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Difficulty: MediumContrast and Reversal Clues

While early twentieth-century historians portrayed the nineteenth-century industrial revolution as an unmitigated triumph of human ingenuity that fundamentally liberated society from natural constraints, recent ecological histories offer a far more __________ perspective, demonstrating how industrial expansion merely exchanged localized vulnerabilities for systemic climatic risks.

Which of the following words best completes the blank in the passage?

  1. chasteningAnswer
  2. B
    celebratory
  3. C
    sanguine
  4. D
    peripheral
  5. E
    exultant

Answer

The correct completion is 'chastening', as it captures the sobering and humbling reversal required by the sentence structure.
The sentence structure uses the subordinating conjunction 'While' to establish a contrast between early twentieth-century views and recent ecological histories. Early views saw industrialization as an 'unmitigated triumph', so recent histories must present an opposing, critical view. 'Chastening' means subdued, humbled, or made sober, which perfectly matches the description of revealing 'systemic climatic risks'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the structural contrast signal in the sentence.
The sentence begins with the concessionary pivot 'While', indicating that the second half of the sentence will present a contrast to the first half.
Pivot words dictate the logical direction of the blank relative to the surrounding context.
2
Analyze the tone and meaning of the first clause.
The first clause describes earlier views of industrialization in highly positive terms ('unmitigated triumph', 'liberated society').
Establishing the initial tone allows determination of the required opposite valence for the target blank.
3
Determine the required semantic tone for the blank and select the matching word.
The blank must describe a perspective that counters 'unmitigated triumph' by highlighting risks and vulnerabilities. 'Chastening' (sobering/subduing) accurately completes this contrast.
The word must reflect the humbling nature of recognizing new systemic risks.

Key Concept

Contrast and Reversal Clues
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Topics

Contrast and Reversal Clues

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