Question 153·Hard·Words in Context
The chemist’s early paper, once derided as overly speculative, has since been recognized as eerily prescient, and modern scholars now cite it not as a curious historical footnote but as a ______ for contemporary research into protein folding.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, first paraphrase the sentence and identify the overall tone (positive/negative) and the role of the missing word (e.g., cause, result, standard, prediction). Pay close attention to signal words and contrasts like “not…but,” which show how the author’s view changes. Then quickly recall or infer the meanings of the choices and test each one in the sentence, checking both meaning and how natural the full phrase sounds (including prepositions like “of” vs. “for”). Eliminate any choice that doesn’t logically match the context or that forms an awkward or unidiomatic phrase, and choose the one that fits both the logic and the grammar of the sentence.
Hints
Use the contrast in the sentence
Look closely at the shift from “once derided as overly speculative” to “recognized as eerily prescient.” What does that change in attitude suggest about how important the paper has become for current scientists?
Focus on how the paper is used now
Reread: “modern scholars now cite it not as a curious historical footnote but as a ______ for contemporary research.” If scholars are citing the paper in their work, what kind of role does it play—prediction, solution, side effect, or standard/guide?
Check which words fit the phrase “for contemporary research”
Test each option with the phrase: “a ______ for contemporary research.” Which options sound natural in English and logically describe something that research can be based on or shaped by?
Step-by-step Explanation
Use context and contrast to understand the role of the paper
Focus on the key contrast: the paper was “once derided as overly speculative” but is now “recognized as eerily prescient.” That means it was originally mocked but later proved to be ahead of its time and very valuable.
Now look at the clause with the blank: “modern scholars now cite it not as a curious historical footnote but as a ______ for contemporary research into protein folding.”
So, instead of being a minor, quirky detail from the past, the paper is now a significant, positive influence on current research. The blank must be a noun that describes something used as an important reference, guide, or standard in ongoing work.
Pay attention to the phrase “for contemporary research”
The structure “as a ______ for contemporary research” suggests that the missing word should describe something that guides, shapes, or is used by modern research.
Ask yourself: what kind of thing can research be “for”? Typically, we talk about:
- a basis for research
- a model for research
- a standard or reference point for research
This rules out words that mean a cure, a prediction, or a side effect, because those don’t describe a model or standard that researchers cite and build on.
Match each option’s meaning to the sentence and eliminate misfits
Now consider each answer’s general meaning in this context:
- Harbinger: something that signals or foreshadows what is to come (usually “harbinger of,” not “for”). It’s more about prediction than being a standard that is cited by later scholars.
- Panacea: a remedy that cures all problems or diseases, a cure-all. That doesn’t fit with being cited as part of research—it’s not solving all problems, just influencing research direction.
- Corollary: a result that naturally follows from something else, a consequence. You usually say “a corollary of X,” not “a corollary for research.” It describes an outcome, not a guiding reference.
The remaining option, “touchstone,” means a standard, benchmark, or reference point by which other things are judged or developed. This fits perfectly with “modern scholars now cite it … as a ______ for contemporary research”, showing the paper is now a key reference or standard.
Therefore, the correct answer is B) touchstone.