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Difficulty: EasyStylistic Appropriateness

Ada Lovelace, a nineteenth-century mathematician, is widely celebrated as the world's first computer programmer. Working alongside Charles Babbage, Lovelace wrote notes on his analytical engine that included what is recognized as the first algorithm. While Babbage focused primarily on the mechanical calculations of the machine, Lovelace envisioned its potential to compose music and create art. In her writings, she explained these complex ideas with remarkable clarity, demonstrating a mind that was super smart and totally ahead of its time.

Which choice best maintains the formal, academic tone of the passage?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. intellectually gifted and remarkably forward-thinkingAnswer
  3. C
    endowed with a highly perspicacious intellect that transcended the temporal limits of her epoch
  4. D
    intellectually advanced and forward-thinking in a way that looked ahead to the future

Answer

intellectually gifted and remarkably forward-thinking
The correct option, 'intellectually gifted and remarkably forward-thinking', fits the passage's formal and academic tone perfectly. It conveys the intended meaning clearly, concisely, and with vocabulary appropriate for a historical biography.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context and tone of the passage.
The passage is a historical biography of Ada Lovelace, written in a standard, formal academic tone.
Identifying the established tone helps determine which register of language is appropriate for the underlined section.
2
Evaluate the underlined phrase in relation to the established tone.
The phrase 'super smart and totally ahead of its time' contains slang and informal words that clash with the formal academic tone of the biography.
This shows that the original phrasing is incorrect and must be changed.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that maintains the correct tone and is grammatically correct and concise.
The option using 'intellectually gifted and remarkably forward-thinking' is formal, concise, and matches the passage's style. The option with 'perspicacious intellect' is overly pretentious, while the option ending in 'looked ahead to the future' is redundant.
Selecting the option that is formal but not overly pretentious or redundant restores the stylistic appropriateness of the passage.

Key Concept

Stylistic Appropriateness
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Topics

Stylistic Appropriateness

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