Final answer:
The answer to the student's fill-in-the-blank question is 'ignorance,' which shows a lack of knowledge about basic historical facts of one's own country.
Step-by-step explanation:
He showed complete ignorance of the most basic historical facts of his own country. This sentence indicates that the person lacks knowledge or awareness in matters that should be commonly known, especially regarding his own nation's history. The correct answer is D. ignorance.
The belief that one's culture is superior to another's is termed ethnocentrism, which is very different from ignorance. On the question of building an American empire, Mahan did not advocate for the reopening of the American frontier, making 'C' the right choice. Furthermore, in his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln heavily emphasized the permanent nature of the Union (Answer B), not the other options provided.