Question 25·Easy·Words in Context
Chef Dominique Crenn’s restaurant has earned three Michelin stars, but she remains remarkably _____, often crediting her team rather than herself for the establishment’s success.
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 underline key clues—especially contrast words like "but" and descriptive phrases after commas. Before looking at the choices, briefly say in your own words what kind of idea belongs in the blank (for example, "a positive trait about how she handles success"). Then test each answer by plugging it back into the sentence and asking: Does its meaning fit the tone (positive/negative) and the specific actions described? Eliminate any words whose definitions don’t clearly match the context, even if they sound sophisticated.
Hints
Use the contrast word
Focus on the word "but": it shows a contrast between earning three Michelin stars and how she behaves afterward. What kind of behavior contrasts with being overly proud of such success?
Look at the clause after the comma
Pay close attention to "often crediting her team rather than herself for the establishment’s success". What does this tell you about how she views her own role?
Check whether the tone is positive or negative
Is the author criticizing the chef or admiring her? Decide if the blank should be a positive trait or a negative one, then remove any options that clearly have the wrong tone.
Match each option to the behavior
For each choice, ask: Would a person with this trait be likely to give others credit for their own big achievement?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the key context clues
Read the whole sentence and focus on the parts that describe Chef Dominique Crenn’s attitude:
- She has "earned three Michelin stars" — this shows very high success.
- The word "but" introduces a contrast with that success.
- After the comma: "often crediting her team rather than herself for the establishment’s success" shows how she reacts to her achievements.
Your job is to find a word that fits this contrast and matches the behavior of giving credit to others.
Decide what kind of attitude is being described
Ask yourself: What kind of person, after achieving something huge, "credits her team rather than herself"?
This suggests:
- She is not bragging about herself.
- She is focusing on others instead of taking all the praise.
So the blank should be filled with a word that describes a positive, self-effacing attitude, not fear, coldness, or indifference.
Test each answer choice against the context
Go through the options and imagine them in the sentence:
- "remains remarkably apprehensive" would mean she is very nervous or fearful, which doesn’t match giving credit to her team.
- "remains remarkably distant" would mean she is emotionally or socially detached, which doesn’t relate to praising her team.
- "remains remarkably unconcerned" would mean she doesn’t care about the success, which conflicts with her actively crediting others.
- The remaining choice describes someone who stays modest and does not make the success all about themselves, which fits perfectly with "crediting her team rather than herself".
Therefore, the best word to complete the sentence is "humble".