The blank needs a word describing how genre conventions enable rather than restrict creativity. The passage argues writers "use familiar structures" as a foundation for "experimentation," with conventions helping "deviations stand out." This supportive relationship makes choice B "flexible" ideal—the framework bends to accommodate innovation. Choice A "restrictive" represents the critics' view that the passage explicitly counters. When passages challenge common assumptions (here, that formulas limit creativity), the answer often reverses the expected relationship.

The blank requires a word meaning "preliminary" or "uncertain" to characterize findings with acknowledged limitations. The passage lists multiple sources of error: "self-reported meals," people "forget snacks or underestimate portion sizes," all "introducing error into the dataset." The contrast with "definitive proof" signals we need a word expressing uncertainty. Choice A "tentative" perfectly captures this provisional quality. Choice B "conclusive" directly contradicts "rather than definitive proof." When research passages list methodological limitations, expect answers that acknowledge uncertainty.

The blank needs a word describing how data can give false impressions without context. The passage presents a clear example: population numbers that "could easily be misread as evidence of economic collapse" when the real cause was just a boundary change. This potential for misinterpretation makes choice A "misleading" the precise answer. Choice B "instructive" has positive connotations that don't fit the warning tone about misreading data. When passages describe how something "could easily be misread," the answer typically relates to deception or confusion.

The blank requires a word describing peer review as imperfect but still useful. The passage acknowledges peer review "can reduce obvious errors" but emphasizes limitations: reviewers have "limited time" and can't "repeat the experiments themselves." The contrast structure "yet it is best described as a _______ filter rather than a flawless guarantee" signals we need something less than perfect. Choice A "partial" captures this middle ground perfectly. Choice B "perfect" directly contradicts "rather than a flawless guarantee." In passages about evaluation systems, watch for language that acknowledges both benefits and limitations.

The blank needs a word describing broad conclusions drawn from limited evidence. The context clue "without additional sites for comparison" indicates insufficient data, and the recommendation for "combining material evidence" suggests current conclusions are hasty. "Premature" (A) means occurring before sufficient preparation or evidence, perfectly describing conclusions drawn too early. "Inevitable" (B) suggests certainty; "exhaustive" (C) means thorough; "reassuring" (D) implies comfort, none matching the cautionary tone. Archaeological writing often uses "premature" to warn against overinterpreting limited finds.

The blank needs a word describing what happens to the cost-benefit claim if the bottle goes unused. The context clue "if it sits in a cabinet" indicates non-use, making the economic argument irrelevant. "Moot" (B) means no longer relevant or subject to debate, perfectly capturing how non-use makes the "pays for itself" claim pointless. "Credible" (A) addresses believability rather than relevance; "celebrated" (C) is positive; "urgent" (D) suggests importance, all missing the point about irrelevance. In arguments about practical benefits, "moot" precisely captures when circumstances make the debate pointless.

The blank needs a comparative word describing risk forecasts when multiple factors interact. The context clue "small changes in timing can produce large differences in impact" indicates increased difficulty in prediction, and "planning models that incorporate compounding factors" reinforces this complexity. "More complex" (A) precisely captures how interactions make forecasting harder than simple trends suggest. "More obvious" (B) contradicts the difficulty described; "more trivial" (C) minimizes importance inappropriately; "more generous" (D) doesn't fit the technical context. When passages discuss interacting variables, "complex" typically indicates increased difficulty in analysis or prediction.

The blank needs a word describing what the open-note format did for strong problem-solvers. The context clue "distribution became more spread out" combined with "little advantage to students who relied on rote recall" suggests the format benefited some students more than others. "Favored" (B) means gave advantage to, which precisely describes how problem-solvers benefited while memorizers didn't. "Penalized" (A) would mean disadvantaged; "concealed" (C) and "equalized" (D) don't match the widening performance gap described. Educational assessments often use "favored" to describe which skills or students benefit from particular test formats.

The blank needs a word describing how the documentary's restraint relates to its subject matter. The context clue "sensational language can make complex ecosystems seem like simple morality tales" suggests restraint serves the topic well, and "urgency without exaggeration" reinforces this appropriate match. "Integral" (B) means essential or fundamental, perfectly capturing how the restrained approach is necessary for accurate representation. "Incidental" (A) would mean unimportant; "antagonistic" (C) suggests opposition; "superfluous" (D) means unnecessary, all contradicting the positive framing. When discussing artistic choices that serve the subject matter, "integral" often indicates a necessary connection.

The blank needs a word describing how policy demands from groups with limited representation should be viewed. The context clues "low and skewed" attendance and "may reflect a narrow slice" indicate uncertainty about broader support. "Tentative" (A) means provisional or uncertain, perfectly capturing how these demands should be treated given the representation issues. "Authoritative" (B) and "mandatory" (C) suggest too much certainty; "self-evident" (D) implies obvious truth, contradicting the passage's skepticism. In policy contexts, "tentative" often describes positions that require further validation or broader input.