Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

The RTE Act bears many similarities to the US's No Child Left Behind Act, ______ school accountability, assessment standards and teacher training.

including

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

The word including means to contain or to comprise. In this context, the sentence is saying that the RTE Act bears many similarities to the US's No Child Left Behind Act, including school accountability, assessment standards and teacher training. This means that the RTE Act includes school accountability, assessment standards and teacher training as some of its similarities to the No Child Left Behind Act.

The other options are not correct.

• Startling means surprising or unexpected. It does not make sense in this context because the similarities between the RTE Act and the No Child Left Behind Act are not surprising or unexpected.
• Responding means to react or to answer. It does not make sense in this context because the similarities between the RTE Act and the No Child Left Behind Act are not reactions or answers.
• Concluding means to finish or to complete. It does not make sense in this context because the similarities between the RTE Act and the No Child Left Behind Act are not the conclusion of anything.