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Question

Difficulty: MediumWords in Context: Connotation and Tone

For decades, plant biologists assumed that secondary metabolites—organic compounds that are not directly involved in a plant's normal growth, development, or reproduction—were merely ______ byproducts of primary metabolic pathways. However, recent ecological research indicates that these compounds are far from useless; rather, they serve critical functions in plant survival, such as deterring herbivores, resisting pathogens, and signaling neighboring plants about environmental threats.

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

  1. A
    detrimental
  2. B
    accidental
  3. superfluousAnswer
  4. D
    noxious

Answer

superfluous
The correct answer is superfluous. The passage sets up a contrast between the historical view of secondary metabolites and their newly discovered importance. Historically, biologists assumed these compounds were 'merely' waste or unnecessary, as they are not directly involved in growth or reproduction. This historical view is contrasted with modern research showing they are 'far from useless.' The word superfluous means unnecessary or redundant, which perfectly matches the connotation of being an unnecessary or useless byproduct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the blank in the passage.
The blank is preceded by the word 'merely' and followed by 'byproducts,' and this description is contrasted with the later statement that the compounds are 'far from useless' and serve 'critical functions.'
This establishes that the blank must carry a negative or neutral connotation related to uselessness, lack of function, or redundancy.
2
Evaluate the option choices against this contextual requirement.
The option superfluous directly means unnecessary or redundant, which matches the contrast with 'far from useless.' Other options like detrimental, accidental, and noxious do not fit the specific contrast between uselessness and functionality.
Choosing the word that most precisely aligns with the tone and context of the contrast is required for words-in-context questions.

Key Concept

Identifying the word that matches the contextually established connotation and tone of a passage.
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Words in Context: Connotation and Tone

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