Explanation:

Let’s break it down:

- The sentence is: “The (4) ___________ to discover the real rural India still continues in great earnest.”

- Here’s what the options mean in this context:

- Option 1: resistance — That doesn’t fit. “Resistance to discover…” makes no sense.

- Option 2: quest — This means a search or pursuit, which matches perfectly with “to discover.”

- Option 3: flight — “The flight to discover…” doesn’t work. ‘Flight’ here suggests fleeing, which is off base.

- Option 4: discovery — “The discovery to discover…” is repetitive and awkward.

- The passage is about ongoing effort or search, not about resisting, fleeing, or already discovering.

- “Quest” is just the right word for a purposeful search.

Option 2: quest fits here.