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Difficulty: Very hardWords in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

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

Answer:In the late nineteenth century, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck introduced pioneering social welfare legislation, including accident insurance and retirement pensions. Rather than being driven by pure altruism, these reforms were strategically designed to 【forestall】 the growing appeal of the socialist movement by addressing the working class's grievances before they could escalate into revolution.

Answer

The correct answer is 'forestall' (or acceptable synonyms such as 'prevent', 'avert', or 'counter').
The correct answer is 'forestall' (or synonyms like 'prevent', 'avert', or 'counter'). The passage explains that German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck introduced welfare reforms not out of pure altruism, but as a strategic measure to address grievances 'before they could escalate into revolution.' This indicates that the reforms were a preemptive action aimed at stopping or hindering the rising appeal of the socialist movement. 'Forestall' precisely fits this meaning, as it refers to preventing or obstructing an anticipated event by taking advance action.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the passage to determine the relationship between the reforms and the socialist movement.
The passage states that Otto von Bismarck introduced social reforms to address grievances 'before they could escalate into revolution,' showing that the goal was proactive prevention.
Identifying the temporal clue ('before they could escalate') helps determine that the missing word must represent an action that stops or hinders something in advance.
2
Identify the semantic role and grammatical form required for the blank.
The blank requires a transitive verb in the infinitive form ('to [verb]') that means to preemptively stop, check, or hinder an anticipated threat.
The sentence structure ('designed to [blank] the growing appeal') requires a verb that acts on the direct object 'appeal' to explain the strategic purpose of the reforms.
3
Identify a precise high-utility academic word that matches the target meaning.
The word 'forestall' means to prevent or obstruct an anticipated event by taking action ahead of time, which perfectly matches the context.
Choosing a precise vocabulary word ensures semantic accuracy and aligns with standard academic writing expectations.

Key Concept

Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary
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Words in Context: High-Utility Vocabulary

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