Directions: In this section, there is a passage with several blanks. You are required to select one word forA emerged B springing upC counter D On averageE evolved F mechanismG ghost-writing H opened upI troubleshoot J propertiesK stage-managed L free-associateM account for N come in handyO proofread2). Intelligent as they may be, whales have not found a way to 17.______the attacks of their deadliest enemy:human beings.

根据题目要求，我们需要选择一个合适的单词填入空白处，使得句子通顺且意义完整。句子的大意是：“尽管鲸鱼非常聪明，但它们还没有找到一种方法来应对它们最致命的敌人：人类的攻击。” 分析选项： - A emerged：出现 - B springing up：涌现 - C counter：对抗、反击 - D On average：平均 - E evolved：进化 - F mechanism：机制 - G ghost-writing：代笔 - H opened up：打开 - I troubleshoot：排除故障 - J properties：属性 - K stage-managed：导演 - L free-associate：自由联想 - M account for：解释、说明 - N come in handy：派上用场 - O proofread：校对 根据句子的意思，鲸鱼需要找到一种方法来“应对”或“反击”人类的攻击。因此，最合适的选项是“counter”（对抗、反击）。 所以，填入空白处的单词是“counter”。 最终答案是：C counter。