Question 154·Easy·Words in Context
In the early days of the Internet, many companies believed that posting a basic website was ______, assuming that an online presence alone would guarantee customer engagement. Today, however, businesses recognize that interactive features and social media integration are essential for success.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words-in-Context questions, first read the sentence without looking at the answer choices and predict, in simple everyday language, what word should go in the blank (for example, “good enough,” “harmful,” “extra,” etc.). Pay attention to signal words like “however,” “but,” or “therefore” that show contrast or cause and effect, and use the whole sentence (and surrounding sentences if given) to understand the logic. Then, compare your predicted meaning to each answer choice, eliminating any whose dictionary meaning does not match the sentence’s logic or tone, even if they sound sophisticated.
Hints
Focus on what companies believed
Look closely at the phrase “assuming that an online presence alone would guarantee customer engagement.” What does this tell you about how effective they thought a basic website would be?
Use the contrast with today’s view
The second sentence begins with “Today, however,” and says interactive features and social media are “essential for success.” How does this change in thinking help you understand what companies used to think about a basic website?
Consider the attitude toward basic websites
In the early days, did companies see a basic website as a bad thing, an unnecessary extra, something off to the side, or something that fully met their needs by itself? Eliminate answer choices that don’t match that attitude.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the situation in the sentence
Read the full sentence and paraphrase it in your own words:
In the early days of the Internet, many companies believed that posting a basic website was ______, assuming that an online presence alone would guarantee customer engagement.
This describes what companies used to believe about basic websites and customer engagement.
Use the contrast signal word
Notice the word “however” introducing the second sentence:
Today, however, businesses recognize that interactive features and social media integration are essential for success.
“However” shows a change in thinking. Before, companies had a belief about basic websites; now, they understand that more (interactive features and social media) is needed. So their old belief was that just posting a basic website would achieve the goal.
Predict the meaning needed in the blank
From the first clause:
“…posting a basic website was ______, assuming that an online presence alone would guarantee customer engagement.”
The key idea is that they assumed “an online presence alone” would get customers engaged. So the blank must mean something like “good enough by itself to accomplish the goal.” Keep that meaning in mind when you check the choices.
Test each answer choice against the predicted meaning
Now compare each option to the meaning “good enough by itself to accomplish the goal”:
- redundant means unnecessary or more than needed.
- peripheral means secondary or not central.
- detrimental means harmful.
- sufficient means enough or adequate to meet a need.
Only “sufficient” matches the idea that companies believed a basic website alone would meet their customer engagement needs, so the correct answer is C) sufficient.