In today's fast-paced world, individuals are inundated with information, necessitating the cultivation of critical thinking skills in order to navigate the influx of data ______________. Additionally, the prevalence of fake news and misinformation presents a ______________ challenge, undermining peopleʼs trust in media and institutions. Promoting media literacy and cultivating a culture of scepticism are vital for ______________ informed citizenship and democratic values.

The passage discusses the challenges of navigating today's information-saturated world, emphasising the need for critical thinking to process content effectively. It further highlights how fake news and misinformation erode trust in institutions, creating a pressing societal problem that demands solutions. It is evident from the context that the first blank requires an adverb that describes the way in which information is processed, the second blank requires an adjective that conveys the widespread nature of the challenge, and the third blank requires a verb that indicates the active promotion of positive values.

Given that they both refer to careful evaluation, "discerningly" (option A) and "judiciously" (option D) could both theoretically fill the first blank. However, "thoughtfully" (option B) lacks the precise analytical connotation needed and is too general, while "discreetly" (option C) is completely inappropriate because it refers to secrecy rather than evaluation.

The only appropriate response for the second blank is "pervasive" (option A), which precisely characterises the widespread dissemination of false information. "Systematic" (option D) implies organisation rather than ubiquity, "global" (option C) essentially simplifies the argument and doesn't communicate permeation, and "holistic" (option B) falsely suggests a comprehensive approach rather than an invasive problem.

Since "fostering" (option A) is the only word that adequately describes the active cultivation of informed citizenship, it is the only choice for the third blank. The terms "furthering" (option B) and "serving" (option C) are illogical in this context, "inhibiting" (option D) suggests obstruction rather than promotion, and "furthering" (option B) suggests advancement of existing traits rather than their development.

Therefore, option A stands as the exclusively correct answer because it alone maintains the precise sequence of: careful processing ("discerningly") → comprehensive threat ("pervasive") → active cultivation ("fostering") that the passage's logic demands. The other options each fail at one or more of these crucial lexical requirements. The correct answer is consequently option A.