Question 77·Medium·Words in Context
Although early astronomers lacked the sophisticated instruments available to scientists today, their ______ observations of the night sky provided the foundation for many modern theories.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words in Context questions, first use signal words (like "although," "because," "however") to understand the relationship between the parts of the sentence. Then, without looking at the choices, predict the general meaning needed in the blank (for example, "careful and detailed" or "unreliable"). Finally, test each answer by plugging it into the sentence and checking: (1) Does it match your predicted meaning and the sentence’s tone? (2) Does it logically fit the cause–effect or contrast described? Eliminate choices that are true in some vague way but do not directly explain the specific relationship in the sentence.
Hints
Use the contrast word
Focus on the word "Although"—the second part of the sentence should show something impressive that happened despite the lack of sophisticated instruments.
Think about what kind of observations build a foundation
If observations are going to provide the foundation for many modern theories, what qualities must they have? Consider whether they should be random, old, imaginative, or something else.
Check the tone of the sentence
The sentence is describing early astronomers in a respectful way. Look for an answer choice that has a positive tone and suggests strong scientific work rather than weakness or limitation.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence structure and signal word
The sentence begins with "Although," which signals a contrast:
- Contrast: They lacked sophisticated instruments (disadvantage)
- Yet: Their observations still provided the foundation for many modern theories (strong positive result)
So the blank should describe observations that were impressive or effective despite the lack of advanced tools.
Infer what kind of observations would fit
To provide the foundation for many modern theories, the observations must have been:
- Very reliable and accurate
- Done with great care and attention to detail
We are looking for a word that suggests careful, thorough work that compensates for the lack of sophisticated instruments.
Test each answer choice against the sentence meaning
Check each option by plugging it into the sentence and asking if it matches the logic and tone:
- "______ observations" must be something that explains how early astronomers could still contribute so much to science without good tools.
- Eliminate any word that suggests carelessness, randomness, or a focus on time or imagination rather than careful method.
Choose the word that best expresses careful, detailed work
Only A) painstaking means extremely careful and thorough, which perfectly explains how early astronomers, even without sophisticated instruments, could make observations solid enough to form the foundation of many modern theories. The other options do not describe the needed carefulness and reliability, so A) painstaking is the correct answer.