Question 130·Easy·Words in Context
In her groundbreaking 1953 paper, scientist Rosalind Franklin presented X-ray images that offered a ______ glimpse of DNA’s double-helix structure, laying essential groundwork for future research.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words in Context questions, first read the full sentence (and surrounding sentences if given) to understand the tone and purpose. Identify key clue words—here, terms like "groundbreaking" and "laying essential groundwork" signal a positive, confident, and serious scientific achievement. Then test each answer choice by plugging it into the sentence and eliminating any that clash with the tone (too informal, negative, or uncertain) or the meaning (don’t make sense for what the subject accomplished). Choose the remaining word that fits both the context and the level of formality.
Hints
Pay attention to the tone
Notice words like "groundbreaking" and the phrase "laying essential groundwork for future research." Is the tone positive or negative? Serious or informal?
Focus on what the images did
The X-ray images "offered a ______ glimpse of DNA’s double-helix structure." Think about what kind of glimpse would help other scientists build on this work.
Test each option in the sentence
Read the sentence with each choice in the blank and ask: Does this sound like how people would describe an important scientific discovery that helped future research?
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the surrounding context
Look at the key phrases in the sentence: "groundbreaking 1953 paper," "scientist Rosalind Franklin," and "laying essential groundwork for future research." These all suggest that the work was important and scientifically serious, not minor or uncertain.
Interpret "offered a ______ glimpse"
The word that fills the blank must describe what sort of glimpse the X-ray images gave of DNA’s double-helix structure. Because this work helped future research, the glimpse likely helped scientists understand the structure, not confuse it or treat it lightly.
Evaluate each option against the tone and meaning
- "Obscure" means hard to see or understand, which contradicts the idea that the images helped lay groundwork.
- "Casual" means relaxed, informal, or not serious, which does not fit the tone of a groundbreaking scientific paper.
- "Tentative" means hesitant or uncertain, which doesn’t match research that is strong enough to lay essential groundwork.
- The remaining option describes a glimpse that is easy to see and understand, which fits both the scientific context and the idea of enabling future research.
Choose the word that best matches the context
Since the images helped scientists understand DNA’s structure and were important for future research, the best word is "clear", so the correct answer is D) clear.