In this vocabulary question based on the passage, choose the option that best gives the meaning of the word "deification" as used in the text.

Introduction / Context:
The passage mentions that man's attitude to animals moved from practicality to adoration and deification, and then to hatred. This vocabulary question asks for the meaning of the word "deification" in that sequence. To answer correctly, you must notice the context in which the word appears and recall its root related to "deity."

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence links "adoration and deification" as stages in human attitudes.
• "Deity" means a god or goddess.
• The options include highly valuable, take pride, act of treating as God, devotees.
• We must choose the option that fits both the word's root and the context of worship.

Concept / Approach:
"Deification" comes from the Latin root related to "deus," meaning "god." It refers to the act of making someone or something into a god in people's minds or treating them with god-like reverence. In the passage, after humans begin to adore certain animals, they go further and start to deify them, that is, to treat them as divine. This matches the idea of the "act of treating as God." The other options talk about value, pride or devotees, which relate to respect or followers but not to turning someone or something into a deity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Break down the word "deification": "dei" or "dei-" suggests god, and "-fication" suggests making or turning into.Step 2: Interpret it as the process of making something into a god or treating it as divine.Step 3: Look at the passage sequence: from indifference to adoration and deification, meaning humans move from simple liking to actual worship.Step 4: Compare this with option C "act of treating as God," which matches both the root meaning and the context.Step 5: Examine option A "highly valuable," which could fit adoration but does not capture the religious idea of divinity.Step 6: Examine option B "take pride" and option D "devotees," neither of which means turning something into a god.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Consider typical uses of the term: historians may write about the "deification of emperors" in certain cultures, meaning they were worshipped as gods after death. You can paraphrase this as the act of treating them as gods, not simply valuing them highly. The passage describes animals being moved into the category of sacred beings, which again corresponds to being deified. Substituting "highly valuable" or "take pride" into the sentence would weaken or distort its religious meaning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Highly valuable" describes importance or worth but lacks the religious element and does not involve turning something into a god. "Take pride" refers to personal feelings of satisfaction and does not relate to worship. "Devotees" are people who worship or follow a deity, but the word describes the followers, not the process of making something divine. The question asks specifically for the meaning of "deification," which is a process or act, not a group of people or a general emotion.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think of "deification" as simply meaning extreme admiration and choose "highly valuable" or "take pride." Others may confuse it with "devotees" because both appear in religious discussions. To avoid such errors, pay attention to word parts: "dei" for god and "-fication" for making or forming. Recognising such roots is especially helpful in vocabulary questions where words are derived from Latin or Greek, as is common in exam English.

Final Answer:
The word "deification" means the act of treating someone or something as God.