Question

Fill in the blanks with the words that best fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
If a nation is unable to come to on interpreting its own past, it will be unable to its national interests.

• A. conclusion ... plan
• B. terms ... design
• C. decision ... comprehend
• D. consensus ... formulate

Hint:

Look for the pair where both words form natural collocations with "on its past" and "national interests."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The sentence needs two words that fit naturally with "come to ___ on interpreting the past" and "___ its national interests." Both blanks must work together to make the cause and effect of the sentence clear.

1. conclusion ... plan: "Come to a conclusion" is natural, but a nation does not usually "plan" its interests, it defines or shapes them, so the second word is a weak fit.
2. terms ... design: "Come to terms" is a common phrase, but "design its national interests" sounds odd since design suits objects or systems, not abstract interests.
3. decision ... comprehend: "Come to a decision" fits, but failing to "comprehend" its own interests does not match the sentence, since the issue is disagreement on history, not understanding.
4. consensus ... formulate: "Come to a consensus" fits perfectly with disagreement over interpreting the past, and "formulate its national interests" describes clearly building a coherent position, which follows logically from that disagreement.

The correct option is consensus ... formulate, since it best links disagreement on history to the inability to build a clear national interest.