In the following one word substitution question, choose the alternative that best replaces the phrase "lack of civic-mindedness or of patriotism", meaning an attitude of indifference or hostility towards civic duties and national loyalty.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question targets your knowledge of abstract nouns expressing social or political attitudes. The phrase "lack of civic-mindedness or of patriotism" describes behaviour or beliefs where a person shows little concern for civic duties, public welfare, or loyalty to their country. English uses a specific term formed with the prefix "in-" to indicate negation of civic feeling.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The phrase is "lack of civic-mindedness or of patriotism".
• Four options are provided, but only one refers to this attitude.
• The correct word should negate the idea of civic feeling.
• Other options refer to unrelated concepts like religious groups or icon conflict.

Concept / Approach:
The correct term here is "incivism". It is formed from "civis" (citizen) or "civic" and the prefix "in-" meaning lack or absence. Hence, "incivism" refers to absence of civic-mindedness, disregard for the duties of citizenship, or lack of patriotism. "Iconomachy" refers to conflict over the use of religious images (icons), "clergy" refers to religious officials, and "shag" is unrelated slang or a type of dance. Therefore, "incivism" is the only option that accurately matches the given phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key idea: absence or lack of civic-mindedness and patriotism. Step 2: Look for a word that combines a civic root with a negative prefix. Step 3: Recognise "civ" or "civi" as the base for citizen or civic concepts. Step 4: Note that "Incivism" clearly suggests non civic behaviour or attitude. Step 5: Exclude the other options as they deal with religion, people, or informal terms, not with civic attitudes.

Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine using the word in a sentence: "Rampant incivism was evident when many citizens refused to vote or obey basic public rules." Replacing "incivism" with "lack of civic-mindedness" keeps the meaning almost unchanged. Trying to substitute it with "clergy" or "iconomachy" would make no sense in this sentence, confirming that "incivism" is the correct match for the phrase described in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A, "Iconomachy", refers to conflict or controversy over religious images or icons and has a narrow religious meaning.
• Option C, "Shag", is slang or a term for a type of dance in some contexts, entirely unrelated to civic attitudes.
• Option D, "Clergy", denotes the group of people ordained for religious duties, such as priests, and does not mean lack of civic-mindedness.

Common Pitfalls:
Because "incivism" is not a very common word in everyday conversation, some candidates may be tempted to guess. Others may be drawn to "iconomachy" simply because it sounds complex or academic. To avoid such errors, focus on the roots that you recognise. The presence of "civ" in "incivism" is a strong clue that the word relates to citizens or civic life, making it the best match for a phrase about civic-mindedness and patriotism.

Final Answer:
The correct one word substitution for "lack of civic-mindedness or of patriotism" is Incivism, so Option B is correct.