Meaning: 'Developing' means to grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate, in this case referring to the process of building an understanding of historical forces.

Wrong options:

• guarding: 'Guarding' implies protection and does not relate to the process of understanding, making it contextually irrelevant here.
• presenting: 'Presenting' suggests showing or displaying, which does not convey the idea of creating an understanding, thus it is not suitable in this context.
• help: 'Help' is a verb that indicates assistance, but it does not fit grammatically as it does not serve as a noun or gerund in this structure.

Correct answer: can

Explanation: The word 'can' is a modal verb that indicates ability, fitting grammatically and contextually as it expresses the potential for exercising control over the forces shaping our lives.

Meaning: 'Can' means to be able to or have the capacity to do something, in this case, exercising control over societal forces.

Wrong options:

• may: 'May' suggests permission or possibility but does not convey the same sense of ability as 'can', making it less appropriate in this context.
• must: 'Must' indicates necessity or obligation, which does not align with the idea of exercising control as a potential action, thus it is not suitable here.
• should: 'Should' implies recommendation or advice, which does not fit the context of expressing ability to control.

Correct answer: came

Explanation: The word 'came' is the past tense of 'come', fitting grammatically as it describes the action of the founding thinkers entering prominence. Contextually, it aligns with the historical timeline of sociology's development.

Meaning: 'Came' means to arrive at a particular place or state, in this case, referring to the founding thinkers achieving prominence in sociology.

Wrong options:

• been: 'Been' is the past participle of 'be' and does not fit the sentence structure as it lacks a subject and does not convey the action of arriving at prominence.
• walks: 'Walks' is present tense and does not fit the past context of the sentence, making it grammatically incorrect here.
• paves: 'Paves' suggests creating a path and does not fit the context of achieving prominence, thus it is not suitable.

Correct answer: only

Explanation: The word 'only' serves as an adverb that emphasizes exclusivity, fitting grammatically and contextually as it highlights the unique relationship between sociology and social change.

Meaning: 'Only' means solely or exclusively, indicating that the relationship is unique to the context of social change in modernity.

Wrong options:

• not: 'Not' is a negation and does not fit the context of emphasizing the relationship, making it grammatically incorrect here.
• so: 'So' is used to indicate a consequence or degree, which does not convey the exclusivity needed in this context, thus it is inappropriate.
• some: 'Some' implies an unspecified quantity and does not convey the exclusivity of the relationship, making it unsuitable.