Question 157·Easy·Words in Context
After months of thoughtful debate, the city council reached a _____ decision, approving the new park unanimously and without reservation.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, always read a bit before and after the blank and underline key clues about tone and degree (like "unanimously" or "without reservation"). Decide whether the situation shows confidence, doubt, conflict, or calm, then quickly plug each option into the sentence and eliminate any that clash with those clues—even if you know their definitions. Choose the word that fits both meaning and tone exactly, not just approximately.
Hints
Look closely at the phrase after the blank
Pay special attention to the part after the comma: "approving the new park unanimously and without reservation." What does this tell you about the nature of the decision?
Decide if the tone shows doubt or certainty
Ask yourself: does this decision sound hesitant and unsure, or clear and fully agreed upon? Use that to rule out choices that don’t match the tone.
Test each option in the sentence
Read the full sentence with each answer choice inserted. Which one best fits a decision where everyone agreed and no one held back?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the situation in the sentence
Read the whole sentence: "After months of thoughtful debate, the city council reached a _____ decision, approving the new park unanimously and without reservation." The key is to see what kind of decision this is. The council debated for a long time, then made a decision about approving the park.
Use the context clues after the blank
Focus on the phrase after the blank: "approving the new park unanimously and without reservation." "Unanimously" means everyone agreed. "Without reservation" means they had no doubts or hesitations. So the decision was confident and fully supported, not shaky or conflicted.
Eliminate choices that conflict with the tone
Check each option against the idea of a confident, fully agreed-upon decision:
- A decision where people are unsure or unwilling does not fit "unanimously and without reservation."
- A decision involving chaos or disorder also does not fit careful debate followed by full agreement.
- A decision that is hesitant or provisional does not match a clear, unanimous approval. Only one option matches the idea of a firm, confident decision.
Select the word that matches a firm, confident decision
The only word that accurately describes a decision made "unanimously and without reservation" is D) resolute, which means firm, determined, and unwavering.