Fill in the blank with an appropriate option. Taking a deep, ______ breath, I start again, successfully loading the filter and placing the cup underneath.

calming

The most appropriate option to fill in the blank is calming.

The sentence is about the speaker taking a deep breath to calm down before trying again to load the filter and place the cup underneath. The word "calming" is the most appropriate word to use in this context because it conveys the meaning of the speaker taking a deep breath to relax and focus.

The other options are incorrect.

• Penetrating means forceful or invasive. This is not the right word to use in this context, as it does not convey the same meaning as "calming."
• Surrogating means taking the place of someone or something else. This is not the right word to use in this context, as it does not convey the same meaning as "calming."
• Jamming means to block or obstruct something. This is not the right word to use in this context, as it does not convey the same meaning as "calming."