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Question

Difficulty: Very hardContrast and Reversal Clues

Although the nineteenth-century economic theorist's lectures were initially condemned as mere ideological polemics lacking analytical substance, modern retrospective studies indicate that her prognostications were surprisingly __________, accurately foretelling several major financial crises of the subsequent century.

Which of the following options best completes the blank in the sentence?

  1. A
    specious
  2. prescientAnswer
  3. C
    dogmatic
  4. D
    pedantic
  5. E
    erroneous

Answer

The word that best completes the sentence is 'prescient'.
The sentence opens with the contrast pivot 'Although', signaling that the second clause presents information opposing the initial negative reception ('condemned as mere ideological polemics'). The text after the blank explains that her prognostications were 'accurately foretelling several major financial crises.' The word that means exhibiting foresighted knowledge of future events is 'prescient'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify structural contrast signals in the sentence stem.
The initial concessionary pivot 'Although' and the adverb 'surprisingly' signal a structural reversal between the initial assessment of the lectures and modern findings.
Contrast signals mandate that the missing word must take an opposite semantic tone to the initial premise.
2
Analyze contextual clues to establish the required meaning and valence.
The initial assessment was negative ('condemned as mere ideological polemics lacking analytical substance'). The clause following the blank provides explicit elaboration: 'accurately foretelling several major financial crises.' Thus, the blank requires a positive word meaning foresighted or prophetically insightful.
The elaboration clause defines the precise cognitive skill and meaning required for the blank.
3
Evaluate the choices against the target definition.
'Prescient' means having or showing knowledge of events before they take place, perfectly satisfying both the contrast pivot and contextual elaboration.
It aligns strictly with the semantic reversal required by the sentence structure.

Key Concept

Using contrast structural signals and context clues to identify semantic reversals in Text Completion questions.
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Topics

Contrast and Reversal Clues

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