Question

Difficulty: MediumSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with a word that is nearest in meaning to the bracketed term.

Answer:The lead investigator's [cogent] presentation of the forensic evidence convinced the magistrate to order a full trial; her reasoning was thoroughly 【convincing】.

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'cogent' in this context is 'convincing' (or 'compelling' / 'persuasive').
In the given context, 'cogent' describes a presentation or argument that is clear, logical, and highly persuasive. Therefore, words like 'convincing', 'compelling', or 'persuasive' accurately reflect its nearest meaning and complete the thought logically.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the bracketed word in the sentence.
The bracketed word 'cogent' describes a presentation of evidence that was strong enough to convince a magistrate to order a trial.
Contextual clues like 'convinced the magistrate' indicate that the word refers to an argument or presentation that is clear, logical, and believable.
2
Identify the primary meaning of 'cogent' and determine suitable synonyms.
'Cogent' means clear, logical, and convincing.
In formal registry and vocabulary assessments, 'cogent' specifically denotes an argument that compels belief or assent.
3
Select the term that fits grammatically and contextually into the blank.
'convincing' (or 'compelling' / 'persuasive') correctly completes the sentence while preserving the original meaning.
Substituting 'convincing' maintains the sentence's assertion that the investigator's reasoning had the power to persuade.

Key Concept

Identifying synonyms and contextual word meanings in formal English prose.
Rate this question