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Difficulty: MediumWords in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

For decades, planetary scientists hypothesized that the upper atmosphere of Venus was completely dry. However, recent spectral analyses of the planet’s cloud layers have revealed trace amounts of water vapor. Although these findings suggest that the Venusian atmosphere is not entirely devoid of moisture, researchers caution that the water concentration is still far too low to ________ the hypothesis that the planet could support microbial life.

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

  1. substantiateAnswer
  2. B
    precipitate
  3. C
    invalidate
  4. D
    simulate

Answer

substantiate
The correct option is 'substantiate' because it means to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of a claim or hypothesis. In the sentence, the low water concentration is described as insufficient to support the idea that Venus could support life.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the passage.
The passage discusses the discovery of water vapor on Venus, which suggests the atmosphere is not completely dry, but notes that the amount is extremely small.
Understanding the main idea of the text helps identify the relationship between the discovery and the hypothesis about life.
2
Determine the relationship between the water concentration and the hypothesis.
The transition 'Although... researchers caution...' indicates that despite the presence of water, the low concentration is not enough to support or prove the hypothesis that Venus can sustain microbial life. The missing word must mean 'support' or 'prove'.
This establishes the semantic requirement for the blank.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the word that means 'support' or 'prove'.
The word meaning 'support' or 'prove' is 'substantiate', which fits the context perfectly.
This identifies the correct choice among the options.

Key Concept

Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

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