Question

complete the text with the correct pair of words.
the durian, an asian fruit, is notorious for its powerful stench. in 2012, scientists determined that fifty ____ compounds within the fruit, rather ____ any single substance, are responsible for its unique odor.

discrete... than

discreet... then

discrete... then

discreet... than

Explanation:

1. For the first blank: "discrete" means distinct/separate, which describes the individual compounds in the durian. "discreet" means cautious/modest, which does not fit the context of chemical compounds.
2. For the second blank: the phrase "rather than" is a standard comparative structure used here to contrast the fifty compounds with a single substance. "then" refers to time or sequence, which is incorrect in this context.

Answer:

discrete . . . than