The passage given below has numbered blanks. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.
To avoid the various foolish opinions which mankind holds, no superhuman genius is required. A few simple rules will keep you, not from all error, but from silly error. If the matter is one that can be (1)_____ by observation, make the observation yourself. Aristotle could have avoided the mistake of (2)______ that women have fewer teeth than men, by the simple device of asking Mrs Aristotle to keep her mouth open while he (3)_______. He did not do so because he thought he knew. Thinking that you know when in fact you don't is a fatal mistake, to which we are all (4)________. I believe myself that hedgehogs eat black beetles, because I have been told that they do; but if I were writing a book on the habits of hedgehogs, I should not (5)___ myself until I had seen one enjoying this unappetizing diet. Aristotle, however, was less cautious. Ancient and medieval authors knew all about unicorns and salamanders; not one of them thought it necessary to avoid dogmatic statements about them because he had never seen one of them.

Correct option is A

The correct option to fill in the blank is (a) counted.
Explanation:
· In the context, Aristotle could have verified his assumption about the number of teeth by counting them, not by simply watching.
· Hence, “counted” fits appropriately as he needed to actually enumerate (count) the teeth. (Hindi meaning: गिनना)
Example: The teacher counted the number of students present in the class.
Why other options are incorrect:
· (b) opened – means to unfasten something (खोलना); does not fit the idea of verifying by checking the number.
· (c) watched – means to observe (देखना); simply watching would not ensure counting teeth.
· (d) closed – means to shut (बंद करना); opposite and irrelevant in this context.
�� Information Booster:
In fill-in-the-blank questions, ensure the verb fits the action logically required by the sentence: here, counting teeth is a precise action needing enumeration, not just observation.