theme of the generation gap.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The passage talks about older people complaining about the behaviour of younger people.
The key phrase is "juniors for their ______ ways".
The word must be an adjective modifying "ways".
The tone is critical and suggests that elders consider the behaviour of juniors to be problematic or odd.

Concept / Approach:
The phrase "wayward ways" is a well known collocation in English. "Wayward" means unpredictable, difficult to control, or tending to behave in an unacceptable or rebellious manner. It fits perfectly with the idea of elders blaming the younger generation for not following traditional rules. Therefore, our approach is to identify which option naturally forms a meaningful and idiomatic phrase with "ways" in this social context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase "juniors for their ______ ways". The adjective must describe behaviour. Step 2: Examine the options and think about their meanings: "blizzard", "wayward", "motivated", "pointed", "eccentric". Step 3: Recall that "wayward ways" is a fixed expression meaning disobedient or unpredictable behaviour. Step 4: Insert "wayward" into the sentence: "juniors for their wayward ways". This sounds natural and matches the complaint of older people. Step 5: Confirm that no other option forms such a natural and context appropriate phrase with "ways" in this passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reading the surrounding sentences, we see that the author is comparing human elders to animals and saying that only humans blame their juniors for behaving differently. "Wayward ways" nicely captures the disapproving attitude of elders towards what they see as unruly behaviour. Other words either do not fit grammatically or do not reflect the negative judgement implied by the passage. Therefore, "wayward" stands out as the correct and idiomatic choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

"blizzard": This word refers to a snowstorm and has no connection with behaviour. It cannot logically modify "ways" in this sentence.
"motivated": Although grammatically possible, "motivated ways" would suggest positive, driven behaviour, which does not match the idea of elder criticism.
"pointed": "Pointed ways" is not a standard expression. "Pointed" usually describes remarks, questions, or features, not general ways of behaving here.
"eccentric": While "eccentric ways" could refer to strange behaviour, the passage uses the more literary and familiar collocation "wayward ways". The question is designed around that specific phrase.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes overlook common collocations and choose words only based on their dictionary meanings. Another trap is to choose a difficult sounding word like "eccentric" simply because it appears advanced. The safer strategy in cloze passages is to select the word that creates a natural, frequently used phrase in context. Remember that "wayward ways" is a common combination in discussions of youth behaviour.

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