Meaning: 'Negative' means harmful or unfavorable, indicating that the public image suffers due to discrimination lawsuits.

Wrong options:

• constructive: 'Constructive' implies something beneficial or helpful, which contradicts the context of a lawsuit's impact on public image.
• responsive: 'Responsive' suggests a reaction or reply, which does not appropriately describe the public image in this context.
• imaginative: 'Imaginative' refers to creativity or inventiveness, which is irrelevant when discussing the negative consequences of discrimination.

Correct answer: eliminate

Explanation: The word 'eliminate' is the correct choice as it conveys the action of removing or getting rid of employment discrimination, fitting both grammatically and contextually within the sentence.

Meaning: 'Eliminate' means to completely remove or eradicate something, in this case, employment discrimination.

Wrong options:

• subordinate: 'Subordinate' means to place in a lower rank or position, which does not align with the goal of addressing discrimination.
• alternate: 'Alternate' suggests a choice or option, which does not fit the context of actively removing discrimination.
• illuminate: 'Illuminate' means to light up or clarify, which is not relevant to the act of removing discrimination.

Correct answer: practice

Explanation: The term 'practice' is appropriate as it refers to the act of making employment decisions based on discriminatory factors. It fits grammatically and contextually, as it describes the behavior being addressed.

Meaning: 'Practice' refers to the actual application or execution of a particular method or behavior, in this case, discriminatory employment decisions.

Wrong options:

• partition: 'Partition' refers to dividing something into parts, which does not relate to the concept of making employment decisions.
• trajectory: 'Trajectory' implies a path or course, which is not relevant to the context of employment decisions.
• accomplice: 'Accomplice' refers to someone who assists in a crime, which is not applicable in the context of employment practices.

Correct answer: based

Explanation: The word 'based' correctly indicates the foundation upon which employment decisions are made. It fits grammatically as a past participle and contextually as it describes the criteria for these decisions.

Meaning: 'Based' means to use something as a foundation or starting point, indicating that decisions are made on certain factors.

Wrong options:

• basis: 'Basis' is a noun that refers to the underlying support or foundation, but it does not fit grammatically in this context as it requires a verb form.
• base: 'Base' is a noun that refers to the bottom support of something, which does not fit the grammatical structure needed here.
• basing: 'Basing' is a gerund form that does not fit the sentence structure, which requires a past participle.