Which word completes the text with the most logical and precise word?
Answer:For many years, linguists assumed that the grammatical structures of signed languages were fundamentally simpler than those of spoken languages, viewing them as mere systems of gestural pantomime. However, pioneering research in the mid-twentieth century demonstrated that signed languages possess complex, rule-governed phonological and syntactic systems comparable to any spoken tongue. This body of research effectively 【dispelled】 the misconception that signed languages are primitive communication systems.
Answer
The blank is correctly completed by a word such as 'dispelled', 'debunked', or 'refuted', which indicates that the scientific research disproved or corrected the false assumption about signed languages.
The correct word must mean to disprove or eliminate a false belief, as the passage describes how newer research showed signed languages have complex structures, contradicting the previous view. Words like 'dispelled', 'debunked', and 'refuted' logically and precisely complete this meaning.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Selecting words that precisely fit the logical context of a passage, especially when dealing with contrast and shift in scientific consensus.