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Question

Difficulty: HardSentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection

While the bioethicist's latest paper was condemned by critics as a __________ departure from her previous publications, closer analysis reveals that it simply elaborates upon principles she outlined years earlier. Which two of the following options, when inserted into the blank, produce completed sentences that are equivalent in meaning?

  1. anomalousAnswer
  2. divergentAnswer
  3. C
    dogmatic
  4. D
    doctrinaire
  5. E
    reactionary
  6. F
    gradual

Answer

The correct options are 'anomalous' and 'divergent', as both words indicate a deviation or departure from past work, producing sentences with equivalent meaning.
The sentence contrasts critics' perception of the paper with its true nature. Critics see it as a sharp break or departure, while it actually builds on existing work. Both 'anomalous' (deviating from what is standard or expected) and 'divergent' (differing or deviating from a course) fit the sentence context and produce coherent, equivalent sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural pivot signals and sentence polarity.
The initial concession signal 'While' sets up a contrast between what critics claim (that the paper is a sharp break or departure) and what closer analysis shows (that it merely elaborates on existing principles).
Understanding structural signals dictates whether the blank requires a word aligned with continuation or contrast.
2
Determine the required contextual meaning for the blank.
The blank modifies 'departure' and must describe something unexpected, deviating, or atypical relative to her prior trajectory.
The sentence requires words that convey an unexpected shift or deviation from a baseline.
3
Evaluate answer choices for semantic equivalence and contextual fit.
'Anomalous' (deviating from normal/expected) and 'divergent' (differing or deviating from a standard) both fit the blank logically and yield identical sentence meanings.
Sentence Equivalence requires both contextual fit and semantic equivalence between the completed sentences.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonym Pair Selection in Sentence Equivalence
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Topics

Sentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection

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