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Difficulty: Very hardVocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

Read the passage excerpt below carefully:

"In her critique of post-structuralist methodology, the scholar warned against the promiscuous borrowing of concepts from quantum mechanics to explain social behavior without establishing clear epistemological bridges."

Which of the following options best captures the contextual meaning of the word promiscuous as used in the excerpt?

  1. indiscriminateAnswer
  2. B
    immoral
  3. C
    unlawful
  4. D
    repetitive

Answer

The word 'promiscuous' contextually means 'indiscriminate' in this academic passage.
In formal academic discourse, 'promiscuous' is used figuratively to describe something that is unselective, indiscriminate, or casual in arrangement or choice. In the passage, the scholar cautions against taking concepts from quantum physics and applying them haphazardly to social sciences without rigorous philosophical justification. Therefore, 'indiscriminate' precisely conveys this meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and surrounding semantic context.
The target word modifies 'borrowing of concepts from quantum mechanics to explain social behavior without establishing clear epistemological bridges.'
Contextual meaning depends on how the word functions in relation to the scholar's warning against improper cross-disciplinary application.
2
Evaluate the academic register of the term 'promiscuous'.
In formal academic critique, 'promiscuous' signifies an unselective, uncritical, or haphazard blending of disparate theories.
Distinguishing between everyday colloquial usage and specialized register usage is essential for contextual accuracy.
3
Substitute the candidate terms into the excerpt to test semantic coherence.
Substituting 'indiscriminate' yields 'warned against the indiscriminate borrowing of concepts...', which preserves both syntactic fit and authorial intent.
A correct contextual synonym must fit seamlessly into the sentence without altering the original message.

Key Concept

Contextual Vocabulary Interpretation in Academic Register
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Topics

Vocabulary and Word Meaning in Context

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