Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumWords in Context: Connotation and Tone

Although the municipal council's newly established botanical garden was initially criticized by some local residents as an expensive vanity project that would drain public resources, environmentalist Marcus Thorne argues that the urban green space has actually had a ______ effect on the surrounding neighborhood. According to Thorne, the garden has not only fostered social cohesion by serving as a gathering space but has also provided a vital ecological sanctuary for native pollinators.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word?

  1. salutaryAnswer
  2. B
    lucrative
  3. C
    glorious
  4. D
    innocuous

Answer

salutary
The correct answer is the word that means producing beneficial or good effects. The passage sets up a contrast between the garden being initially criticized as a wasteful 'vanity project' and its actual positive impact. The details that follow—fostering social cohesion and providing an ecological sanctuary—demonstrate that the garden has had a highly beneficial effect. The word 'salutary' fits this context perfectly and matches the formal, academic tone of the text.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the blank in the passage.
The blank describes the type of 'effect' the botanical garden has had on the surrounding neighborhood. The sentence begins with 'Although,' indicating a contrast with the initial criticism that the garden was an 'expensive vanity project.'
Understanding the structural contrast is necessary to determine the overall charge (positive or negative) of the missing word.
2
Examine the specific clues provided in the sentences following the blank.
The text states that the garden has 'fostered social cohesion' and 'provided a vital ecological sanctuary.' This indicates that the garden's effect is actively beneficial and positive.
Identifying concrete textual evidence ensures the selected word aligns with the specific details of the passage.
3
Evaluate the choices to find a word that matches the academic tone and positive connotation of 'beneficial.'
'Salutary' means producing good effects or being beneficial, which fits both the context and the formal tone. Other choices either introduce incorrect connotations (like financial profit for 'lucrative'), match the wrong register (like 'glorious'), or are too weak in positive charge (like 'innocuous').
Selecting the final word requires comparing the definitions, connotations, and registers of all options against the established context.

Key Concept

Identifying words that match the contextually required connotation and the academic tone of a passage.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Words in Context: Connotation and Tone

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