📖 Read Passage — Set 5: Ecofeminism and the Gender-Environment Nexus
Ecofeminism, as a theoretical [1], posits that the domination of nature and the subjugation of women are not isolated phenomena but deeply [2] expressions of the same patriarchal logic. Scholars [3] this tradition contend that industrial capitalism treats the natural world as a resource to be exploited, in much the same way women have historically been reduced [4] instruments of male production and reproduction. In rural communities across the Global South, this connection is tangible: women, as primary providers of water, food, and fuel, are disproportionately [5] by deforestation and water scarcity. Ecofeminist thinkers therefore call for development policies that centre women's ecological knowledge alongside formal scientific expertise. Unless the traditional hierarchy separating expert knowledge from indigenous knowledge is dismantled, they argue, environmental governance will continue to fail communities most dependent upon natural resources. The path toward a truly sustainable future, ecofeminists insist, runs through the full recognition of women's agency in environmental decision-making.
- Blank [1]
- A. framework ✓
- B. paradigm
- C. construct
- D. lens
The blank follows 'as a theoretical' and must describe a structured system of thought. 'Framework' is the most widely used academic noun for a structured set of theoretical principles that guides analysis — 'theoretical framework' is a fixed compound noun in academic writing. 'Paradigm' is possible but more specific to Kuhnian paradigm shifts in science. 'Construct' is used for individually defined concepts, not whole analytical systems. 'Lens' is a useful metaphor but is less formal than 'framework' in standard academic prose.
- Blank [2]
- A. interlinked
- B. entangled
- C. interconnected
- D. intertwined ✓
The sentence describes domination of nature and subjugation of women as 'deeply ___2___ expressions of the same patriarchal logic'. The blank requires a word that conveys mutual entanglement at a structural level. 'Intertwined' is the most precise metaphorical choice — it evokes threads woven together, suggesting that the two forms of oppression are structurally wound into each other and cannot be separated. 'Interlinked' suggests connection by links (more linear). 'Interconnected' is more neutral and structural. 'Entangled' carries a connotation of accidental complication rather than systemic union.
- Blank [3]
- A. across
- B. within ✓
- C. inside
- D. of
The blank fills the preposition in 'Scholars ___3___ this tradition contend that...'. In academic English, the phrase 'scholars within a tradition/field' is the standard construction for researchers who work inside a school of thought. 'Within' conveys membership and participation in a theoretical tradition. 'Across' implies spanning multiple traditions. 'Inside' is too informal and spatial. 'Scholars of this tradition' is also grammatically correct but 'scholars within' is the more common academic phrase for disciplinary affiliation.
- Blank [4]
- A. as
- B. into
- C. to ✓
- D. toward
The phrase 'women have historically been reduced ___4___ instruments of male production' tests the fixed phrasal verb 'reduce to'. 'Reduce to' means to bring someone or something to a lesser state — the standard phrase for describing the dehumanising process of treating people as objects. 'Reduced to instruments' is the correct construction. 'Reduced as' is grammatically incorrect. 'Reduced into' is non-standard. 'Reduced toward' implies movement in a direction, not a completed transformation into a category.
- Blank [5]
- A. burdened
- B. disadvantaged
- C. affected ✓
- D. impacted
The sentence states that women are 'disproportionately ___5___ by deforestation and water scarcity'. The blank requires a past-participle adjective that collocates with 'by' in a passive sense. 'Affected by' is the standard academic collocation for being influenced or harmed by an external force — it is the most neutral and precise academic choice. 'Burdened by' suggests carrying a weight. 'Disadvantaged by' focuses on inequality. 'Impacted by' is widely used but considered informal in strict academic prose. 'Affected' best captures the broad range of harms without overspecification.
Set 5 — Read the Passage
Read the passage carefully before you begin. Each blank is a separate question with 4 options.
📄 Passage
Ecofeminism, as a theoretical __1__, posits that the domination of nature and the subjugation of women are not isolated phenomena but deeply __2__ expressions of the same patriarchal logic. Scholars __3__ this tradition contend that industrial capitalism treats the natural world as a resource to be exploited, in much the same way women have historically been reduced __4__ instruments of male production and reproduction. In rural communities across the Global South, this connection is tangible: women, as primary providers of water, food, and fuel, are disproportionately __5__ by deforestation and water scarcity. Ecofeminist thinkers therefore call for development policies that centre women's ecological knowledge alongside formal scientific expertise. Unless the traditional hierarchy separating expert knowledge from indigenous knowledge is dismantled, they argue, environmental governance will continue to fail communities most dependent upon natural resources. The path toward a truly sustainable future, ecofeminists insist, runs through the full recognition of women's agency in environmental decision-making.
Quiz Rules
- • 5 blanks — one question per blank, in order.
- • Click an option to answer — you cannot change it after selecting.
- • Correct: +1 mark | Wrong: −1 mark
- • 5 correct in a row: +2 streak bonus
- • A grammar/collocation explanation appears after every answer.
- • ⏱ Time limit: 10:00 — auto-submitted when time runs out.