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Difficulty: HardStylistic Appropriateness

Carved directly into the vibrant red sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan, the ancient city of Petra served as the capital of the Nabataean Empire. For centuries, the Nabataeans controlled the regional trade routes, accumulating immense wealth and creating a sophisticated water management system in the arid desert. However, over time, changes in trade routes and a series of devastating earthquakes led to the city's gradual decline. By the late Byzantine era, Petra was largely abandoned and forgotten by the Western world, hanging out in obscurity until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812.

Which choice most effectively maintains the tone of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. remaining in obscurityAnswer
  3. C
    remaining hidden from view and not seen by many people
  4. D
    languishing in a state of unremittingly desolate oblivion

Answer

remaining in obscurity
The correct answer provides a neutral, formal, and concise phrasing that matches the academic tone of the passage. It avoids slang, wordiness, and overly dramatic language.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the established tone and style of the passage.
The passage uses a formal, academic, and historical tone to describe the history of the ancient city of Petra.
Identifying the established tone helps determine which register is appropriate for the underlined portion.
2
Evaluate the underlined phrase for stylistic appropriateness.
The phrase 'hanging out in obscurity' is colloquial and informal, creating a tone clash with the academic nature of the text.
The target phrase must be replaced because it deviates from the formal register.
3
Assess the remaining options to find a choice that is grammatically correct, concise, and stylistically consistent.
The choice 'remaining in obscurity' matches the neutral, academic tone. The choice 'remaining hidden from view and not seen by many people' is wordy and redundant, and 'languishing in a state of unremittingly desolate oblivion' is overly dramatic and pretentious.
The correct choice must maintain the passage's formal style without redundancy or excessive drama.

Key Concept

Stylistic Appropriateness
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Topics

Stylistic Appropriateness

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