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Question

Difficulty: MediumWords in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

Which word completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

Answer:For decades, agricultural scientists assumed that the rapid spread of the invasive weed *Centaurea stoebe* was due solely to its high seed production. However, recent studies suggest that this explanation is 【incomplete】; the plant also secretes a chemical toxin into the soil that actively suppresses the growth of neighboring native species.

Answer

incomplete (or a similar word indicating that the explanation does not account for all factors, such as 'insufficient' or 'partial')
The passage contrasts the historical assumption that the weed's spread was due 'solely' to seed production with the discovery that it 'also' secretes a toxin. This indicates that while seed production is a factor, it is not the only one. Therefore, the explanation focusing only on seed production is not fully comprehensive. Words like 'incomplete', 'insufficient', or 'partial' logically complete the text by describing this limitation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context clues and transition words in the passage.
The passage notes that scientists originally believed the weed's spread was 'due solely' to high seed production, but a new finding shows the plant 'also' secretes a soil toxin.
Identifying the relationship between the historical assumption and the new discovery establishes the logical direction of the sentence.
2
Determine the relationship established by the transition word 'However'.
The word 'However' introduces a qualification of the old assumption. Because seed production is not the only mechanism involved, the historical explanation is not completely incorrect, but it lacks the full details.
This step determines that the missing word must describe an explanation that is true in part but does not capture the entire picture.
3
Identify precise high-utility academic vocabulary that fits this meaning.
Words like 'incomplete', 'insufficient', or 'partial' precisely describe a hypothesis or explanation that fails to encompass all relevant elements.
Selecting grammatically and semantically precise vocabulary completes the passage cohesively.

Key Concept

Identifying words in context using logical transitions and contrast clues.
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Topics

Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

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