Question

Given the exponential growth of scientific knowledge, medicine is far less ---- unsubstantiated fads than it used to be; its records of folly, however, remains an undeniable ----.
a. Suspicious of---qualification
b. Averse to ----encumbrance
c. Vulnerable to----embarrassment
d. Dependent on------impossibility
e. Ignorant of-----oversight

Answer 1

Hint: The appropriate words with the required prepositions gives the sentence a proper meaning. The sentence refers to how the advancement in science actually affected the ability of perceiving new theories and discarding the ones that are wrong.

Complete answer:
Now, from the options given above,

a. Suspicious of---qualification: The world of science is highly suspicious of unsubstantiated statements than ever before. Hence, this is not the answer.

b. Averse to ----encumbrance: Again, the sector is more averse to such fads and not less. So, this is definitely not the answer to the given question.

c. Vulnerable to----embarrassment: Yes, the sector is less vulnerable and the follies are never an embarrassment, instead we get to learn more from our mistakes.

d. Dependent on------impossibility: yes, they are less dependent on fads but follies are never an impossibility. Follies will happen time and again. We have to learn from our mistakes.

e. Ignorant of-----oversight: These words fit perfectly with the sentence given above and yes, they are less ignorant concerning fads and follies were indeed a foresight.

Hence, Option c, is the correct answer for the above question.

Note: “Vulnerable to” is a good option but follies are never an embarrassment, they tell us how many ways we are not supposed to do it. This is why Option e suits best with the sentence given in the question.
The complete sentence would be ”Given the exponential growth of scientific knowledge, medicine is far less ignorant of unsubstantiated fads than it used to be; its records of folly, however, remains an undeniable insight”, putting forward the fact that the scientific society today is more vigilant towards illogical fads.