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Difficulty: MediumEliminating False Synonyms and Topically Related Distractors

While contemporary scholars often praise the treatise for its seemingly progressive assertions, historical context reveals that the author's primary motivation was to ______ traditional orthodoxy rather than dismantle it. Which two options, when inserted into the sentence, produce completed sentences that are most similar in meaning?

  1. bolsterAnswer
  2. B
    subvert
  3. buttressAnswer
  4. D
    promulgate
  5. E
    undermine
  6. F
    scrutinize

Answer

The correct selections are 'bolster' and 'buttress', as both words mean to strengthen or support, providing the exact logical opposition to 'dismantle' demanded by the structural contrast clue.
The sentence structure hinges on the contrast indicator 'rather than dismantle it', establishing that the author sought to preserve or support orthodoxy. Both 'bolster' and 'buttress' mean to strengthen or reinforce, completing the sentence with equivalent meanings that satisfy this contrast.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural transition and context clues in the stem.
The phrase 'rather than dismantle it' signals a contrast between what scholars praise (progressive assertions) and the author's actual goal (supporting or reinforcing traditional orthodoxy).
Identifying sentence polarity determines the required semantic direction for the blank.
2
Evaluate candidate options for synonym pairs and contextual fit.
Two distinct synonym pairs exist: 'bolster'/'buttress' (meaning to support/strengthen) and 'subvert'/'undermine' (meaning to weaken/overthrow).
Sentence Equivalence requires selecting pair members that produce coherent, identical meanings.
3
Eliminate false synonym traps and unpaired topical distractors.
The 'subvert'/'undermine' pair opposes the needed logical shift. 'Promulgate' and 'scrutinize' are topically related to treatises and analysis but lack synonymous matches and fail contextual fit.
Topical relevance does not equal contextual fit or pair equivalence.

Key Concept

Eliminating False Synonyms and Topically Related Distractors
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Eliminating False Synonyms and Topically Related Distractors

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