Question 34·Easy·Words in Context
The archaeologists were thrilled when the ceramic shards fit together seamlessly, offering a _____ clue about the vessel's original shape.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For vocabulary-in-context questions, first read the whole sentence and restate it in your own words, paying close attention to the tone (positive/negative) and any cause-and-effect clues (like “because,” “so,” or descriptions of reactions). Decide what kind of idea belongs in the blank—clear, confusing, strong, weak—before looking at answer choices. Then test each option by substituting it into the sentence and immediately rejecting any that clash with the tone or logic, even if they look like “harder” or more academic words. This quick predict-then-plug approach helps you avoid being distracted by attractive but ill-fitting vocabulary.
Hints
Use the positive tone
Notice words like “thrilled” and “fit together seamlessly.” Do these suggest a problem with the clue or a strong, helpful clue?
Focus on the phrase after the comma
Look carefully at “offering a _____ clue about the vessel's original shape.” What kind of clue would fitting shards give about shape—unclear and confusing, or clear and dependable?
Eliminate words that clash with the context
Ask yourself: Would a clue that made the archaeologists thrilled be hard to understand, conflicting, or only shallow? Cross out any options that carry those ideas.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the situation and tone
The sentence says the archaeologists were thrilled and that the shards fit together seamlessly. This suggests that the result is very helpful and clear. The blank describes the kind of clue they got about the vessel’s original shape, so the word should match this positive, useful outcome.
Think about what kind of clue this would be
If ceramic shards suddenly fit together perfectly, that gives the archaeologists a strong kind of evidence. Ask: is the clue unclear or clear? weak or strong? The context suggests a clue that is very reliable and concrete, not confusing or shallow.
Check each answer choice’s meaning against the context
- Elusive: hard to find, catch, or understand.
- Contradictory: in disagreement or opposition to something else.
- Tangible: real and concrete; able to be touched or clearly perceived.
- Superficial: only on the surface; not deep or thorough.
Now, plug each into the sentence in your mind and see if it matches a clear, helpful result that made the archaeologists thrilled.
Choose the option that fits both meaning and tone
A clue that comes from shards fitting together seamlessly would be clear, solid evidence about the vessel’s shape. That matches “tangible”, which describes something real and concrete that you can clearly grasp. The correct answer is tangible.