Question 39·Hard·Words in Context
Many critics describe composer Maurice Ravel's string quartet as meticulously structured yet emotionally restrained. To Ravel, however, such restraint was a deliberate aesthetic choice: he aimed to craft music so exacting that any trace of sentimentality would appear merely _____, a peripheral shimmer rather than the substance of the work.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, always start by reading the sentence without looking at the options and use nearby clues—especially contrast words like "rather than" or descriptive phrases after commas—to decide what kind of idea belongs in the blank (for example, central vs. peripheral, positive vs. negative). Then test each option by plugging it into the sentence and asking whether it keeps that meaning and tone consistent; quickly eliminate choices whose dictionary meanings contradict clear context clues, even if they sound sophisticated.
Hints
Focus on the explanation after the blank
Reread the part after the blank: "a peripheral shimmer rather than the substance of the work." Ask yourself: is the blank describing something central or something on the side?
Use the contrast in the sentence
The sentence contrasts "peripheral shimmer" with "substance." The blank should match the side that goes with "peripheral shimmer," not with "substance."
Eliminate options that contradict "peripheral"
Look at each answer choice and think: does this word usually describe something powerful, central, or essential? If so, it likely conflicts with the idea of something merely "peripheral."
Test each option in the sentence
Mentally plug each option into the blank and see whether the meaning of the whole sentence still clearly supports Ravel’s idea that sentimentality is not the main point of the music.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the context around the blank
Read the whole sentence focusing on the description after the blank:
"...any trace of sentimentality would appear merely _____, a peripheral shimmer rather than the substance of the work."
The phrase after the comma explains what the blank should mean. "Peripheral shimmer" and "rather than the substance" tell you that the blank must describe something secondary or not central, not the main focus of the music.
Clarify the contrast in the sentence
Notice the contrast built into the sentence:
- Critics: "emotionally restrained" (they see lack of emotion as a weakness or defining trait).
- Ravel: restraint is a deliberate aesthetic choice.
Ravel wants his music "so exacting" that if sentimentality appears at all, it should be seen as only an extra, not the core. So the word in the blank has to match this idea of not central / not essential to the work.
Check each option against the idea of "peripheral" vs. "substance"
Now test each word with the idea that sentimentality should be minor and not the main point.
- A) inexorable: means impossible to stop or prevent. This describes something powerful and unstoppable, not something minor or peripheral.
- B) salient: means most noticeable or important; this is the opposite of peripheral, which means on the edge.
- D) intrinsic: means belonging naturally, essential; this again matches "substance," not "peripheral."
All three suggest something central, powerful, or essential, which clashes with "peripheral shimmer rather than the substance." That leaves one option that can match the idea of something secondary.
Confirm the remaining choice fits perfectly
The remaining choice is C) incidental, which means occurring as a minor accompaniment or not being a main or essential feature. This aligns exactly with the description of sentimentality as "a peripheral shimmer rather than the substance of the work," so the best answer is C) incidental.