Meaning: 'Rooted' means to be firmly established or ingrained in something.

Wrong options:

• discredited: 'Discredited' means to harm the reputation of something, which does not fit as it describes a state of being rather than the origin of perception.
• retaliated: 'Retaliated' refers to responding to an action, which does not relate to the establishment of perception.
• appeared: 'Appeared' suggests a visual or superficial presence, which does not convey the depth of the perception's foundation.
• crated: 'Crated' is a verb that means to put something into a crate, which is irrelevant in this context.

Correct answer: assessed

Explanation: The term 'assessed' fits grammatically as it indicates the action of evaluating or judging intelligence or humanity based on skull shape. This aligns with the context of discussing how anthropologists made judgments about Neanderthals.

Meaning: 'Assessed' means to evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something.

Wrong options:

• discredited: 'Discredited' does not fit as it refers to damaging credibility rather than evaluating intelligence.
• retaliated: 'Retaliated' is unrelated to the context of evaluation and implies a response to an action.
• appeared: 'Appeared' does not convey the action of evaluation and is irrelevant in this context.
• rooted: 'Rooted' describes a state of being established, not an action of evaluation.
• crated: 'Crated' is unrelated to the context and does not pertain to assessment.

Correct answer: discredited

Explanation: The word 'discredited' indicates that the assumptions about Neanderthals have been proven false or invalidated. This fits grammatically and contextually as it describes the impact of new discoveries on previous beliefs.

Meaning: 'Discredited' means to show that something is not true or valid.

Wrong options:

• assessed: 'Assessed' refers to evaluating something, which does not fit the context of invalidating assumptions.
• retaliated: 'Retaliated' implies a response to an action, which is not relevant to the context of discrediting assumptions.
• appeared: 'Appeared' does not convey the idea of invalidation and is irrelevant here.
• rooted: 'Rooted' describes a state of being established, not the act of invalidating assumptions.
• crated: 'Crated' is unrelated to the context and does not pertain to discrediting.

Correct answer: rehabilitate

Explanation: The term 'rehabilitate' fits grammatically as it describes the action of restoring Neanderthals' reputation. This aligns with the context of discussing how new discoveries have positively changed perceptions.

Meaning: 'Rehabilitate' means to restore to a good condition or reputation.

Wrong options:

• discredited: 'Discredited' refers to damaging a reputation, which contradicts the idea of improving it.
• assessed: 'Assessed' does not relate to the action of restoring reputation and is irrelevant in this context.
• retaliated: 'Retaliated' implies a response to an action, which does not fit the context of improving reputation.
• rooted: 'Rooted' describes a state of being established, not an action of restoring reputation.
• crated: 'Crated' is unrelated to the context and does not pertain to rehabilitation.