In the following passage, choose the most appropriate word to complete the expression: “While language as the medium of thought may be compared to air as the medium of the sun's influence, in other ______ it is like the skin of the body...”

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of a common English idiom “in other respects,” which is used to compare different aspects or sides of the same thing. The sentence contrasts two ways of viewing language: as a medium of thought and, in another way, as something similar to skin. To express these different aspects clearly, English uses a specific plural noun.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The sentence is: “While language as the medium of thought may be compared to air as the medium of the sun's influence, in other ______ it is like the skin of the body...”
The options are “respectful,” “respectfully,” “respected,” and “respects.”
We assume the writer is making a formal comparison and wants to say “in other aspects” or “in other ways.”

Concept / Approach:
The fixed expression in English is “in other respects,” meaning “in other ways” or “from other points of view.” The noun “respect” in this idiom is used in the plural form “respects” to mean aspects or features. The other forms given in the options either function as adjectives (“respectful”), adverbs (“respectfully”), or past participles (“respected”), none of which fit this specific idiomatic structure. Therefore, “respects” is the only correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise the partial idiom “in other ______.” In formal English, this is almost always completed as “in other respects.” Step 2: Understand that “respects” here means “aspects” or “ways.” Step 3: Insert “respects”: “in other respects it is like the skin of the body.” Step 4: Confirm that the sentence now smoothly contrasts two different comparisons of language. Step 5: Check that no other grammatical form fits the idiom or preserves the intended meaning.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can recall similar sentences from essays and textbooks: “He is careless in some respects but very careful in others,” or “The plan is good in many respects.” In all these cases, the word “respects” is used in the plural to mean aspects. If we tried “respectful” or “respected” in this idiom, the sentences would become ungrammatical or strange. “In other respects” is a standard phrase widely used in formal writing, which confirms that “respects” is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“respectful” is an adjective meaning showing respect, and it cannot complete the phrase “in other respectful” in a grammatically correct way.
“respectfully” is an adverb, usually used in polite expressions like “I respectfully disagree,” not after “in other.”
“respected” is a past participle or adjective meaning admired, and it also does not fit after “in other.”

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often see the familiar root “respect” and choose a form without thinking about idioms or fixed phrases. Another pitfall is ignoring the plural “s,” which is very important in the idiom “in other respects.” Remember that some English expressions must be memorised as whole chunks, especially when they carry special meanings that do not follow simple word by word translation.

Final Answer:
The correct word is respects, giving the expression: “in other respects it is like the skin of the body.”