Question 3·Hard·Words in Context
In an editorial, the journalist argued that the city's pledge to become carbon-neutral by 2030 was commendable but ultimately _____: the plan, she noted, lacked firm funding mechanisms and relied on technology that has yet to be developed.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, first ignore the choices and figure out, in your own simple words, what the blank should mean using context clues like contrast words (e.g., “but”) and explanations after commas or colons. Decide whether the missing word should be positive or negative and what specific idea it should convey (e.g., unrealistic, thorough, hopeful). Then check each answer choice: define it in your head, eliminate any that don’t match your predicted meaning or that clash with the sentence’s tone, and choose the one that fits both the definition and the context most precisely.
Hints
Notice the contrast word
Look closely at the phrase “commendable but ultimately _____”. What kind of word usually follows “but” after a compliment—another compliment or a criticism?
Use the explanation after the colon
Read the part after the colon: it says the plan lacks firm funding and depends on technology that doesn’t exist yet. What does that suggest about how realistic or practical the plan is?
Match the general idea before checking each option
Before looking at the choices in detail, decide what kind of idea should fill the blank (for example: unrealistic, complete, forward-looking, etc.). Then pick the word that best matches that idea and fits the critical tone.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the contrast signal to find the tone
Focus on the phrase “commendable but ultimately _____”. The word “but” shows a contrast: the pledge is good in one way (commendable) but has a negative quality that the blank must express.
Use the explanation after the colon as a context clue
After the blank, the colon introduces an explanation: “the plan, she noted, lacked firm funding mechanisms and relied on technology that has yet to be developed.”
These details show that the plan is being criticized as unrealistic or impractical, not just ambitious, and not well supported by concrete means.
Eliminate choices that don’t match “unrealistic/impractical”
Now compare each option to the meaning suggested by the context:
- A) aspirational: means ambitious or aiming high. That’s generally positive and doesn’t criticize the plan for being unrealistic.
- C) prescient: means having knowledge of events before they happen; farsighted. That would praise the plan’s foresight, not criticize its practicality.
- D) comprehensive: means thorough or covering everything. That would suggest the plan is well thought out, which contradicts the criticism about weak funding and speculative technology.
None of these three express “commendable but unrealistic/impractical.” So they don’t fit the sentence’s criticism.
Confirm the remaining choice fits the meaning
The remaining option, B) quixotic, means exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical. That perfectly matches the journalist’s view that the carbon-neutral pledge is admirable yet not grounded in real funding or existing technology.
Therefore, the correct answer is B) quixotic.