No species lasts forever. Our species has been in existence for at least 200,000 years and is not old in evolutionary terms. Consequently, we should persist for hundreds of thousands of years yet there are no indications that Homo sapiens is in decline. However, whether we have the capacity for total destruction — through nuclear annihilation or such — remains debated. Some experts argue that humans are so numerous, widespread and suited to survive catastrophe that no event would result in extinction. A collapse of global ecosystems resulting from climate change and overpopulation has also been predicted as a cause for our extinction but, again, it is difficult to accept that such events could cause human die-off everywhere. Ultimately, it is impossible to predict what might happen in coming centuries. But, more so than any other species, humanity is able to control its evolution via the use of technology, genetic modification and the control of resources; these factors make it likely that we will persist for longer than has been typical for mammal species before us.
Choose the correct word based on your understanding of the Comprehension:
He is unable to _____ the outcome of next week's match.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Predict
Predict means to say what will happen in the future. The passage uses it in "it is impossible to predict what might happen in coming centuries"; in the same way, the result of a match to be played next week cannot be known yet, only predicted.
Example: Experts predict heavy rain over the weekend.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Persist — Incorrect. Persist means to continue to exist or to keep doing something in spite of difficulty. It takes no direct object ("persist in"), so "persist the outcome" makes no sense.
Example: If the fever persists, see a doctor.
Option 3: Accept — Incorrect. Accept means to agree to or receive something. One can accept a result only after it has happened; next week's match has not been played.
Example: The team accepted the referee's decision.
Option 4: Exist — Incorrect. Exist means to be real or to be present; it takes no object.
Example: Do ghosts really exist?