Meaning: 'Worked' means to have functioned or been effective in achieving a desired outcome, in this case, education helping to protect jobs from automation.

Wrong options:

• ditched: 'Ditch' means to abandon or discard, which does not fit the context of education being effective; it implies a negative action rather than a positive outcome.
• stopped: 'Stopped' suggests a cessation of action, which contradicts the idea that education has been a proactive solution to the problem of automation.
• started: 'Started' implies the beginning of an action, which does not fit here as the sentence refers to the effectiveness of education that has already occurred.

Correct answer: reasoned

Explanation: The word 'reasoned' is the correct choice as it indicates a logical thought process, fitting grammatically and contextually with the sentence that describes policymakers' conclusions about the need for education in response to automation.

Meaning: 'Reasoned' means to think logically or to come to a conclusion based on reasoning, which is appropriate in the context of policymakers discussing the implications of automation.

Wrong options:

• grinded: 'Grinded' is the past tense of 'grind,' which does not fit the context of logical thinking and is unrelated to the discussion of education and automation.
• winded: 'Winded' refers to being out of breath or exhausted, which is irrelevant to the context of reasoning about education.
• stunned: 'Stunned' means to be shocked or surprised, which does not convey the logical deliberation expected from policymakers.

Correct answer: heavily

Explanation: The word 'heavily' fits grammatically as an adverb modifying the verb 'invested,' indicating the extent of investment in education. Contextually, it emphasizes the significant commitment made by the US towards education.

Meaning: 'Heavily' means to a great degree or extent, suggesting that the US made substantial investments in education.

Wrong options:

• mostly: 'Mostly' implies a majority but does not convey the intensity of investment; it lacks the strong connotation of commitment that 'heavily' provides.
• stollen: 'Stollen' is a type of bread and does not fit grammatically or contextually in the sentence about investment in education.
• lightly: 'Lightly' suggests a minimal or insignificant amount, which contradicts the context of substantial investment.

Correct answer: started

Explanation: The word 'started' is the correct choice as it indicates the initiation of a significant event, fitting grammatically and contextually with the sentence discussing the industrial revolution's impact on the relationship between technology and education.

Meaning: 'Started' means to have begun or initiated something, in this case, the competition between technology and education during the industrial revolution.

Wrong options:

• grated: 'Grated' refers to shredding food and does not fit the context of discussing historical events or processes.
• handled: 'Handled' implies managing or dealing with something, which does not accurately describe the beginning of a race between technology and education.
• added: 'Added' suggests an increase or inclusion, which does not convey the initiation of a race, making it contextually inappropriate.