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Difficulty: MediumEliminating False Synonyms and Topically Related Distractors

Although the early paleontologist presented her fossil evidence with apparent hesitation, historical analyses reveal that her caution stemmed not from ideological doubts, but rather from a deep-seated __________ to engage in public controversies. Which two of the following options, when inserted into the blank, produce completed sentences that are logically equivalent?

  1. disinclinationAnswer
  2. B
    trepidation
  3. aversionAnswer
  4. D
    polemic
  5. E
    apprehension
  6. F
    skepticism

Answer

The correct options are 'disinclination' and 'aversion', as both words denote reluctance or unwillingness, appropriately completing the sentence's contrast structure.
The sentence structure creates a contrast: the scientist's behavior was NOT caused by fear or ideological doubts, BUT RATHER by a simple reluctance to engage in public debate. The words 'disinclination' and 'aversion' both convey a strong unwillingness or preference against doing something, fitting the logic of the sentence while producing equivalent meanings.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural transition and contextual clues in the sentence stem.
The phrase 'stemmed not from ideological doubts, but rather from...' signals a contrast between fear/doubt and a different underlying motive for her behavior.
Identifying the reversal clue establishes that the blank requires a word meaning reluctance or preference against public disputes rather than fear.
2
Evaluate candidate choices for semantic synonym pairs.
Two distinct synonym pairs emerge: 'disinclination' / 'aversion' (reluctance/unwillingness) and 'trepidation' / 'apprehension' (fear/anxiety). 'Polemic' and 'skepticism' are unpaired topical distractors.
GRE Sentence Equivalence requires both contextual fit and semantic pair equivalence.
3
Eliminate false synonym pairs and topical traps to select the contextually fitting pair.
'Trepidation' and 'apprehension' mean fear, which contradicts 'not from ideological doubts'. Thus, 'disinclination' and 'aversion' are selected.
Only 'disinclination' and 'aversion' fulfill both the structural contrast constraint and semantic equivalence requirements.

Key Concept

Eliminating False Synonyms and Topically Related Distractors
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Topics

Eliminating False Synonyms and Topically Related Distractors

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