Question

Difficulty: HardFrequently Confused Words

In the passage below, fill in each blank with the correct choice from the homophones 'discreet' and 'discrete' to ensure semantic and grammatical correctness.

Answer:To protect the privacy of the study's participants, the research team made a 【discreet】 effort to keep all identifying data confidential, analyzing the information only as 【discrete】 data points that could not be linked back to specific individuals.

Answer

The first blank must be filled with 'discreet' and the second blank must be filled with 'discrete'.
The correct response uses 'discreet' in the first blank because the context of protecting participant privacy requires a word meaning cautious, confidential, or circumspect. It uses 'discrete' in the second blank because describing data points that are unlinked and separate requires a word meaning distinct or individual.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the required meaning for the first blank based on the surrounding context.
The first blank describes an 'effort to keep all identifying data confidential' to protect privacy. This context requires an adjective meaning cautious, wary, or respecting privacy. The correct spelling for this meaning is 'discreet'.
Analyzing the first part of the sentence establishes the semantic demand for confidentiality and prudence.
2
Determine the required meaning for the second blank based on the surrounding context.
The second blank describes 'data points' that are analyzed individually and cannot be linked back to specific individuals. This context requires an adjective meaning distinct, separate, or discontinuous. The correct spelling for this meaning is 'discrete'.
Analyzing the second part of the sentence establishes the semantic demand for separate, individual units of data.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between the homophones 'discreet' (showing prudence, caution, or keeping secrets) and 'discrete' (constituting a separate, distinct, or individual entity).
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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