Meaning: 'Imperative' means something that is essential or urgent, indicating that investing in sustainable action is not just important but necessary.

Wrong options:

• impaired: 'Impaired' means weakened or damaged, which does not convey the intended meaning of necessity in this context.
• impalpable: 'Impalpable' refers to something that cannot be felt or perceived, which is irrelevant to the context of investment and action.
• impressive: 'Impressive' describes something that evokes admiration, but it does not convey the urgency or necessity required in this context.

Correct answer: alarming

Explanation: The word 'alarming' appropriately describes the situation as it conveys a sense of urgency and concern regarding the number of hungry people. It fits grammatically as an adjective modifying 'number,' and contextually it highlights the seriousness of the issue.

Meaning: 'Alarming' means causing worry or concern, indicating that the number of hungry people is a serious issue that needs attention.

Wrong options:

• unintentional: 'Unintentional' means not done on purpose, which does not fit the context of describing the severity of hunger.
• implicit: 'Implicit' means implied but not directly stated, which does not convey the urgency needed in this context.
• absolute: 'Absolute' means total or complete, which does not capture the sense of urgency or concern that 'alarming' does.

Correct answer: redirected

Explanation: The word 'redirected' fits grammatically as the past participle verb indicating an action taken by countries regarding their funds. Contextually, it suggests that funds have been shifted from development priorities to address immediate crises, which aligns with the overall message of the passage.

Meaning: 'Redirected' means to change the direction or focus of something, in this case, funds being moved away from development aid.

Wrong options:

• rebounded: 'Rebounded' means to bounce back, which does not fit the context of shifting funds.
• expended: 'Expended' means to use up resources, which does not convey the idea of changing the allocation of funds.
• recouped: 'Recouped' means to regain something lost, which does not apply to the context of reallocating funds.

Correct answer: neglecting

Explanation: The word 'neglecting' fits grammatically as a gerund that indicates the action of failing to care for long-term investment. Contextually, it highlights the risk of prioritizing short-term funding over essential long-term strategies, which is a critical concern in the passage.

Meaning: 'Neglecting' means failing to care for or pay attention to something, indicating that long-term investment could be overlooked if short-term funding is prioritized.

Wrong options:

• emphasizing: 'Emphasizing' means to give special importance to something, which contradicts the idea of failing to invest in long-term solutions.
• alerting: 'Alerting' means to warn someone about something, which does not fit the context of investment priorities.
• covening: 'Covening' is not a standard English word; it seems to be a misspelling of 'convening,' which means to gather, and does not relate to the context of investment.