In this cloze passage on yoga, you must complete the phrase “of yogis in pretzel-like contortions at __________ end of the spectrum” by choosing the correct determiner so that the full expression “at one end of the spectrum” reads naturally and correctly in English.

Introduction / Context:
This question comes from a descriptive passage about yoga, contrasting two extreme images associated with the practice. The sentence segment is “of yogis in pretzel-like contortions at __________ end of the spectrum,” where the blank must be filled with a suitable word to complete a common English expression. Such cloze questions test whether you recognise fixed phrases and common collocations in English, beyond just basic grammar rules.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage discusses extremes: yogis doing complex contortions and young social media users on a beach.
• The specific phrase is “at __________ end of the spectrum.”
• Options: first, one, once, and that.
• The full passage later contrasts this with “at the other” end, so a pair expression is implied.

Concept / Approach:
In English, the standard expression for describing two extremes is “at one end of the spectrum” and “at the other end of the spectrum.” The word “one” introduces the first extreme, and “the other” marks the second. This fixed phrase is widely used in discussions of attitudes, appearances, or practices that vary greatly. Therefore, the missing word must be “one,” not “first” or any other alternative, because “first end of the spectrum” or “once end of the spectrum” are not idiomatic expressions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the author is describing two contrasting extremes of how yoga is perceived.Step 2: Recall the fixed expression “at one end of the spectrum” which is commonly paired with “at the other end of the spectrum.”Step 3: Check option B, “one,” which perfectly fits this known phrase.Step 4: Consider option A, “first,” and see that “at first end of the spectrum” is not a recognised phrase in standard English.Step 5: Consider option C, “once,” which is an adverb of time and does not function correctly here.Step 6: Consider option D, “that,” which also does not form a standard collocation in this structure.Step 7: Conclude that “one” is the only word that maintains both correctness and idiomatic usage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Read the relevant part of the passage with the chosen word: “of yogis in pretzel-like contortions at one end of the spectrum, and young Instagram-led, erstwhile-overweight beach posers at the other.” This sentence is smooth, logical, and idiomatic. It clearly sets up a contrast between two extremes. Substituting any other option produces awkward, nonstandard phrases like “at first end of the spectrum” or “at that end of the spectrum,” which do not capture the same standard expression. Therefore the choice “one” is verified as correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“First” is used with countable items in an ordered list (first, second, third) but not in the specific idiom describing extremes of a spectrum. “Once” is an adverb indicating “at some time in the past,” so “at once end of the spectrum” does not make sense. “That” is a demonstrative determiner, and “at that end of the spectrum” could appear in a different sentence, but it is not the intended fixed expression in this passage, especially when the other phrase is “at the other.”

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes ignore the wider context and focus only on the small phrase, leading them to choose words like “first” because they sound numerically appropriate. Another pitfall is not recognising common idioms such as “at one end and at the other end,” which are used frequently in English to describe ranges of behaviour or opinion. To improve performance on such questions, it is helpful to read widely and get comfortable with standard collocations and patterns, rather than relying solely on literal word meanings.

Final Answer:
The correct word to complete the expression is one, giving the phrase “at one end of the spectrum.”