In her study of historical documents, sociologist Clara Ruiz warns against treating archives as objective, transparent records of the past. Instead, she argues that archival collections are inevitably ________, reflecting the specific biases, omissions, and political priorities of the institutions and individuals who assembled them.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
- partialAnswer
- Bimpartial
- Cexhaustive
- Darbitrary
Answer
partial
The passage contrasts the idea of archives being 'objective, transparent records' with the reality that they reflect 'biases, omissions, and political priorities.' In this context, the word 'partial' is used in its secondary meaning to denote bias or favoritism toward a particular perspective. This makes 'partial' the most logical and precise choice to describe archival collections that are shaped by the subjective priorities of their creators.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Contextual vocabulary usage, specifically identifying secondary meanings of common words when contrasted with their opposites.