In the following passage, choose the most appropriate conjunction to complete the sentence: “...a scurvy skin shows bad blood within, and a scurvy language shows inaccurate thought ______ a confused mind.”

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on conjunctions used to connect two related effects in a descriptive sentence. The passage compares the way a diseased skin shows bad blood with the way careless language reveals problems in thinking. The phrase “inaccurate thought ______ a confused mind” needs a connector that adds one result to another.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The relevant part of the sentence is: “a scurvy skin shows bad blood within, and a scurvy language shows inaccurate thought ______ a confused mind.”
The options are “and,” “but,” “so,” and “then.”
We assume that the writer intends to list two related mental effects produced by poor language: inaccurate thought and a confused mind.

Concept / Approach:
The structure clearly presents a pair of negative outcomes. In such cases, the simplest and most natural conjunction is “and,” which simply adds one element to another. “Inaccurate thought and a confused mind” states that both problems arise together. The other conjunctions introduce contrast, result, or sequence, which do not fit this pattern of listing two similar consequences.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify what is being connected: “inaccurate thought” and “a confused mind” are both nouns referring to mental states. Step 2: Recognise that the sentence is not contrasting these states, but presenting them as combined effects. Step 3: Insert “and”: “shows inaccurate thought and a confused mind.” Step 4: Read the full sentence to ensure it flows naturally and maintains logical meaning. Step 5: Check that “and” fits better than “but,” “so,” or “then,” which would change the relationship between the two phrases.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can compare with similar constructions: “This habit causes stress and anxiety,” where “and” simply adds two related results. If we replaced “and” with “but,” the sentence would wrongly suggest a contrast between stress and anxiety. “So” would introduce a conclusion or result, which does not fit when we are merely listing two effects. “Then” would imply sequence in time. In our passage, the focus is on two simultaneous mental conditions resulting from poor language habits. Thus, “and” is the most appropriate conjunction.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“but” introduces a contrast or exception, which is not intended here, because inaccurate thought and confusion are not opposites.
“so” would suggest that one of the two mental states is a direct consequence of the other, which the sentence does not state explicitly.
“then” suggests a sequence in time (“first this happens, then that”), which does not match the idea that both conditions exist together.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students are tempted to choose “so” because they see cause and effect in the wider passage. However, within this specific phrase, the writer is not drawing a conclusion but grouping two similar problems. The safest approach is to look directly at what the conjunction is connecting and ask whether the relationship is addition, contrast, cause, or sequence. When it is clearly additive, “and” is usually correct.

Final Answer:
The correct conjunction is and, giving the phrase: “shows inaccurate thought and a confused mind.”