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Question

Difficulty: HardSentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection

Far from presenting a __________ treatise on urban planning, the architect's latest monograph offers an impressively exhaustive analysis of municipal infrastructure, leaving virtually no regulatory detail unexamined. Which TWO of the following answer choices, when inserted into the sentence, produce completed sentences that are similar in meaning?

  1. cursoryAnswer
  2. perfunctoryAnswer
  3. C
    erudite
  4. D
    scholarly
  5. E
    pedantic
  6. F
    dogmatic

Answer

The correct selections are the words 'cursory' and 'perfunctory'. Both words mean hasty, superficial, or carried out with minimal effort, providing the exact required contrast to an 'impressively exhaustive analysis'.
The sentence relies on the contrast signal 'Far from', which indicates that the word filling the blank must mean the opposite of the description in the second half of the sentence ('an impressively exhaustive analysis... leaving virtually no regulatory detail unexamined'). The words 'cursory' and 'perfunctory' both mean hasty, shallow, or completed with minimal effort or care. When placed into the sentence, both words yield sentences with identical, coherent meanings.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural pivot signals and sentence polarity
The opening phrase 'Far from presenting a [blank] treatise...' sets up a contrast with the main clause.
The pivot phrase 'Far from' indicates that the word in the blank must be the opposite in meaning to the description in the main clause ('impressively exhaustive analysis', 'leaving virtually no regulatory detail unexamined').
2
Determine the required target meaning and tone for the blank
The target word must mean superficial, hasty, brief, or lacking thoroughness.
An exhaustive analysis that leaves no detail unexamined is thorough; therefore, the blank requires a word that means lacking in detail or care.
3
Evaluate candidate words for contextual fit and synonym equivalence
'Cursory' and 'perfunctory' both mean hasty, shallow, or done routine-wise without thoroughness. They fit the blank and produce sentences with equivalent meaning.
Substituting either word completes a coherent sentence stating that the monograph is far from superficial.
4
Analyze distractors and eliminate false synonym pairs
The pair 'erudite' and 'scholarly' are synonyms but fail contextual fit; 'pedantic' and 'dogmatic' do not fit the contrast logic or lack matching partners.
Only 'cursory' and 'perfunctory' satisfy both the sentence logic and the strict pair equivalence requirement.

Key Concept

Sentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Sentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection

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