Directions: In the following passage, some of the words are missing. Find the suitable word from the options given below that make the paragraph meaningful. Climate negotiations have a tendency to get entangled more in words than in enabling action. A devastating year of heat waves, droughts, lost crops, extreme floods made it impossible to ignore climate-related damages to lives and livelihoods. The latest round of _______ (A), COP27 in Egypt began with little hope and ended two days beyond schedule with a faint glimmer. All 197 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed to enable financing for loss and damage to those that need it the most. But the goal of keeping temperature rise to levels that could _______ (B) loss and damage continued to slip away. Loss and damage (or L&D) refers to the adverse impacts that _______ (C) communities and countries face as a result of a changing climate, including the increased incidents and intensity of natural disasters and extreme weather as well as slow-onset temperature increase, sea-level rise, or desertification. Rich countries had resisted L&D payments for years, worried that their historical emissions would impose large calls for compensation. Under pressure, they could no longer duck their _______ (D). The COP27 decision includes the development of a Transition Committee dedicated to L&D, with equal representation across rich and poor countries. In order to operationalise the funding arrangements, this committee has been tasked with configuring institutional _______ (E), identifying and expanding sources of funding, and coordinating with existing funding arrangements — all by COP28 in the UAE next year. The sticking points of negotiations, thus, remain. India can speak — and act — on behalf of the Global South, to ensure that the new L&D financing facility delivers. A global index, based on climatic risks and compounding impacts, would transparently—and scientifically—establish the sheer size of the problem that the L&D facility will have to address. Which of the following options is suitable for blank (D)? I. Impediment II. Onus III. Responsibility
Verbal Reasoning
Logical Sequence of Words
Difficulty: Medium
Choose an option
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AOnly (I)
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BOnly (II)
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COnly (III)
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DBoth (I) and (II)
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EBoth (I) and (III)
Answer
Correct Answer: Only (III)
Explanation
### Concept & Idiomatic Expression
The blank requires a noun that pairs well with the verb "duck" (meaning to evade or avoid) and makes sense in the context of rich countries owing compensation.
### Step-by-Step Solution
- Analyze the context: The passage states that rich countries resisted payments due to their historical emissions, but under pressure, they could no longer avoid ("duck") their obligation.
- Evaluate 'Impediment': This means a hindrance or obstruction. You don't "duck an impediment" in this context; it doesn't make logical sense.
- Evaluate 'Onus': Meaning duty or responsibility. While meaning-wise it fits, "duck their onus" is an uncommon phrasing. Moreover, checking the options provided, there is no option for "Both (II) and (III)".
- Evaluate 'Responsibility': Meaning a moral obligation to behave correctly towards or in respect of. "Duck one's responsibility" is a standard and widely used idiomatic phrase.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Recognize collocations. The phrase "duck their responsibility" is a very common English idiom meaning to evade doing something that you should do. Recognizing this immediately points to option III.
### Common Pitfall
Thinking that 'Onus' and 'Responsibility' are perfectly interchangeable in all phrases. While synonyms, idiomatic usage strictly prefers "ducking responsibility".
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **Only (III)**.