In the following passage about restorative justice, select the correct word for the blank: Restorative justice is __________ from mediation though it involves meetings and dialogues to fix responsibility for wrongdoing and to find a solution acceptable to all three parties.

Introduction / Context:
This question is based on a reading comprehension passage about restorative justice. Cloze type questions in passages test both vocabulary and the ability to understand subtle differences in meaning between similar words. Here, the focus is on selecting a word that correctly describes how restorative justice compares to mediation, even though both involve meetings and dialogue.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Sentence: "Restorative justice is __________ from mediation though it involves meetings and dialogues to fix responsibility for wrongdoing and to find a solution acceptable to all three parties."

The blank should highlight the idea that restorative justice is different from mediation.

The options are "clear", "distinct", "recognisable", and "specific".

The passage describes restorative justice as having its own special features.

Concept / Approach:

The word "distinct" means clearly different or separate in nature, even if there are some similarities.

"Clear from" is not a usual pattern in this context, and "clear" does not directly convey difference between two processes.

"Recognisable" means capable of being identified, but it does not express contrast with mediation.

"Specific" means particular or detailed, again not directly focusing on distinction between two systems.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider the overall idea of the passage. It explains that restorative justice may appear similar to mediation but is in fact a separate approach. Step 2: Evaluate option a, "clear". The expression "is clear from mediation" is not idiomatic; we would more likely say "is clearly different from". So this choice is not appropriate. Step 3: Evaluate option b, "distinct". The phrase "is distinct from" is very common when we say one thing is different from another in an important way. It fits both grammatically and semantically. Step 4: Evaluate option c, "recognisable". Saying "is recognisable from mediation" does not make sense; it fails to show difference between two processes. Step 5: Evaluate option d, "specific". While we can say "has specific features", the structure "is specific from mediation" is not correct, and it still does not emphasise contrast. Step 6: Conclude that "distinct" is the only word that gives the correct phrase and meaning, so option b is correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
Phrases such as "distinct from", "distinct in nature", and "distinct approach" are common in academic and legal writing. In discussions of legal procedures, authors often say "restorative justice is distinct from traditional punishment" or "distinct from mediation". This confirms that "distinct from" is a natural and precise collocation in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is wrong because "clear from mediation" does not convey the idea that restorative justice is a different process. Option c is wrong because "recognisable from mediation" is not a standard expression and does not show contrast. Option d is wrong because "specific from mediation" is ungrammatical and fails to indicate that restorative justice and mediation differ as systems.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may focus only on the dictionary meanings of the words and ignore the way they combine with prepositions like "from". Another common issue is choosing a word that looks academic or formal, such as "specific", without checking if it actually fits the sentence pattern. The best method is to consider both meaning and the usual collocation, making "distinct from" the clear choice.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is: distinct.