Which word completes the text with the most logical and precise meaning?
Answer:In historical linguistics, the reconstruction of proto-languages often depends on the comparative method, which identifies systematic sound correspondences among related tongues. While some researchers argue that these correspondences represent direct genetic relationships, others suggest they may result from prolonged contact between unrelated communities. Thus, what appears to be a sign of common ancestry might instead be a product of linguistic convergence, rendering genealogical classifications far more 【tenuous】 than previously assumed.
Answer
A word such as 'tenuous' (or 'uncertain', 'precarious', 'unreliable') which means weak, fragile, or lacking a sound basis, indicating that the genealogical classifications are less secure due to the possibility of linguistic convergence.
The correct answer must describe classifications that are made less secure or reliable due to the alternative explanation of linguistic convergence. 'Tenuous' (or synonyms like 'uncertain' or 'precarious') precisely captures this sense of weakness, fragility, or lack of support.
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Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary