A sentence has been given with a blank to be filled with an appropriate word. Choose the correct alternative.

To make your own gargle, ______ half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm or partly cooled boiled water.

dissolve

The correct answer is dissolve.

The word "dissolve" means to make something go into a liquid and disappear. In this context, it means to mix the salt with the water until it is no longer visible. This is the most appropriate word to fill in the blank because it is the only word that describes the process of making a salt solution.

The other options are not as appropriate:

• Cease means to stop. This does not make sense in the context of the sentence.
• Cast means to throw something. This does not make sense in the context of the sentence.
• Consolidate means to make something stronger or more compact. This does not make sense in the context of the sentence.