In the following passage about India and world peace, a blank is indicated. Select the most appropriate word to fill the blank: “India’s motto has been Vasudeva Kutumbakam, meaning that the whole world is _____ community.”

Introduction / Context:
This question comes from a passage on India foreign policy and the ancient ideal expressed in the Sanskrit phrase “Vasudeva Kutumbakam”, often paraphrased in English as “the world is one family”. The blank asks for a word that correctly completes the idea that the entire world is viewed as a single community. Such cloze test questions examine both vocabulary and understanding of context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sentence is: “India’s motto has been Vasudeva Kutumbakam or that the whole world is _____ community.”
• Options provided are “one”, “distinct”, “essential”, and “significant”.
• The passage is about unity and world peace, not about separation or difference.
• We assume that the examiner expects the well known translation of this phrase.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea of “Vasudeva Kutumbakam” is unity. It does not describe the world as many separate communities but as a single human family. Therefore, the blank must be filled with a word that emphasises oneness. “One community” captures this meaning perfectly. The other options either suggest separation (“distinct” community), importance (“significant” community), or basic nature (“essential” community), none of which direct express unity of all humanity in the sense required here. The correct answer is thus the simple and direct word “one”.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
We can rephrase the sentence fully as “India has often repeated the motto that the whole world is one community.” This is entirely consistent with the philosophical and diplomatic language that Indian leaders use in international forums. If we try “distinct community”, the meaning becomes that the world is separate or different, which contradicts the message. “Essential community” does not convey unity, and “significant community” is vague and off topic. Additionally, the phrase “one community” echoes the commonly quoted interpretation “one family”, so it clearly fits both context and idiomatic usage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B: “distinct” suggests clearly separate or different, which is opposite to the idea that the world is united as a single community.
• Option C: “essential” refers to something fundamental or necessary, but “essential community” is not a standard expression and does not reflect the intended meaning.
• Option D: “significant” means important, yet “significant community” does not capture the philosophical sense of unity implied by the motto.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates overthink cloze test questions and search for complex sounding words even when the context calls for a simple one. Another pitfall is to ignore cultural or well known translations and treat the sentence as a stand alone line. Here, knowing the familiar translation of “Vasudeva Kutumbakam” gives a strong clue. In such passages, always link the blank to the central theme, which in this case is unity of all nations and people. The simplest and most direct word often fits best when it preserves the core meaning without unnecessary complication.

Final Answer:
The correct word to fill the blank is “one”, as in “the whole world is one community”.