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Question

Difficulty: HardTone and Connotation Matching

Complete the passage below by providing the words that best fit the blanks to maintain contextual tone and connotative coherence across the text.

Answer:Far from adopting the 【polemical】 posture characteristic of partisan manifestos, the climatologist’s monograph on ice-sheet instability maintains a remarkably 【temperate】 tone, meticulously contextualizing empirical anomalies without resorting to sensationalist hyperbole.

Answer

The first blank requires a term with an aggressive or contentious connotation such as 'polemical' or 'inflammatory', while the second blank requires a word denoting restraint and objectivity such as 'temperate' or 'measured'.
The contrast phrase 'Far from adopting...' establishes an opposition between two distinct tones. The first blank requires a word that reflects the aggressive, partisan nature of political manifestos; 'polemical' (or 'inflammatory') fits this negative valence precisely. The second blank requires a word reflecting scientific restraint and objective analysis; 'temperate' (or 'measured') perfectly captures this calm, balanced connotation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural contrast clues in the passage.
The opening transition 'Far from adopting...' establishes a direct contrast between the attribute in the first blank and the tone in the second blank.
Identifying contrast signals is necessary to determine the opposing connotative polarities required for each blank.
2
Determine the required connotative valence for the first blank.
The first blank describes a posture associated with 'partisan manifestos' and stands in contrast to avoiding 'sensationalist hyperbole'. This context requires a word with an aggressive, argumentative connotation such as 'polemical' or 'inflammatory'.
Tone matching requires capturing the hostile, biased connotation of partisan political writings.
3
Determine the required connotative valence for the second blank.
The second blank describes a tone aligned with 'meticulously contextualizing empirical anomalies' and lacking sensationalism. This requires a word with a calm, balanced connotation such as 'temperate' or 'measured'.
The second blank must convey scientific discipline and emotional moderation.

Key Concept

Tone and Connotation Matching
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Topics

Tone and Connotation Matching

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