Question 112·Easy·Words in Context
For decades, researchers believed the dodo’s extinction was due solely to hunting, but recent evidence paints a more ______ picture, implicating habitat loss and invasive species as well.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words in Context questions, first read the whole sentence and notice signal words like “but,” “although,” or “because” that show how ideas relate. Paraphrase what kind of idea the blank needs (for example: more serious, more critical, more complicated) without looking at the choices yet. Then check each option against the sentence’s meaning and tone, quickly crossing out any that are clearly too positive, negative, emotional, or informal for the context. Finally, plug the remaining candidate(s) back into the sentence to see which one keeps the sentence precise and natural.
Hints
Look at the contrast signaled by "but"
Focus on the word “but” in the sentence. How does the idea after “but” change or complicate the earlier belief about the cause of the dodo’s extinction?
Count the number of causes mentioned
In the first part, how many causes are blamed for extinction? In the part after the comma, how many causes are mentioned? Think about how this shift affects the description of the overall “picture.”
Check the tone of the sentence
Is the sentence describing something cheerful, funny, or casual, or is it serious and scientific? Use this to rule out any options that clearly clash with the tone.
Test each choice in the blank
Read the sentence with each option. Which one makes the most sense with a serious discussion of new evidence adding more factors to the explanation?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence context
Read the full sentence: researchers used to think the dodo went extinct only because of hunting, but now evidence also points to habitat loss and invasive species.
So the contrast is between an earlier single-cause explanation and a newer explanation that involves multiple causes working together.
Decide what kind of word is needed
The blank describes the new "picture" of the dodo’s extinction created by recent evidence.
Ask: Is this new picture simple or more involved? Is the tone serious, positive, negative, or humorous?
Because the sentence adds more causes (habitat loss and invasive species), the new picture is more involved/complex, and the tone is serious and scientific, not playful or emotional.
Eliminate choices that don’t match tone or meaning
Go through each option:
- Transparent usually means easy to see through or very clear/easy to understand. The sentence emphasizes added complexity, not extra clarity.
- Optimistic means hopeful or expecting good outcomes. This doesn’t fit a discussion of extinction causes.
- Comical means funny or amusing, which clearly clashes with the serious topic of extinction and scientific research.
All three choices are off in either meaning or tone, so they should be rejected.
Confirm the remaining choice
The remaining word, “nuanced,” means having subtle or finely shaded differences; not simple or one‑dimensional. This fits perfectly because the new evidence shows that the dodo’s extinction involved multiple interacting factors, making the overall picture more complex than just hunting alone.
So the correct answer is D) nuanced.