Directions: In the following passage, some words have been left out and a word has been emboldened beside each blank. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the given alternatives.

Counting the dead is a A (intimidating) task, especially in India. The country accounts for roughly 17% of the deaths worldwide, but still doesn’t have a system that can B (meticulously) count the number of deaths. While the Civil Registration System (CRS) and the Sample Registration System (SRS) measure mortality, both come with their own C (frailty). The CRS is a record of vital events such as birth, death and stillbirth at the place of occurrence. But not all deaths are registered in India and a D (pronounced) number is recorded beyond the prescribed time limit of 21 days. The SRS is a large-scale survey that provides an estimate of the death rate or the number of deaths per 1,000 population. While the SRS is considered far more E (steadfast), reports state that in several States, the registered deaths exceed the estimates provided by the SRS. The release of the SRS Statistical Report 2020 in September has yet again raised questions about India’s mortality estimates. The report states that the death rate was 6.0 per 1,000 in 2020. In a year affected by the pandemic, the estimated death rate remained unchanged from 6.0 in 2019.