Question 141·Hard·Words in Context
In her autobiography, the renowned volcanologist recalls that, in hindsight, the numerous small tremors villagers had dismissed as inconsequential were in fact ______ warnings of the impending eruption.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, always read a bit around the blank and paraphrase the sentence in your own words, focusing on the logical relationship (contrast, cause-effect, example, etc.). Decide what general idea the missing word must express (for example, “predictive,” “careless,” “reluctant”) before looking at the choices. Then eliminate any options that don’t match both meaning and tone, even if you know their definitions. If you’re unsure of a word, plug it into the sentence and see whether it makes clear, logical sense in context; avoid picking words just because they "sound" sophisticated.
Hints
Use the signal words in the sentence
Pay attention to phrases like "in hindsight" and "were in fact"—these show that the writer realized something important later about the tremors.
Think about the role of the tremors
The villagers dismissed the tremors as unimportant, but the volcanologist later calls them warnings of an eruption. What kind of warnings must they have been, given that an eruption actually followed?
Check the tone and function of the blank
The blank describes the warnings themselves. Ask: Is the author focusing on whether the warnings were routine, scattered, teaching a lesson, or accurately signaling the future?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence and its contrast
Focus on the key parts of the sentence:
- "in hindsight" suggests looking back and realizing something new.
- The tremors were "dismissed as inconsequential" at the time.
- They were actually warnings "of the impending eruption."
So, the author is saying that even though people thought the tremors were unimportant, looking back, they now see that the tremors really did signal that an eruption was coming.
Paraphrase what the blank must mean
Rephrase the sentence in your own words:
Looking back, those small tremors that the villagers ignored were actually ______ warnings that an eruption was going to happen.
The blank must describe warnings that accurately signaled or anticipated a future event (the eruption). In other words, the tremors were meaningful early signs of what was going to occur.
Test each answer choice against that meaning
Now compare each option to the meaning "accurate, anticipatory warnings of the future":
- Perfunctory: means done only as a routine or with little interest or effort. That describes how someone performs an action, not how well something predicts the future. It doesn’t fit "warnings of the impending eruption."
- Desultory: means lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; random or disconnected. That suggests something scattered or unorganized, not something that clearly warns about a specific future event.
- Didactic: means intended to teach a lesson or give instruction, often in a moral or educational way. Warnings about an eruption are not primarily about teaching a lesson; they are about predicting danger.
So none of these three capture the idea of foresight or correctly indicating a future event.
Select the word that means “showing foresight”
The remaining option is "prescient", which means having or showing knowledge of events before they take place—in other words, showing foresight or being predictive. Calling the tremors "prescient warnings" perfectly matches the idea that, although ignored at the time, they truly were early, accurate signals of the impending eruption.
Correct answer: D) prescient.