Question 70·Easy·Words in Context
Some early astronomers dismissed the idea that rocks could fall from the sky, but a series of documented meteorite impacts forced them to ____ their skepticism.
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 (or pair of sentences) and ignore the answer choices; use the context, especially contrast words like "but" or cause-and-effect words like "because" and "therefore," to predict the general meaning needed in the blank (for example, "change their view" vs. "continue doubting"). Then check each answer choice by plugging it back into the sentence and asking, "Does this meaning logically follow from what the sentence says?" Eliminate choices that contradict the direction of the sentence or do not match the tone, and only then select the word whose core meaning best fits the context.
Hints
Pay attention to the contrast word
Look closely at the word "but" in the sentence. How does it signal a change between the astronomers' original attitude and what happened after the documented meteorite impacts?
Focus on what the evidence does
The sentence says the impacts "forced them" to do something to their skepticism. Does strong evidence usually make people keep doubting, increase their doubt, or change that doubt in some other way?
Check the meaning of each option in context
Try each answer in the full sentence. Ask yourself: Does it make sense that documented impacts would force them to do that to their skepticism?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the contrast in the sentence
The sentence says: "Some early astronomers dismissed the idea that rocks could fall from the sky, but a series of documented meteorite impacts forced them to ____ their skepticism."
The word "but" shows a contrast between the first part (they dismissed the idea; they were skeptical) and the second part (something happened that changed that attitude). So the blank should express how their skepticism changed after clear evidence appeared.
Use the context of the evidence
The key phrase is "a series of documented meteorite impacts" and that these impacts "forced them" to do something to their skepticism.
If there is strong, documented evidence that rocks really do fall from the sky, then their old skeptical attitude is no longer supported. So we need a verb that shows their skepticism could not stay the same in the face of evidence.
Test the logical meaning of each option
Plug each option into the sentence and think about the meaning:
- "forced them to preserve their skepticism" — to preserve means to keep something the same or protect it. Evidence would not force them to keep doubting.
- "forced them to exacerbate their skepticism" — to exacerbate means to make something worse or more intense. Evidence does not logically make their skepticism more intense.
- "forced them to fabricate their skepticism" — to fabricate means to invent or make something up. They already had skepticism; the impacts did not force them to invent it.
- One remaining choice expresses that they had to let go of that skepticism because it was contradicted by evidence.
Choose the word that matches "give up skepticism"
We need a word that means to give up or let go of a belief when evidence proves it wrong. That word is "abandon", so the correct answer is D) abandon.