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Difficulty: HardMulti-Blank Dependency Tracking

Far from viewing morphological stasis as a mere (i)________ resulting from an incomplete fossil record, modern paleobiologists contend that such prolonged phenotypic constancy is (ii)________ intrinsic evolutionary dynamics—a pattern that (iii)________ the long-held assumption that macroevolutionary change proceeds at a steady, uniform pace.

Which of the following combinations of terms best completes the passage in a logically coherent manner?

  1. (i) artifact, (ii) indicative of, (iii) subvertsAnswer
  2. B
    (i) milestone, (ii) indicative of, (iii) vindicates
  3. C
    (i) artifact, (ii) antithetical to, (iii) vindicates
  4. D
    (i) impediment, (ii) unconcerned with, (iii) mirrors
  5. E
    (i) artifact, (ii) indicative of, (iii) mirrors

Answer

The combination '(i) artifact, (ii) indicative of, (iii) subverts' correctly completes the passage.
The combination starting with 'artifact', followed by 'indicative of', and ending with 'subverts' maintains logical consistency throughout the passage. The opener 'Far from viewing...' sets up a contrast showing stasis is not a mere observational error ('artifact'), but rather a genuine reflection ('indicative of') of evolutionary forces, which directly undermines ('subverts') traditional assumptions of uniform rate change.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Blank (i) in relation to the introductory concession 'Far from viewing... resulting from an incomplete fossil record'.
Blank (i) requires a noun denoting an artificial error or byproduct of poor data collection rather than a genuine phenomenon. 'Artifact' fits precisely.
The contrast signal 'Far from viewing... as a mere [Blank i]' establishes that stasis is NOT just an error of sampling.
2
Evaluate Blank (ii) using the main clause shift 'modern paleobiologists contend that...'.
If stasis is not a data error, it must actively demonstrate underlying biological processes. 'Indicative of' establishes this positive relationship.
The sentence contrasts being a mere artifact with actually demonstrating intrinsic evolutionary dynamics.
3
Determine Blank (iii) based on the structural relationship between prolonged constancy and the 'steady, uniform pace' assumption.
Periods of stasis (no change) contradict the idea of constant, continuous change, so stasis must undermine or 'subvert' gradualism.
The em-dash introduces an elaboration that shows how real stasis challenges traditional uniformitarian gradualism.

Key Concept

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

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