Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: rationalisation
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This is another cloze test item drawn from a passage on legal and institutional reform. The relevant fragment reads: "professionalization and __________ of court systems". The blank must be filled with a word that pairs naturally with "professionalization" when describing reforms in institutions. Understanding common noun forms and collocations in policy language is crucial for answering such questions.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The structure "professionalization and X of court systems" calls for a noun parallel to "professionalization". In English, "professionalisation and rationalisation" is a standard pair when referring to reforms that make systems more efficient and logical. The suffix "-isation" turns verbs or adjectives into nouns representing processes, such as "modernisation", "globalisation", and "rationalisation". Therefore, we look for the noun that names the process of making systems more rational.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the grammatical role of the blank. It is part of a list where "professionalization" is a noun. So the blank should also be filled with a noun to maintain parallel structure.
Step 2: Examine "rationalising". This is a present participle or gerund form of the verb "to rationalise". It can function as a noun in some contexts, but here it would disrupt the parallel noun formation with "professionalization".
Step 3: Examine "rationalisation". This is a noun, meaning the process of making something more rational, efficient, or logically structured.
Step 4: Examine "rationally". This is an adverb and cannot function as a noun in this structure.
Step 5: Examine "rational". This is an adjective and would need a noun after it to make sense, such as "rational structure".
Step 6: Examine "rationalist". This is a noun or adjective related to a person who follows rationalism, and does not fit the process type concept here.
Step 7: Conclude that "rationalisation" is the only option that functions as a noun name of a process and pairs naturally with "professionalization".
Verification / Alternative check:
Read the full phrase: "professionalization and rationalisation of court systems". This is a standard expression in policy literature describing efforts to make courts more professional and efficient. If you try other options, such as "professionalization and rationally of court systems" or "professionalization and rational of court systems", they sound clearly wrong. "Professionalization and rationalising of court systems" is somewhat possible but less elegant and not parallel in form, which is why exam setters expect the noun form "rationalisation".
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Rationalising" is a verb form and does not maintain parallel structure with "professionalization" in this formal context. "Rationally" is an adverb and cannot be the object of "and" in this phrase. "Rational" is an adjective and would require an additional noun (for example, "rational design") to complete the phrase. "Rationalist" refers to a person and does not describe a process applied to court systems. Hence, these options do not match the grammatical role or the intended meaning.
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners focus solely on meaning and choose a word that feels semantically close, like "rationalising", without checking the grammar pattern. However, cloze tests usually demand both semantic and structural correctness. Observing prefixes and suffixes like "-ing", "-tion", "-isation", and "-ly" can quickly guide you to the right part of speech. In this case, noun endings like "-isation" are strong indicators.
Final Answer:
The correct word is "rationalisation", giving the phrase "professionalization and rationalisation of court systems".
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