Choose the correct option to fill up the blank in the given sentence:
Jokes that show girls as weak in maths only ______ the very belief that keeps many of them away from the science stream.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → perpetuate
Complete sentence: Jokes that show girls as weak in maths only perpetuate the very belief that keeps many of them away from the science stream.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) perpetuate (answer) | to make something, usually something bad, continue for a long time (fits jokes that keep a false belief alive) | Old films often perpetuated the idea that only sons could look after their parents. |
| (2) perpetrate | to commit a crime or a harmful act | The police caught the men who had perpetrated the ATM fraud. |
| (3) dispel | to make a feeling, belief or doubt go away | The doctor’s calm words dispelled our fears. |
| (4) mitigate | to make something bad less serious or painful | Planting trees along the road can mitigate the summer heat. |