Read the following passage about powerful Internet monopolies and choose the correct word to complete the blank in the sentence: "Not surprisingly, these companies now see the ______ of monopoly." The scenario has changed dramatically today. We have the emergence of powerful Internet monopolies that are much bigger than the telecom companies. These companies would like to combine with telecom firms to create monopolies for their platforms, ensuring that they control the future of the Internet and freeze their competition out.

Introduction / Context:
This English comprehension question tests your understanding of vocabulary and collocations in the context of a modern economic and technological passage about Internet monopolies. The task is to select the word that best completes the phrase "see the ______ of monopoly" so that it fits both grammatically and logically within the passage describing powerful Internet platforms and their strategic motives.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage states that powerful Internet monopolies are much bigger than telecom companies.
• These companies now "see the ______ of monopoly".
• They want to combine with telecom companies to create monopolies for their platforms and control the future of the Internet, freezing competition out.
• The options are: virtues, respectability, trust, innocence.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to understand which noun naturally collocates with "of monopoly" and logically matches the companies' intention to benefit from monopoly power. We need a word that suggests advantages or benefits in order to explain why they are attracted to monopolistic structures. In English, expressions like "see the virtues of something" or "see the benefits of something" are common and indicate that someone recognises the positive aspects of that thing.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase "now see the ______ of monopoly". Step 2: Check "virtues of monopoly". This means recognising the advantages or perceived benefits of monopoly, which fits the idea that these firms want to combine with telecom companies and control the future of the Internet. Step 3: Check "respectability of monopoly". Respectability relates to social approval or honour and is not a standard or natural collocation in this context. Step 4: Check "trust of monopoly". Trust refers to confidence in a person or institution. Talking about the "trust of monopoly" is grammatically awkward and does not explain why firms are attracted to monopoly power. Step 5: Check "innocence of monopoly". Innocence is the opposite of guilt and does not describe why firms strategically favour monopoly. Step 6: Conclude that "virtues" best completes the phrase and supports the overall meaning of the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the full sentence with the chosen word: "Not surprisingly, these companies now see the virtues of monopoly." This sentence clearly conveys that the firms perceive monopoly as attractive because of its benefits, such as market power and control. Substituting the other options makes the sentence sound unnatural or illogical, confirming that "virtues" is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Respectability" does not naturally pair with "of monopoly" and does not explain a strategic desire to monopolise markets. "Trust" suggests confidence in something but "trust of monopoly" is an unusual phrase and does not convey recognition of benefits. "Innocence" is linked to not being guilty, which is not the focus of the economic and strategic argument in the passage.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick options that sound sophisticated without checking whether the phrase is a standard collocation in English. Another common mistake is to focus only on the single word rather than reading the entire sentence and the surrounding passage to understand the author's argument about monopolies and market control. Always read the full context before deciding on a vocabulary item in a cloze passage.

Final Answer:
The word that best completes the sentence is virtues.