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Question

Difficulty: HardInterpreting Continuation and Causal Structural Signals

Read the sentence below concerning monetary policy dynamics. Based on the explicit continuation structural signal established in the sentence, which word best completes the blank to preserve the intended logical progression?

Answer:The macroeconomist noted that the central bank's aggressive interest rate hikes did not immediately dampen consumer demand; indeed, by signaling institutional confidence in long-term market stability, the policy served to 【bolster】 household spending in the short term, thereby causing inflation expectations to remain surprisingly resilient.

Answer

The correct completion requires a verb meaning to support, strengthen, or sustain (such as 'bolster', 'buoy', or 'reinforce'), aligning with the continuation signal 'indeed' following the clause stating that demand was not dampened.
The sentence relies on the continuation marker 'indeed' following a claim that interest rate hikes failed to reduce consumer demand. The phrase 'by signaling institutional confidence' introduces a causal mechanism explaining how the policy unexpectedly supported demand. Therefore, the blank requires a verb meaning to strengthen, sustain, or uphold (e.g., 'bolster', 'buoy', 'reinforce').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural signals and logical direction of the sentence.
The initial clause establishes that rate hikes 'did not immediately dampen consumer demand.' The semicolon followed by the discourse marker 'indeed' functions as an intensifying continuation signal that confirms and amplifies this assertion.
Identifying transition signals determines whether the missing term should align with or reverse the preceding concept.
2
Determine the semantic polarity required for the blank.
Since the first clause states demand was not reduced, and 'indeed' intensifies this point while the subsequent clause notes spending caused inflation expectations to remain 'resilient,' the blank must contain a word meaning to support, sustain, or encourage.
The cause-and-effect relationship ('by signaling... served to [blank]... thereby causing...') requires positive alignment between institutional confidence and spending activity.
3
Verify valid vocabulary terms that fit the blank.
Words such as 'bolster', 'buoy', 'reinforce', 'buttress', or 'galvanize' precisely capture the idea of strengthening or supporting spending in context.
These terms fulfill both the syntactic requirement of an infinitive verb and the logical requirement of reinforcing demand.

Key Concept

Interpreting Continuation and Causal Structural Signals
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Interpreting Continuation and Causal Structural Signals

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