Meaning: 'Easily' means without difficulty or effort, suggesting that the Mosuo's homeland is challenging to reach.

Wrong options:

• almost: 'Almost' implies proximity to a condition but does not convey the idea of accessibility, making it contextually irrelevant here.
• deeply: 'Deeply' suggests a profound level but does not appropriately describe accessibility, which requires a different connotation.
• fairly: 'Fairly' indicates a moderate degree, which contradicts the intended meaning of being difficult to access.

Correct answer: is traced

Explanation: The phrase 'is traced' is in the passive voice, which is appropriate here as it indicates that lineage is determined by the mother without specifying who does the tracing. This fits grammatically and contextually within the sentence structure.

Meaning: 'Is traced' means that the lineage is determined or followed through the mother, emphasizing the matriarchal aspect of their culture.

Wrong options:

• traces: 'Traces' is in the active voice and does not fit the passive construction required in this context.
• will trace: 'Will trace' suggests a future action, which is not applicable here as the sentence discusses a current practice.
• tracing: 'Tracing' is a gerund and does not fit grammatically as it lacks the necessary verb form to complete the sentence.

Correct answer: contact

Explanation: The word 'contact' fits grammatically as a noun that describes the relationship between children and their paternal family. It aligns contextually with the idea of interaction or communication, which is relevant to the sentence's meaning.

Meaning: 'Contact' refers to the state of meeting or communicating with someone, indicating that children have little interaction with their paternal family.

Wrong options:

• relation: 'Relation' refers to a connection but does not imply interaction, making it less suitable in this context.
• joint: 'Joint' is an adjective that does not fit as a noun in this context, failing to convey the intended meaning of interaction.
• touch: 'Touch' implies physical contact but does not encompass the broader idea of communication or relationship.

Correct answer: being

Explanation: The word 'being' is the correct form of the verb to indicate the ongoing state of responsibility. It fits grammatically as it complements the structure of the sentence, which describes the role of women in the Mosuo culture.

Meaning: 'Being' refers to the state of existing or performing a role, indicating that women are currently responsible for household duties.

Wrong options:

• be: 'Be' is the base form of the verb and does not fit grammatically in this context, which requires a gerund to indicate ongoing responsibility.
• are: 'Are' is a linking verb but does not convey the active sense of responsibility that 'being' does in this context.
• been: 'Been' is the past participle form and does not fit the present context of the sentence.

Correct answer: in accordance with

Explanation: The phrase 'in accordance with' fits grammatically and contextually as it indicates that the distribution of income aligns with the needs of the family members. It conveys a sense of compliance or agreement with the stated needs.

Meaning: 'In accordance with' means in agreement or conformity to something, suggesting that the distribution of income is based on the family's needs.

Wrong options:

• at the end of: This phrase suggests a conclusion rather than a method of distribution, making it contextually inappropriate here.
• as a result of: This implies causation rather than alignment with needs, which does not fit the intended meaning of the sentence.
• as well as: This phrase indicates addition rather than compliance, which does not accurately reflect the relationship between income distribution and family needs.