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Question

Difficulty: HardMulti-Blank Dependency Tracking

Fill in each blank in the passage with the term that best completes the text in a logically coherent manner.

Answer:While early architectural historians dismissed the fortress’s asymmetrical layout as an (i) 【aberration】 resulting from haphazard, centuries-long additions, recent structural analyses suggest the irregularities were thoroughly deliberate. Indeed, far from reflecting (ii) 【desultory】 planning, the defensive spatial arrangement intentionally manipulated sightlines to deceive besiegers—rendering the long-standing scholarly view of the builders' incompetence entirely (iii) 【untenable】.

Answer

Blank 1: aberration; Blank 2: desultory; Blank 3: untenable
The sentence relies on tracking structural shifts across all three blanks. Blank 1 requires a word meaning anomaly or departure from order to match 'haphazard additions'; 'aberration' fits this context. Blank 2 is governed by 'far from reflecting', which requires a word denoting random or unplanned effort to contrast with 'intentionally manipulated'; 'desultory' perfectly conveys this lack of plan. Consequently, demonstrating intentional design renders the view of 'incompetence' unmaintainable, making 'untenable' the required word for Blank 3.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural clues and contrast markers for Blank 1
The word 'While' sets up a contrast between early historians' views ('haphazard additions') and recent findings ('thoroughly deliberate'). Blank 1 must mean an anomaly or random departure.
'Aberration' fits the notion of an unintended flaw or irregularity arising from haphazard construction.
2
Track inter-blank dependency and pivot signals for Blank 2
The phrase 'far from reflecting [Blank 2] planning' introduces a reversal to contrast with 'intentionally manipulated sightlines'. Since the actual design was calculated, Blank 2 describes the opposite: random or unfocused planning.
'Desultory' (lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm) accurately captures the haphazard quality that the passage asserts was absent.
3
Determine the logical conclusion for Blank 3 based on Blanks 1 and 2
Because the layout was shown to be intentional and sophisticated rather than desultory, the old theory regarding the builders' incompetence is disproven.
'Untenable' (defenseless against criticism or groundless) correctly completes the assertion that the prior view can no longer be maintained.

Key Concept

Multi-Blank Dependency Tracking
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Multi-Blank Dependency Tracking

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