Words In Context
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SAT Reading & Writing › Words In Context
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
germane
untenable
fungible
quixotic
Explanation
Because the evidence contradicts the sweeping claim, it is 'untenable.' 'Fungible' means interchangeable, 'quixotic' means impractically idealistic, and 'germane' means relevant.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
doctrinaire
tentative
ubiquitous
jubilant
Explanation
With a limited, confounded sample, conclusions are 'tentative.' 'Jubilant' is an emotion, 'ubiquitous' means widespread, and 'doctrinaire' means dogmatically inflexible.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
incubate
mitigate
oscillate
exacerbate
Explanation
The goal is to reduce instability, so mitigate fits. Oscillate means to swing, exacerbate means worsen, and incubate refers to developing organisms or ideas.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
vindicate
complicate
replicate
conflate
Explanation
The added nuance serves to complicate the narrative. Conflate means merge, vindicate means justify, and replicate means copy.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Didactic
Dogmatic
Pragmatic
Quixotic
Explanation
Pragmatic describes a practical, results-oriented approach, consistent with incremental, targeted measures; didactic, quixotic, and dogmatic imply instructive, impractically idealistic, and inflexibly doctrinaire attitudes, respectively.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Incipient
Ubiquitous
Decorous
Untenable
Explanation
Untenable means not defensible, aligning with scientists' rejection of the claim given fuller data; incipient means beginning, decorous means proper, and ubiquitous means widespread, none of which fit.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
integral
marginal
incidental
capricious
Explanation
Integral means essential, fitting the described ecological importance. Marginal and incidental suggest unimportance, and capricious means unpredictable, which is irrelevant here.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
adorned
amplified
contradicted
tempered
Explanation
Tempered means moderated, aligning with optimism balanced by caveats. Amplified would increase optimism, contradicted would negate it, and adorned suggests mere decoration.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
buoyant
muted
circular
illusory
Explanation
Because hidden costs erased the apparent savings, those savings were illusory. 'Muted' means subdued, 'circular' describes a type of reasoning, and 'buoyant' describes cheerfulness or rising markets.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
accelerate
interrogate
replicate
decorate
Explanation
Interrogate' precisely conveys critically examining omissions. 'Decorate' and 'accelerate' are off-topic actions, and 'replicate' would repeat the narrative rather than question it.