Fill in the blank with the correct option to form a meaningful sentence:-

The senior officer was ____ with the care of the new recruits.

entrusted

The correct answer is Option (3) → entrusted

The verb entrusted means to assign the responsibility for something to (someone). The structure "to be entrusted with" is the correct and idiomatic phrase to indicate that the senior officer was given the responsibility of looking after the new recruits.

• Trusted means believed to be reliable or honest, but is usually followed by by (e.g., He was trusted by the general).

• Mistrusted means regarded with suspicion or lack of confidence (the opposite meaning).

• Encouraged means given support or confidence to do something (doesn't fit the phrase structure with "with the care of").