Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: embedded
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This cloze passage uses the image of amber to describe how goodness becomes fixed and unchanging over time. The sentence "Goodness acquires an act of fixed quality ________ in amber" needs a word that fits both grammatically and conceptually. The question checks your understanding of collocations and metaphors in English. Amber, a fossilised tree resin, often preserves insects or leaves inside it, so the verb that combines naturally with "in amber" and "fixed quality" is important.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The phrase "embedded in amber" is a well known image in English, used both literally and metaphorically. Scientists may find insects embedded in amber, and writers extend this idea to describe anything preserved unchanged for a very long time. The other options, "ingrained", "impacted", and "deepseated", describe strong or deep qualities but are not typically followed by "in amber". To solve such a cloze item, you should check which word forms a natural collocation with the rest of the phrase.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the full fragment: "fixed quality ________ in amber". This suggests something physically inside or within amber.
Step 2: Evaluate option A, "ingrained". We usually say "ingrained habit" or "ingrained belief", not "ingrained in amber". The image does not work well with amber.
Step 3: Evaluate option B, "impacted". While it can mean pressed in or affected, it sounds awkward in the phrase "impacted in amber".
Step 4: Evaluate option C, "embedded". This is often used to describe objects fixed firmly and deeply in surrounding material, such as "embedded in rock" or "embedded in amber".
Step 5: Evaluate option D, "deepseated". This describes something firmly established in the mind or character, but not usually something located in amber.
Step 6: Conclude that "embedded" is the only option that correctly describes something fixed inside amber and matches normal English usage.
Verification / Alternative check:
Read the full sentence with each option. "Goodness acquires an act of fixed quality embedded in amber" sounds natural and continues the extended metaphor of preservation and rigidity. If we try "ingrained in amber" or "deepseated in amber", the image becomes confusing because those words are generally used with mental traits, not physical substances. "Impacted in amber" is grammatically possible but not idiomatic. Moreover, in scientific and literary writing, the standard phrase is "embedded in amber", especially when referring to fossils or preserved objects.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, ingrained, is wrong because it usually describes habits, prejudices, or attitudes deeply fixed in a person or culture, not physical preservation in a substance like amber.
Option B, impacted, is wrong because it suggests being jammed or pressed together, as in "impacted teeth", and is not the usual description for the metaphor the author uses here.
Option D, deepseated, is wrong because it refers to internal mental or emotional conditions, such as "deepseated fear", and does not combine well with "in amber".
Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is choosing a word that feels generally strong or poetic but does not actually collocate with the noun or phrase that follows. Competitive exams often include several attractive but incorrect adjectives that sound impressive yet are not idiomatic in specific combinations. To avoid mistakes, always imagine how the word is used in real texts you have read, and ask whether it naturally appears with the surrounding words. This practice will strengthen both your reading and cloze solving skills.
Final Answer:
embedded
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