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Question

Difficulty: MediumMulti-Blank Dependency Tracking

Read the passage below:

Far from representing an (i)________ departure from the prevailing scientific orthodoxy of its era, the monograph actually (ii)________ the very tenets it ostensibly sought to overturn, revealing under critical analysis that its most provocative claims remained firmly tethered to traditional doctrine.

Which of the following pairs of terms best completes the passage in a logically coherent manner?

  1. (i) iconoclastic, (ii) buttressedAnswer
  2. B
    (i) iconoclastic, (ii) dismantled
  3. C
    (i) orthodox, (ii) buttressed
  4. D
    (i) anomalous, (ii) subverted
  5. E
    (i) derivative, (ii) expanded

Answer

The pair '(i) iconoclastic, (ii) buttressed' logically completes both blanks by respecting the contrast structural pivot 'Far from' and maintaining alignment with the explanatory clause at the end of the sentence.
The correct option pair '(i) iconoclastic, (ii) buttressed' creates complete contextual coherence. 'Far from representing an iconoclastic departure' signals that although the monograph seemed rebellious, it actually buttressed (supported) traditional scientific tenets, which directly matches the elaboration that its claims 'remained firmly tethered to traditional doctrine.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural transition signals and overall sentence architecture.
The initial clause 'Far from representing an (i)________ departure...' sets up a contrast with the main clause. The final clause 'revealing under critical analysis that its most provocative claims remained firmly tethered to traditional doctrine' provides the definitive clue for the text's true relationship with traditional doctrine.
Tracking cross-clause dependencies allows us to determine the semantic polarity required for both blanks.
2
Determine the required valence for Blank 2 using the explanatory elaboration clue.
Since the monograph's claims remained 'firmly tethered to traditional doctrine,' Blank 2 must mean supported, reinforced, or sustained. 'Buttressed' perfectly fits this meaning.
Blank 2 describes what the monograph actually did to the tenets of scientific orthodoxy.
3
Determine the required valence for Blank 1 based on the contrast established by 'Far from' and Blank 2.
Because the monograph actually supported orthodoxy, what it 'far from' represented was a radical or rebellious departure. Thus, Blank 1 requires a word meaning revolutionary or attacking traditions, making 'iconoclastic' the correct fit.
The phrase 'Far from [Blank 1] departure' indicates that the departure was merely apparent, not real.

Key Concept

Multi-Blank Dependency Tracking
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Topics

Multi-Blank Dependency Tracking

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