Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumWord Precision and Clarity

The following passage is adapted from a biography of German naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian.

In 1699, Maria Sibylla Merian embarked on an unprecedented expedition to Suriname to study insect life. At the time, most European scholars believed that insects spontaneously generated from mud. Merian, however, meticulously documented the life cycles of butterflies and moths, producing vivid illustrations that shook the scientific community's understanding of metamorphosis.

Which choice best replaces the underlined word to most precisely and clearly convey that Merian's work fundamentally changed and advanced the scientific understanding of metamorphosis?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. B
    agitated
  3. revolutionizedAnswer
  4. D
    disturbed

Answer

The correct answer is 'revolutionized', which precisely and formally describes how Merian's illustrations fundamentally transformed and advanced scientific knowledge.
The correct choice is 'revolutionized' because it is formal, precise, and accurately describes how Merian's work fundamentally and positively transformed the scientific understanding of metamorphosis.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to determine the intended meaning and tone.
The sentence describes how Merian's work changed the scientific understanding of metamorphosis, which is a major scientific advancement. The tone of the passage is academic and formal.
This establishes the criteria for the correct word choice.
2
Evaluate the word in the original text ('shook') and the alternative options against the criteria.
The word 'shook' is too colloquial. The words 'agitated' and 'disturbed' have incorrect connotations. Only 'revolutionized' is formal and accurately conveys a major scientific transformation.
This identifies the correct choice based on tone, precision, and clarity.

Key Concept

Selecting the word that most precisely and clearly fits the academic context and tone of the passage.
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Topics

Word Precision and Clarity

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