Unlike earlier attempts to catalog the species of the remote archipelago, Dr. Prieto’s latest survey is ______ in scope: it records organisms from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest volcanic ridges.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For words-in-context questions, always use the surrounding sentence as your primary clue—especially any part after a colon or dash, since it often explains the missing idea. First, restate in your own words what the blank must mean based on context (for example, "broad and complete"), then test each choice by plugging it back into the sentence and eliminating any that don’t match that meaning, don’t fit grammatically, or have the wrong tone. Avoid choosing words just because they "sound smart"; they must specifically match the idea shown by the context.
Hints
Pay attention to the colon
The part of the sentence after the colon explains or gives an example of what belongs in the blank. Focus on what the survey records to understand what kind of scope it has.
Notice the range described
The survey records organisms "from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest volcanic ridges." Ask yourself: what does describing such extremes tell you about how wide or narrow the survey is?
Check each option against the context
Think about whether each word could logically describe the "scope" of a survey that includes such a wide range. Eliminate any choices that describe timing, randomness, or personality rather than how broad or narrow something is.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the sentence structure for clues
Notice the contrast word "Unlike" at the beginning: "Unlike earlier attempts... Dr. Prieto’s latest survey is ______ in scope." This tells you the new survey is different from earlier ones in a specific way. Also, the colon (:) introduces an explanation or example of what goes in the blank.
Infer the meaning of the blank from the explanation after the colon
Look closely at the part after the colon: "it records organisms from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest volcanic ridges." This means the survey covers organisms across a huge range of environments, from one extreme to another. So, the missing word should describe a survey whose scope is very broad and complete, not limited or random.
Match that meaning to the answer choices
Now compare each choice:
- "inflexible" means rigid or not able to change.
- "premature" means happening too early.
- "haphazard" means random, not planned or organized.
- "comprehensive" means complete and covering all or almost all aspects of something. Only a word that means "complete and wide-ranging in scope" fits the idea of recording organisms from the deepest trenches to the highest ridges, so the correct answer is comprehensive.