In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

The minute you start _______ and tolerating __________, it becomes the new norm and the slide begins and therefore, we must constantly __________ to give our best and be recognised, not simply aim to do just enough to ___________ that we don’t get found out.

compromising, mediocrity, strive, ensure

The most appropriate options to fill in the blanks are: The minute you start **compromising** and tolerating **mediocrity**, it becomes the new norm and the slide begins and therefore, we must constantly **strive** to give our best and be recognised, not simply aim to do just enough to **ensure** that we don’t get found out.

• Compromising: This emphasizes the act of settling for less than the best.
• Mediocrity:This refers to the state of being average or ordinary, which is what happens when we accept compromises.
• Strive: This means to try very hard to achieve something, which is the opposite of accepting mediocrity.
• Ensure: This signifies making certain that something happens, in this case, making sure we don't just avoid getting caught but actively pursue excellence.