Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
In a world that values profit over ethics, it is rare to find a ___________ business-owner who values slow growth over instantaneous rewards that inevitably compromise the quality of the product.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → conscientious
Conscientious means careful to do what is right and to do one's work well, guided by one's conscience. A business-owner who prefers slow, honest growth to quick profits that spoil the quality of the product is conscientious.
Example: A conscientious student checks every answer before handing in the paper.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: conscious — Incorrect. Conscious means aware of something, or awake. The words sound alike: conscious is about awareness, conscientious about doing what is right.
Example: He was conscious of the danger.
Option 2: consensus — Incorrect. Consensus is a noun meaning general agreement within a group; it cannot describe a business-owner.
Example: The members reached a consensus after a long debate.
Option 4: conscience — Incorrect. Conscience is a noun meaning the inner sense of right and wrong; the adjective formed from it is conscientious.
Example: His conscience would not let him lie.