Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardSupport and Cause-Effect Clues

Based on the support and cause-effect clues in the passage, which words best complete the blanks to maintain sentence coherence?

Answer:Because the head archivist maintained an unwavering adherence to traditional preservation protocols throughout her tenure, historians deduced that the institution operated under a regime of strictly 【regimented】 administrative practices—a systemic discipline that consequently 【forestalled】 the development of idiosyncratic filing methods.

Answer

For the first blank, words such as 'regimented' or 'standardized' correctly align with the cause clue of 'unwavering adherence to traditional preservation protocols.' For the second blank, verbs such as 'forestalled' or 'stymied' complete the cause-effect relationship introduced by 'consequently,' reflecting how rigid standardization prevents individual variations from emerging.
The introductory clause establishes a clear cause: the archivist's 'unwavering adherence' to rules. This directly supports a descriptor for the first blank that signifies strict, uniform discipline (such as 'regimented' or 'standardized'). The phrase 'consequently' then sets up the downstream effect of this rigid environment: it prevented or hindered the emergence of individual, non-standard practices, which is logically completed by verbs like 'forestalled', 'stymied', or 'precluded'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the cause clue driving the first blank.
The clause 'Because the head archivist maintained an unwavering adherence to traditional preservation protocols' provides direct support for the nature of the administrative practices.
The causal conjunction 'Because' dictates that the first blank must describe practices characterized by strict order, uniformity, and adherence to rules.
2
Determine the appropriate semantic fit for the first blank.
Words like 'regimented', 'standardized', or 'codified' match the required intensity of strict discipline.
These terms echo the sentiment of unwavering adherence to established rules without introducing contradictory nuance.
3
Analyze the cause-effect transition for the second blank.
The phrase 'a systemic discipline that consequently {{blank_2}}...' signals that the second blank expresses the direct outcome of a rigid system on personal variations.
A highly standardized regime naturally stops, prevents, or impedes the growth of irregular, non-standard ('idiosyncratic') practices.
4
Select the correct term for the second blank based on causal direction.
Verbs like 'forestalled', 'stymied', 'precluded', or 'stifled' fit the logical outcome.
These terms correctly capture the action of preventing or obstructing something before it can take root.

Key Concept

Support and Cause-Effect Clues in Text Completion
Rate this question

Topics

Support and Cause-Effect Clues

More questions from this topic