Complete the passage by filling in each blank with the word that best maintains the logical contrast of the text.
Answer:Although nineteenth-century epigraphers dismissed the inscribed symbols on the ancient stele as mere 【gibberish】, treating them as ornamental flourishes rather than functional syntax, modern computational analysis has revealed that the markings paradoxically represent a remarkably 【sophisticated】 script governed by strict structural constraints.
Answer
Blank 1 should be filled with 'gibberish' (or equivalent terms denoting meaningless or superficial markings) and Blank 2 should be filled with 'sophisticated' (or equivalent terms denoting high structural complexity).
The concession signal 'Although' combined with the adverb 'paradoxically' establishes a direct semantic contrast between the early epigraphers' dismissive view and modern computational findings. 'Gibberish' reflects the early belief that the marks lacked communicative syntax, while 'sophisticated' correctly captures the modern realization that the script follows rigorous structural rules.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Using structural contrast and reversal signals (e.g., 'although', 'rather than', 'paradoxically') to deduce opposing semantic meanings across blanks in Text Completion items.