Question 73·Easy·Words in Context
Marine biologist Lisa Nguyen observed that certain species of coral can fluoresce under ultraviolet light, a response that appears to ______ the harmful effects of elevated water temperatures.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT words-in-context questions, first read the full sentence and restate in your own words what needs to go in the blank (for example, a word that shows something is helpful, harmful, neutral, etc.). Then quickly check each option's basic meaning and connotation (positive/negative) and eliminate those that clash with the sentence's logic or tone. Finally, plug the remaining choice back into the sentence to confirm it reads smoothly and preserves the intended meaning.
Hints
Use the words around the blank
Look carefully at the phrase "the harmful effects of elevated water temperatures." Think about what kind of action a biological "response" would likely have toward something harmful.
Think about the sentence's tone
Does the sentence make coral fluorescence sound like something bad or something that might help the coral deal with stress?
Compare the general ideas of the choices
Ask yourself: Would this response be expected to make the damage seem worse, hide it, copy it, or have a helpful/protective effect? Eliminate any choices that clearly do not fit that role.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the sentence is saying
Focus on the key phrase: "a response that appears to ______ the harmful effects of elevated water temperatures." The coral's fluorescence is described as a response to something harmful (elevated temperatures). That suggests the response is likely doing something protective or helpful in relation to those harmful effects.
Decide what kind of word is needed
Because the sentence talks about "harmful effects," the blank must be filled with a word that describes what the coral's response does to those harmful effects. Logically, a biological response to something harmful is usually described as helping against it, not making it worse, hiding it, or copying it. So you want a word that fits a helpful or protective role in relation to the harm.
Match each option to that meaning and choose the best fit
Now check the choices:
- exaggerate = make something seem worse or more extreme than it really is.
- conceal = hide something.
- replicate = copy or duplicate something.
- mitigate = make something less severe or less harmful. Only “mitigate” matches a protective response to harmful effects, so D) mitigate is the correct answer.