As the pandemic made its mark in 2022, the planet _________(25)_________ a series of growing environmental challenges. At the UN, the struggles of farmers and the global food system, the ________ (26)_________ loss of biodiversity, and the ever-heating planet dominated the agenda, culminating at November’s COP26 climate conference. This challenge is especially ______ (27)______ in India, where more than 700 million people depend on forests and agriculture for their sustenance. More than 85% of them are small and marginal landholders, leaving them especially _________ (28)_________ as the climate changes the world around them. Fortunately, pioneers across India are deploying a set of techniques, known as landscape restoration, that can _______(29)______ damaged ecosystems and ______(30)____ biodiversity.

Find out the appropriate word which fits the blank (25) appropriately.

The correct option is endured.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Analyze the Context: The sentence states: "As the pandemic made its mark in 2022, the planet _________(25)_________ a series of growing environmental challenges." The blank requires a verb in the past tense that describes how the planet experienced or faced severe environmental challenges.

2. Evaluate the Options:

• endured: Means to suffer something painful or difficult patiently, or to undergo and withstand hardship. Hardships like "environmental challenges" are endured. This fits the context perfectly.
• evaded: Means to escape or avoid, especially by cleverness. The planet could not escape or avoid these challenges as they dominated global agendas.
• relished: Means to enjoy greatly. One does not enjoy environmental challenges.
• adored: Means to love deep inside or worship. This is completely contextually inappropriate.
• deified: Means to treat or worship someone/something as a god. This is irrelevant to facing challenges.

3. Conclusion: Therefore, the word endured appropriately fits blank (25).