Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5. 

The correct answer is 'unemployment'.

Key Points

• As robots take up jobs done by humans in different industries, people tend to lose their jobs as it is cheaper and more efficient to invest in a machine than several workers to do a task.
• So a lot of people losing their jobs lead to unemployment which is a serious social issue and has many repercussions of its own.
• Considering the tone and context of the paragraph and this sentence, 'unemployment' is the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
• Thus, the correct answer is Option 1.

Correct Paragraph: A robot is a mechanical or virtual artificial agent, usually an electromechanical machine that is (1) guided by a computer programme or electronic circuitry. In general, robots can be autonomous or semi-autonomous and are now used in different fields. They have replaced (2) humans in performing repetitive and dangerous tasks which humans prefer not to do, or are unable to do because of size limitations, or which take place in extreme (3) environments such as outer space or the bottom of the sea. For instance, robots can now be used in industry, as in car manufacturing, or they can be used in homes to do the (4) housework . Some robots may respond to speech or even be medical operating tools. There are concerns about the increasing use of robots and their role in society. Robots are blamed for the rising (5) unemployment as they replace workers in increasing numbers of functions.