Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.
While early historiographies of early modern science portrayed Isaac Newton’s esoteric laboratory notes as an embarrassing aberration that was deliberately (i)_______ by Enlightenment commentators, recent archival analyses suggest that eighteenth-century natural philosophers did not view these manuscripts with (ii)_______. Far from signaling a secret (iii)_______ of rationalist principles, Newton’s alchemical inquiries were deeply intertwined with his overarching search for a unified active principle in nature.
Which set of words, when inserted into the blanks in order, best completes the passage so that it maintains cross-sentence contextual coherence throughout?
- (i) expunged, (ii) derision, (iii) repudiationAnswer
- B(i) lauded, (ii) reverence, (iii) confirmation
- C(i) expunged, (ii) reverence, (iii) repudiation
- D(i) publicized, (ii) derision, (iii) affirmation
- E(i) expunged, (ii) derision, (iii) vindication
Answer
The correct completion is the set containing 'expunged', 'derision', and 'repudiation'.
The correct set of words maintains logical, thematic, and rhetorical coherence across both sentences. 'Expunged' aligns with the portrayal of the notes as an 'embarrassing aberration', 'derision' fits the contrast showing natural philosophers did not hold the notes in contempt, and 'repudiation' establishes the concession needed before explaining that Newton's alchemical work was integrated into his broader rationalist pursuits.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Cross-Sentence Contextual Coherence in Multi-Blank Text Completion