Question

tour brochures describe the highland valley in seoraksan national park as \untouched wilderness,\ yet ecologist kim ji-won points out that centuries of small-scale farming terraces and controlled burns have shaped its vegetation. to her, calling the landscape ____ erases that history of human stewardship, suggesting a purity that never truly existed.

3 mark for review
which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
(a) resilient
(b) inhospitable
(c) pristine
(d) sacred

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the context. The text says the landscape is called "untouched wilderness" but has human - shaped history. The word should contrast with the human - influenced reality and match the idea of "purity that never truly existed".

• Option A: "resilient" means able to recover, not related to purity or untouched nature. Eliminate.
• Option B: "inhospitable" means unwelcoming, not about purity. Eliminate.
• Option C: "pristine" means untouched, pure, which fits the idea of a false purity as the landscape was shaped by humans.
• Option D: "sacred" means holy, not related to the purity/untouched theme.

Answer:

C. pristine