In the following passage, some words have been omitted. National integration means uniting all the people of the nation into a single whole. It is described as a _____ cementing force whereby all kinds of people, no matter what their religion, caste, language or history may be, can still live together peacefully as one nation. Choose the most appropriate adjective to fill the blank so that the idea of unity becomes clear and strong.

Introduction / Context:
This passage is about the idea of national integration. It explains how people with different religions, castes, languages and histories can still feel like one united nation. The blank focuses on the kind of “cementing force” that can hold such a diverse population together. This is a classic vocabulary and reading comprehension question often asked in competitive exams to test whether you can choose the most suitable adjective from the context rather than by literal dictionary meaning alone.

Given Data / Assumptions:

National integration is described as something that unites all people into a single whole.
It is called a cementing force that binds people despite differences in religion, caste, language and history.
You must choose the adjective that best strengthens the positive idea of unity in the sentence.
Exactly one option is intended to fit both grammatically and logically.

Concept / Approach:
To solve this kind of vocabulary-in-context question, you must read the entire sentence and look for the emotional and logical tone. The passage praises national integration, so the adjective must carry a positive and powerful sense. Words that imply weakness, passivity or irrelevance will not match the idea of a unifying force. The noun phrase “cementing force” itself suggests something strong that firmly binds different elements together, similar to cement in construction. Therefore, the adjective should reinforce, not contradict, this image of strength and unity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the full sentence: “It is a _____ cementing force whereby all kinds of people live peacefully and can identify themselves as a part and parcel of a nation.” Step 2: Notice that the sentence is clearly praising national integration as something positive and powerful. Step 3: Test “strong”: a strong cementing force clearly matches the idea of unity that holds a nation together. Step 4: Test “natural”: a natural cementing force sounds possible, but it is weaker and does not emphasise power or effectiveness of the unity. Step 5: Test “weakening”: this clearly contradicts the idea of unity; a weakening cementing force would break bonds instead of strengthening them. Step 6: Test “settled”: a settled cementing force is awkward in normal English and does not clearly express strength or binding power. Step 7: Among the four, “strong” fits both sense and collocation best with “cementing force”.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can substitute “strong cementing force” back into the passage and read it aloud: “National integration means uniting all the people of the nation into a single whole. It is a strong cementing force whereby all kinds of people live peacefully...” The sentence now feels natural and emphasises the power of unity. None of the other options makes the sentence sound as clear and expressive. This verification step confirms that “strong” is the most accurate and idiomatic choice for formal written English and exam context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Natural: This suggests something that happens by itself, but it does not express the required strength of a force that binds a diverse nation together.
Weakening: This is negative and opposite to the idea of cementing; it would imply that integration reduces unity instead of increasing it.
Settled: This word does not collocate well with “cementing force” and fails to convey the sense of power or effectiveness needed here.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often choose “natural” because it sounds positive and familiar, but they ignore the stronger image of “cementing”. Another common mistake is to focus only on dictionary meanings and not on how words actually combine in real sentences. Remember to always check collocations and the emotional tone of the passage. When something is described as a force that holds a whole nation together, strength is more important than mere normality or stability.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: strong.