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Question

Difficulty: MediumSupport and Cause-Effect Clues

Given that the lead archaeologist's newly translated inscriptions provided undeniable corroboration of the ancient city's maritime trade network, the historical committee predictably ________ their long-standing skepticism regarding regional commerce, fully aligning their chronological models with the new evidence.

Which of the following words, when inserted into the blank, best completes the sentence logically?

  1. relinquishedAnswer
  2. B
    accentuated
  3. C
    substantiated
  4. D
    reified
  5. E
    rationalized

Answer

relinquished
The sentence relies on the cause-effect signal 'Given that' and the modifier 'predictably'. Because the new inscriptions provided clear corroboration of maritime trade, the logical cause-and-effect result is that the committee gave up or abandoned ('relinquished') their prior skepticism, enabling them to align their models with the new evidence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify structural signal words and context clues
The cause signal 'Given that' establishes that new inscriptions provided 'undeniably corroborating' proof of maritime trade.
Establishing the cause reveals the logical direction required for the effect clause.
2
Determine the necessary polarity for the blank
The adverb 'predictably' alongside the outcome 'fully aligning their chronological models with the new evidence' indicates that the committee ceased doubting regional commerce.
If empirical evidence confirms trade, a rational committee predictably lets go of skepticism.
3
Select the vocabulary choice that fits the required meaning
'Relinquished' (meaning gave up or surrendered) fits the required tone and logic perfectly.
Giving up skepticism directly matches the causal outcome described.

Key Concept

Support and Cause-Effect Clues in Text Completion
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Topics

Support and Cause-Effect Clues

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