Question 143·Medium·Words in Context
For decades, the mathematician’s groundbreaking proof remained largely _____, cited in only a handful of papers until a recent biography highlighted its significance.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, first read the entire sentence and restate in your own words what idea should go in the blank (for example, “important but not well known”). Then, check the tone (positive, negative, neutral) and any contrast words like “but” or “until” to see how the blank relates to the rest of the sentence. Finally, eliminate choices whose meanings clash with the context or tone, and pick the option that fits your predicted meaning rather than trying to force a dictionary definition into the sentence. Content bу Аnіko.aі
Hints
Use the contrast in the sentence
Focus on the contrast between “groundbreaking proof” and the fact that it was cited in only a handful of papers until a biography highlighted it. What does this contrast suggest about the proof’s status during those decades? аniko.аі/ѕat
Pay attention to the time clue
The phrase “until a recent biography highlighted its significance” suggests that something changed: before the biography, how much attention was the proof getting?
Check each option against tone and logic
Ask yourself for each choice: Would a proof with this description reasonably be cited in only a handful of papers and then be newly noticed after a biography?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence context
The sentence says the mathematician’s proof was groundbreaking but was cited in only a handful of papers until a biography highlighted its significance. This contrast shows that, despite being important, the proof was not widely recognized or noticed for a long time.
Predict the general meaning needed
We need a word that describes something that is important but not widely known or recognized. The proof’s impact is real (it’s “groundbreaking”), but its recognition is low (few citations until later). So the blank must capture “little-known” status, not something about being wrong or repetitive.
Eliminate choices that conflict with the context
Go through each option and compare it to the context:
- Redundant means unnecessarily repetitive; that doesn’t match a “groundbreaking” proof.
- Celebrated means widely praised and famous, which clashes with being cited in only a handful of papers.
- Erroneous means containing errors, which doesn’t fit with a proof described as “groundbreaking” and later highlighted positively. The remaining choice is the only one that fits an important but not widely recognized proof.
Confirm the best-fitting word
The remaining choice, “obscure,” means little known or not well recognized, which perfectly matches a groundbreaking proof that remained overlooked and seldom cited until a biography brought it attention. So the correct answer is C) obscure. Contеnt bу Anіkο.ai