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Question

Difficulty: EasyWords in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

In the mid-fifteenth century, the introduction of the printing press in Europe significantly ________ the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Prior to this technological shift, the labor-intensive process of copying manuscripts by hand meant that scholarly texts were rare and accessible only to a wealthy elite. By allowing books to be produced rapidly and in large quantities, the printing press enabled ideas to circulate more freely among researchers.

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

  1. A
    monopolized
  2. facilitatedAnswer
  3. C
    hindered
  4. D
    superseded

Answer

facilitated
The sentence describes how the printing press impacted the spread of knowledge. The text states that the printing press made it possible to produce books rapidly and enabled ideas to circulate more freely, making the process of dissemination much easier. The word 'facilitated' means to make an action or process easier, which perfectly fits this context.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence containing the blank.
The sentence notes that the printing press had a significant impact on the dissemination (spread) of scientific knowledge.
Understanding the subject and object of the sentence helps identify what action is being described.
2
Examine the surrounding sentences for clues about the direction and nature of this impact.
The text states that prior to the printing press, books were rare and expensive because they were copied by hand. The printing press allowed books to be produced rapidly and allowed ideas to circulate more freely.
The surrounding sentences provide the contrast between the old labor-intensive method and the new efficient technology, indicating the impact was positive and made the process easier.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the word that best describes making a process easier or helping it happen.
The word 'facilitated' means to make a process easier or less difficult, which matches the context perfectly. Other choices either contradict the positive impact or misuse vocabulary.
Selecting the option that aligns with both the semantic meaning and the tone of the passage yields the correct answer.

Key Concept

Selecting words in context by using surrounding textual clues to determine the most precise and logical vocabulary fit.
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Topics

Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

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