Meaning: 'Know' means to be aware of something through experience or information, indicating that the speaker has a personal understanding of the impact of literature on health.

Wrong options:

• take: 'Take' implies receiving or accepting something, which does not convey the same sense of awareness as 'know.'
• understand: 'Understand' suggests comprehension but lacks the personal experience aspect that 'know' conveys in this context.
• get: 'Get' can imply obtaining or achieving something, which does not fit the context of asserting knowledge about a fact.

Correct answer: bumped into

Explanation: The phrase 'bumped into' is a common idiomatic expression that indicates a collision or accidental contact with an object, fitting perfectly in the context of the speaker's experience of hitting a lamppost while distracted by reading.

Meaning: 'Bumped into' means to accidentally collide with something, which accurately describes the speaker's experience of hitting a lamppost.

Wrong options:

• drew up: 'Drew up' typically means to stop or come to a halt, which does not convey the action of colliding with an object.
• ran over: 'Ran over' implies moving over something, usually in a vehicle, which is not applicable in this pedestrian context.
• fell over: 'Fell over' suggests losing balance and collapsing, which does not accurately describe the action of colliding with a lamppost.

Correct answer: wits

Explanation: The word 'wits' refers to one's mental faculties or common sense, which fits the context of the sentence where the speaker reflects on their awareness and alertness while walking and reading.

Meaning: 'Wits' means the ability to think quickly and make good decisions, indicating that the speaker should have been more aware of their surroundings.

Wrong options:

• thoughts: 'Thoughts' refer to ideas or mental processes but do not convey the same sense of alertness or awareness as 'wits.'
• ideas: 'Ideas' are concepts or notions, which do not fit the context of being aware or alert in a physical situation.
• brains: 'Brains' refers to intelligence or intellect but lacks the idiomatic usage that 'wits' conveys in this context.

Correct answer: dependent

Explanation: The word 'dependent' fits grammatically and contextually as it describes the reliance on mechanical equipment for experiencing television or movies, aligning with the overall sentiment of the sentence about intimacy.

Meaning: 'Dependent' means relying on something else, indicating that the experience of television or movies is reliant on technology, which contrasts with the experience of reading.

Wrong options:

• needy: 'Needy' implies a lack of something essential, which does not accurately describe the relationship with mechanical equipment in this context.
• attached: 'Attached' suggests a physical or emotional connection, which does not convey the same sense of reliance as 'dependent.'
• trusting: 'Trusting' implies a belief in reliability, which does not fit the context of describing the nature of the relationship with mechanical equipment.

Correct answer: however

Explanation: The word 'however' serves as a discourse marker that introduces a contrast to the previous statement, fitting grammatically and contextually to indicate a shift in the argument about books versus other media.

Meaning: 'However' means 'nevertheless' or 'on the other hand,' indicating a contrast to the previous idea about the transient nature of television and movies.

Wrong options:

• despite: 'Despite' is a preposition that indicates a concession but does not fit grammatically as a conjunction in this context.
• although: 'Although' is a conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause, which does not fit the structure of the sentence as well as 'however.'
• no matter: 'No matter' is a phrase that indicates disregard for conditions, but it does not serve as a proper transition in this context.

Correct answer: relationship

Explanation: The word 'relationship' fits grammatically and contextually as it describes the connection between books and the human mind, aligning with the overall theme of the passage about the impact of reading.

Meaning: 'Relationship' refers to the way in which two or more concepts are connected, indicating the complex interaction between literature and human cognition.

Wrong options:

• method: 'Method' refers to a systematic way of doing something, which does not convey the sense of connection that 'relationship' does.
• relation: 'Relation' is a noun that can imply a connection but is less commonly used in this context compared to 'relationship.'
• view: 'View' refers to an opinion or perspective, which does not accurately describe the nature of the connection being discussed.