Complete the passage below by filling in each blank with the word that correctly reflects the contrast established by the sentence structure.
Answer:While earlier economic historians characterized the medieval guild system as fundamentally 【sclerotic】, bound by outdated conventions and resistant to innovation, recent archival findings demonstrate that guild masters were surprisingly 【adaptable】 when responding to shifting market demands.
Answer
Blank 1 requires a word denoting stagnation or rigidity, such as 'sclerotic' or 'stagnant'. Blank 2 requires a word denoting flexibility or responsiveness to change, such as 'adaptable' or 'nimble'.
The contrast transition word 'While' sets up an explicit opposition between earlier historical assumptions and recent findings. The descriptive phrase 'bound by outdated conventions and resistant to innovation' indicates that Blank 1 must mean inflexible or stagnant (such as 'sclerotic'). The word 'surprisingly' acts as a reversal clue, signaling that recent evidence reveals the opposite quality for Blank 2—namely, being capable of adjustment and change (such as 'adaptable').
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Contrast and Reversal Clues
Estimated Time:1m 0s