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Question

Difficulty: HardSupport and Cause-Effect Clues

Given that the novel enzyme's structural stability is significantly enhanced by hyper-saline conditions, its catalytic efficiency is predictably _______ when introduced into high-salt marine environments, as evidenced by the dramatic surge in substrate turnover rates.

Which of the following words best completes the sentence?

  1. augmentedAnswer
  2. B
    attenuated
  3. C
    stagnated
  4. D
    obfuscated
  5. E
    circumscribed

Answer

The word 'augmented' best completes the sentence because it aligns with both the causal premise and the supporting evidence of increased catalytic activity.
The correct answer 'augmented' aligns directly with the cause-effect signal 'Given that' and the supporting evidence 'dramatic surge'. Since hyper-saline conditions enhance the enzyme's structural stability, introducing it to high-salt marine environments predictably increases or augments its catalytic efficiency.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify structural signal words and contextual clues in the sentence.
Identified the causal signal 'Given that' linking hyper-saline conditions to stability, and the support clue 'as evidenced by the dramatic surge in substrate turnover rates'.
Structural signals dictate whether the blank requires a word that continues positive polarity or reverses it.
2
Determine the required meaning and valence of the target blank.
The blank must mean 'increased', 'enhanced', or 'boosted' to match the positive cause-effect relationship and the evidence of a dramatic surge.
Both structural clues independently reinforce an upward shift in enzyme efficiency.
3
Evaluate the options against the required contextual meaning.
'Augmented' fits precisely, while words signifying reduction, stagnation, limitation, or obscurity violate the causal logic.
Only 'augmented' maintains contextual coherence without distorting the direction or intensity of the sentence.

Key Concept

Support and Cause-Effect Structural Clues in Text Completion
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Support and Cause-Effect Clues

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