In the following question, a word is given in bold.

Solution

'Potency' is a noun and means 'the power of something to influence or make an impression or the strength of an intoxicant or drug'. Sentence i after rearrangement - 'Ransomware attacks frequently begin through email as a typical phishing message purporting to be from someone the potency victim trusts, such as a co-worker or friend.' In sentence i: Here 'potency' tries to qualify another noun 'victim' which is grammatically incorrect. We need an adjective in place of 'potency'; 'potential' (having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future) would be a better word, both contextually and grammatically, which is an adjective. Sentence ii after rearrangement - 'Then, too, there is in German literature a fine reserve which I like; but its chief glory is the recognition I find in it of the redeeming potency of woman's self-sacrificing love.' In sentence ii: Here, 'potency' means 'power/strength' and conveys a meaning - 'German literature points to the redeeming power of a woman's self-sacrificing love' - which makes sense in the context of the sentence. Sentence iii after rearrangement - 'In his second period he developed the theory of "potentiality" or dynamization - namely, that medicines gained in strength by being diluted, if the dilution was accompanied by shaking or pounding, which was supposed to "potentialize" or increase the potency of the medicine.' In sentence iii: Here 'potency' means 'the strength of an intoxicant or drug' and makes the sentence perfectly meaningful. This sentence uses the highlighted word correctly. The answer is option (b).