Meaning: 'Nobel-winning' refers to work that has been recognized with a Nobel Prize, indicating high achievement in a scientific field.

Wrong options:

• Stripling: 'Stripling' refers to a young person, which does not fit the context of describing significant scientific work; it lacks the necessary connection to the Nobel Prize.
• Pretending: 'Pretending' implies a false representation or act, which is irrelevant in this context where genuine scientific work is being discussed.
• Persevering: 'Persevering' describes the act of continuing despite difficulties, but it does not specifically relate to the type of work being done, making it contextually inappropriate.

Correct answer: analyzed

Explanation: The verb 'analyzed' is the correct choice as it indicates that researchers examined the data of Nobel Prize winners in detail. This fits grammatically in the past tense and contextually as it describes the action taken by researchers in the study.

Meaning: 'Analyzed' means to examine something methodically and in detail, typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation.

Wrong options:

• comprised: 'Comprised' means to consist of or be made up of, which does not fit the context of what researchers did with the data; it lacks the action of examination.
• bribed: 'Bribed' implies offering something to influence someone, which is completely unrelated to the context of scientific research and analysis.
• utilized: 'Utilized' means to make practical use of something, but it does not convey the specific action of examining data, making it less suitable.

Correct answer: two-thirds

Explanation: The phrase 'two-thirds' fits grammatically as a quantifier indicating a proportion, which is appropriate in the context of discussing the number of Nobel winners. It provides a clear statistical reference that aligns with the sentence's focus on age and achievement.

Meaning: 'Two-thirds' refers to a fraction representing two out of three parts, indicating a significant majority of Nobel winners in this context.

Wrong options:

• technocrats: 'Technocrats' refers to experts in technology or technical fields, which does not fit the context of discussing proportions of Nobel winners.
• drags: 'Drags' is a colloquial term that implies something slow or burdensome, which is irrelevant in this statistical context.
• skirts: 'Skirts' refers to a type of clothing or can imply avoiding something, neither of which relates to the statistical discussion of Nobel winners.

Correct answer: increased

Explanation: The verb 'increased' is appropriate as it indicates a growth in the number of mature researchers, fitting grammatically in the past tense and contextually as it describes a trend over time in the field of research.

Meaning: 'Increased' means to become greater in size, amount, or degree, indicating that the number of mature researchers has grown.

Wrong options:

• beeped: 'Beeped' refers to a sound made by a device, which is completely unrelated to the context of research and achievement.
• deceit: 'Deceit' refers to the act of deceiving or misleading, which does not fit the context of discussing the growth of researchers.
• yeast: 'Yeast' is a type of fungus used in baking and brewing, which has no relevance to the context of scientific research or achievement.