In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

“Can I come along with you on your fishing trip, please?” asked Millie. Her two elder brothers (1)________ at her scornfully. “Fishing is a man's (2) ________,” said her older brother, Derek. “Girls are not (3) ________ at fishing.” (4) ________ a while, however, Millie managed to persuade her brothers to take her (5) ________. When they reached the fishing pond, the two brothers wandered off by themselves.

Select the correct option to fill blank 2.

The correct option is sport.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. Analyze the sentence context:
The passage states: “Fishing is a man's (2) ________,” said her older brother, Derek. We need to select the word that best describes fishing in this context.

2. Evaluate the options:
• matches: Refers to specific contests between competitors, which does not fit describing fishing as a general pastime or activity.
• gaming: Refers to playing electronic games or gambling, which is contextually incorrect.
• competition: Refers to an event or situation where people compete, which does not naturally complete the clause.
• sport: Refers to an activity involving physical exertion, skill, or recreation (such as fishing or hunting). "A man's sport" is a natural, idiomatic fit in this sentence.

3. Conclusion:
Therefore, the most appropriate word to fill blank (2) is sport.