Final answer:
The word 'yielded' correctly completes the sentence as it means to produce a benefit, which can happen when penalties lead to positive outcomes such as lessons learned or future behavior prevention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence "The penalty yielded a benefit." is correctly completed with the word 'yielded'. This is because 'yielded' means to produce or provide, which is a suitable context when talking about a penalty that brings about a benefit. This choice is coherent and makes sense logically, as penalties can sometimes result in a positive outcome, whether that is a lesson learned or a preventative measure for future behavior.
For instance, if a penalty for late homework submission leads a student to develop better time management skills, then the penalty has 'yielded' a benefit. The other options, such as 'withdrew', 'guaranteed', and 'postponed', do not fit contextually as they imply actions that do not line up with the idea of a penalty producing a benefit.