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Question

Difficulty: MediumSupport and Cause-Effect Clues

Because early Renaissance treatises on metallurgy were systematically exposed to corrosive laboratory fumes and frequent handling, their physical deterioration was inevitably __________, leaving modern archivists with very few intact original manuscripts. Which of the following words best completes the text?

  1. precipitatedAnswer
  2. B
    forestalled
  3. C
    arrested
  4. D
    ameliorated
  5. E
    overstated

Answer

precipitated
The correct choice is 'precipitated' because the opening causal signal 'Because' establishes that subjecting manuscripts to corrosive fumes and handling directly caused their physical decay to happen rapidly or prematurely, leading to a scarcity of intact originals today.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify structural signals and causal relationships in the sentence
The sentence begins with the causal transition 'Because', indicating that the premise (exposure to corrosive fumes and frequent handling) directly causes the condition in the main clause (physical deterioration).
Recognizing the causal structure determines whether the missing word must reinforce or reverse the direction of the cause.
2
Determine the required tone and meaning for the blank
Since exposure to corrosive conditions damages manuscripts, the blank must mean accelerated, hastened, or brought about quickly.
The concluding phrase 'leaving modern archivists with very few intact original manuscripts' confirms that deterioration was severe and rapid.
3
Evaluate the option choices against the target meaning
'Precipitated' precisely fits the meaning of causing an event or decay to happen prematurely or rapidly.
None of the other options capture the idea of accelerated physical decay resulting from environmental hazards.

Key Concept

Identifying Cause-and-Effect Clues in Text Completion
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Topics

Support and Cause-Effect Clues

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