The following sentence tests your understanding of vocabulary and collocations used in professional and academic writing. Your opening paragraph should __________ the reader attention. Choose the option that best completes the sentence in natural and effective English.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks whether you know the standard verb used with attention in the context of writing and communication skills. In introductions, teachers and style guides often say that the first paragraph must catch or draw the attention of the reader. The correct collocation is attract attention, which is widely used in English. Choosing the right verb here shows familiarity with natural sounding expressions in written English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is an opening paragraph, which is part of a piece of writing.
• The object is the reader attention, meaning the concentration of the person reading.
• The task is to choose a verb that expresses capturing or drawing interest.
• Options are attest, address, attract, and affect.

Concept / Approach:
In English, attention typically combines with verbs like attract, draw, catch, grab, and hold. The phrase attract attention means cause people to notice something. The other verbs in the options have different meanings. Attest means to provide evidence or proof of something. Address often means to speak to someone or deal with a problem. Affect means to influence. While affect attention is grammatically possible, it does not express the idea of drawing attention in the way that is used when talking about writing introductions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the standard phrase used in writing advice: an introduction should catch the reader attention or attract the reader attention. Step 2: Compare each option with common collocations: attract attention is a very frequent and natural expression. Step 3: Consider attest, which means to certify, confirm, or give evidence. It does not combine naturally with attention in this context. Step 4: Consider address, which is usually used with an audience, issue, or problem, for example address a meeting or address a concern, not address attention. Step 5: Consider affect, which means to influence, but affect the reader attention sounds awkward and does not match standard writing advice. Step 6: Conclude that attract is the only verb that forms a common and correct phrase with attention in this sentence.

Verification / Alternative check:
Try reading the sentence with each option inserted. Your opening paragraph should attract the reader attention sounds smooth and matches what textbooks on effective writing say. The versions with attest, address, or affect either sound unnatural or change the meaning. For example, Your opening paragraph should address the reader attention is not a normal expression in English. Therefore, attract is clearly the best choice and fits both grammar and usage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Attest is wrong because it relates to proving or confirming something, not drawing interest. Address is wrong because it usually takes an object such as audience, issue, or envelope, and does not collocate with attention in this way. Affect is wrong because although a paragraph can affect the reader, the usual phrase is affect the reader, not affect the reader attention, and it still does not express the key idea of attracting interest at the beginning of a text.

Common Pitfalls:
Exam candidates sometimes focus only on dictionary meanings and ignore typical combinations of words. Another pitfall is translating literally from the first language, which may use a different verb with attention. To improve, learners should notice frequent patterns like attract attention, pay attention, draw attention, and hold attention in English reading materials and copy these patterns in their own writing.

Final Answer:
The correct verb that completes the sentence naturally is attract.