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Difficulty: MediumContrast and Reversal Clues

Although early twentieth-century sociobiologists characterized human cultural behaviors as remarkably ________, governed almost entirely by hardwired genetic imperatives, contemporary researchers emphasize the profound plasticity and adaptive flexibility of social institutions. Which of the following vocabulary words best completes the sentence to satisfy the structural contrast established in the text?

  1. immutableAnswer
  2. B
    dynamic
  3. C
    malleable
  4. D
    erratic
  5. E
    inscrutable

Answer

The word 'immutable' best completes the blank because it provides the necessary semantic opposite to 'plasticity and adaptive flexibility' indicated by the reversal signal 'Although'.
The sentence relies on the contrast signal 'Although' to set up an opposition between early views of human behavior and contemporary views. Contemporary researchers highlight 'plasticity and adaptive flexibility', so the early view must describe behavior as fixed and unalterable. The word 'immutable' means unchangeable, perfectly fulfilling the required contrast.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify structural transition signals in the sentence.
The opening word 'Although' establishes a contrast between the historical view in the first clause and the modern view in the second clause.
Contrast signals indicate that the missing word must convey an idea opposite to the key descriptors in the contrasting clause.
2
Analyze the clues given in the second clause.
Modern researchers emphasize 'plasticity and adaptive flexibility'.
The blank must describe the opposing view—characterizing behaviors as rigid, unchangeable, or fixed.
3
Evaluate the option choices against the target semantic meaning.
'Immutable' means unchangeable or fixed, which directly opposes 'plasticity' and aligns with 'hardwired genetic imperatives'.
Choosing 'immutable' satisfies both the internal definition within the first clause and the reversal relationship established by 'Although'.

Key Concept

Contrast and Reversal Clues in Text Completion
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Topics

Contrast and Reversal Clues

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