Meaning: 'Unsustainable' refers to practices that cannot be continued indefinitely without causing harm to the environment.

Wrong options:

• boosted: 'Boosted' is the past tense of 'boost,' which means to increase or improve something, but it does not describe the nature of consumption and production patterns.
• accelerate: 'Accelerate' is a verb meaning to speed up, which does not fit as it does not describe the consumption and production patterns themselves.
• noisy: 'Noisy' is an adjective that describes something that makes a lot of noise, which is irrelevant in this context.
• sound: 'Sound' is an adjective that means reliable or in good condition, but it does not describe the consumption and production patterns accurately.
• protect: 'Protect' is a verb meaning to keep safe from harm, which does not fit grammatically or contextually as it does not describe the patterns.

Correct answer: accelerate

Explanation: The word 'accelerate' is a verb that indicates the need to increase the speed or intensity of efforts. It fits grammatically as it follows 'must' and aligns with the context of urging a faster response to environmental challenges.

Meaning: 'Accelerate' means to increase the speed or rate of something, in this case, efforts towards environmental sustainability.

Wrong options:

• boosted: 'Boosted' is the past tense of 'boost,' which does not fit as it implies a completed action rather than an ongoing effort that needs to be increased.
• noisy: 'Noisy' is an adjective that does not fit the context of efforts and does not convey any action related to environmental initiatives.
• sound: 'Sound' is an adjective that does not function as a verb and cannot convey the action of increasing efforts.
• unsustainable: 'Unsustainable' is an adjective that does not fit as it does not convey an action and is irrelevant in this context.
• protect: 'Protect' is a verb that means to keep safe, but it does not imply an increase in efforts and does not fit the grammatical structure.

Correct answer: sound

Explanation: The term 'sound' is used here as an adjective to describe economic growth that is sensible and sustainable. It fits grammatically as it modifies 'economic growth' and aligns with the context of pursuing responsible growth.

Meaning: 'Sound' in this context means reliable, sensible, or sustainable, indicating that the economic growth should be environmentally responsible.

Wrong options:

• boosted: 'Boosted' is the past tense of 'boost,' which does not fit as it does not describe the nature of economic growth.
• accelerate: 'Accelerate' is a verb that does not function as an adjective and cannot describe economic growth.
• noisy: 'Noisy' is an adjective that describes something that makes a lot of noise, which is irrelevant in this context.
• unsustainable: 'Unsustainable' describes practices that cannot be maintained, which contradicts the idea of pursuing responsible economic growth.
• protect: 'Protect' is a verb that does not fit grammatically as it cannot describe the nature of economic growth.