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Question

Difficulty: MediumWord Precision and Clarity

A scientist is writing a report on acoustic levitation. Review the short excerpt below, and determine which of the words—'hold', 'clutch', 'suspend', or 'snatch'—most precisely and clearly fits the blank to maintain the formal register of the writing?

Answer:Acoustic levitation uses high-frequency sound waves to counteract the pull of gravity, allowing physical objects to float in mid-air. By establishing a standing wave pattern, researchers can stably 【suspend】 delicate liquid droplets at specific points of zero pressure called nodes. This non-contact manipulation prevents chemical reactions from being contaminated by container walls.

Answer

suspend
The correct word is 'suspend' because it precisely describes the action of keeping an object hanging or floating in space without physical contact, which perfectly matches the scientific phenomenon of acoustic levitation. It also fits the formal and technical register of the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence containing the blank to determine what action is being performed on the liquid droplets.
The sentence describes researchers using standing wave patterns to keep delicate liquid droplets floating in mid-air at specific nodes.
This establishes the literal meaning needed for the word choice.
2
Evaluate the register and tone of the surrounding text.
The text is an academic scientific report, requiring formal, objective, and precise terminology.
This eliminates words that are too informal, colloquial, or physically inaccurate.
3
Compare the proposed options to find the word that represents this action with the greatest precision and stylistic appropriateness.
The word 'suspend' precisely means to hold or keep in place in the air, matching the science of levitation. In contrast, 'hold' is too generic, 'clutch' suggests physical grasping, and 'snatch' implies sudden capture.
To select the correct, precise verb that fits both semantic meaning and academic tone.

Key Concept

Word Precision and Clarity
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Topics

Word Precision and Clarity

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