strong >In the following questions, a sentence is given with two blanks. Identify the correct pair of words that fit in the sentence to make it grammatically and contextually correct. The link between nutrition and disability ______________the need for integrated health policies to improve dietary practices and _____________access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations.

For the 1st blank: "underscores" is the most suitable option. While "highlights" and "emphasizes" also suggest bringing attention to something, "underscores" implies a stronger emphasis on the importance or critical nature of the link between nutrition and disability, which aligns well with the tone of the sentence. "Demonstrates" would be a weaker choice, as it doesn’t convey the urgency of the need for integrated health policies. For the 2nd blank: "ensure" is the best choice because it means to make sure something happens, which fits perfectly with the intention of improving access to nutritious food. Words like "secure" and "guarantee" do not work as well in this context because they imply obtaining or assuring something in a more formal way, while "ensure" conveys a broader and more active responsibility to make sure vulnerable populations get access to food.