In this passage about booth capturing and rigging in elections, choose the most appropriate word to complete the first blank in the sentence "It is not _____ to ignore all allegations of booth capturing and rigging as murmurs of disgruntled losers."

Introduction / Context:
The passage discusses serious allegations of booth capturing and rigging in elections. It criticises the attitude of dismissing such allegations as mere complaints by people who have lost. The first blank requires a word that describes whether it is sensible or grounded in reality to ignore these allegations. The correct choice must fit both the tone and logical meaning of the sentence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The sentence starts with It is not and ends with to ignore all allegations of booth capturing and rigging as murmurs of disgruntled losers.

The overall tone is critical of ignoring serious electoral malpractice.

The missing word must describe the rationality or sensibleness of ignoring such allegations.

The options include realistic, reliable, required, essential and practical.

We assume that the author wants to say that such an attitude does not match reality.

Concept / Approach:
To solve passage completion questions, we look at the idea suggested by the sentence as a whole, not just the blank. The phrase murmurs of disgruntled losers shows that some people dismiss complaints as excuses by those who lost an election. The writer, however, wants to argue that doing so does not match reality because there are genuine problems. Therefore, the word in the blank should convey that ignoring these allegations is not grounded in reality, that is, it is not realistic.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the core meaning of the sentence. The author says that ignoring allegations of booth capturing and rigging is wrong. Step 2: Match each option with the phrase it is not and see whether the sentence remains logically consistent. Step 3: Test realistic. The sentence becomes it is not realistic to ignore all allegations, which clearly implies that such behaviour does not reflect reality and sounds natural. Step 4: Test reliable. It is not reliable to ignore all allegations is awkward because reliable usually describes data, methods or people, not actions like ignoring allegations. Step 5: Test required and essential. Both give the sense of necessity, which is not the focus here. The author is not saying that it is not necessary to ignore allegations but that it is unwise or inaccurate to do so. Step 6: Test practical. It is not practical to ignore all allegations suggests inconvenience, not a lack of connection to reality. This does not match the tone of concern about democracy and fairness.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider the surrounding sentences in the passage. They mention intimidation of voters, pressure on whole villages and communities, and election officials who are influenced by unscrupulous politicians. This context reinforces that the problems are real and serious, so it makes sense for the writer to criticise an unrealistic attitude that dismisses all complaints as mere excuses. Thus the word realistic fits both the immediate sentence and the broader argument of the passage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Reliable is unsuitable because ignoring allegations is not something that can be described as reliable; reliability is about trustworthiness of sources or systems. Required does not fit because the idea is not about obligation to ignore allegations, but about whether doing so reflects reality. Essential is also wrong because it suggests that ignoring allegations is absolutely necessary or fundamental, which is the opposite of what the passage argues. Practical focuses on convenience and ease of action, not on truth, fairness or reality, and therefore does not express the intended criticism.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to pick a word that sounds vaguely formal or serious without checking its exact meaning and usual usage. Another error is to focus only on the local grammar pattern it is not plus adjective and ignore the larger context, including the topic of electoral malpractice. Always ensure that the chosen word aligns with the writer attitude and the logical direction of the argument.

Final Answer:
The most suitable word for the first blank is realistic.