Final answer:
In the sentence 'The class regarded Kate as a paradigm of good manners,' the word 'paradigm' means a model or example of something, specifically referring to Kate being an ideal standard for good manners.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word paradigm refers to a model or example of something. In the context of the statement, "The class regarded Kate as a paradigm of good manners," it means that Kate is seen as the ideal or standard of good manners that others look up to or strive to emulate. The broader philosophical and scientific uses of the term refer to a framework of beliefs and theories that guide scholarly thinking and research. For instance, Thomas Kuhn's notion of paradigm shifts in science, where dominant theories become replaced by new ideas that better explain phenomena, illustrates the impact of substantial changes in understanding within a field. These shifts can be triggered by anomalies or evidence that current theories cannot satisfactorily explain. In sociology, paradigms like structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism have been seminal in understanding various aspects of social life. Hence, option 1) "A model or example of something" is the correct meaning of 'paradigm' in the given sentence.