Question 79·Easy·Words in Context
In her memoir, the author describes her childhood home in such _____ detail that readers can easily picture every room.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words in Context questions, first cover the answer choices and read the sentence (and surrounding sentences if needed) to decide, in your own simple words, what meaning should fill the blank and whether the tone is positive or negative. Then uncover the choices and eliminate any that conflict with the context or sound awkward when plugged into the sentence, paying special attention to cause-and-effect clues like "so that" or "such ... that." Finally, choose the option whose meaning and tone best match the role of the missing word in the sentence.
Hints
Focus on the result of the description
Look closely at the part after "that": "readers can easily picture every room." What does this tell you about how effective the author's description is?
Think about tone: positive or negative?
Does the sentence sound like it is praising the description or criticizing it? Would the author mention that readers can easily picture every room if the detail were confusing, tiny, or unsure?
Use plug-in and eliminate
Read the sentence with each option in the blank and ask: Does this kind of detail make it easier or harder for readers to imagine the rooms?
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the context clue after the blank
Read the whole sentence: "In her memoir, the author describes her childhood home in such _____ detail that readers can easily picture every room."
The key clue is the result: "readers can easily picture every room." Whatever word goes in the blank must explain why readers can picture the rooms so easily.
Decide what kind of detail is needed
If readers can easily imagine every room, the detail must be strong and effective, not weak or confusing. So we are looking for a word that suggests rich, effective, easy-to-imagine description, not too little detail, not confusing detail, and not hesitant or unsure detail.
Test each answer choice against the sentence
Plug each option into the blank and think about the meaning:
- "such _____ detail that readers can easily picture every room"
A word that means unclear or confusing would not help readers picture the rooms. A word that means very little detail would also make picturing the rooms harder, not easier. A word that means hesitant or unsure does not normally describe detail in writing and would not fit the tone of confidence in "can easily picture."
Choose the word that best matches the context
Now consider each option precisely:
- "ambiguous" means unclear or having more than one possible meaning.
- "minimal" means very small in amount, barely enough.
- "tentative" means hesitant or uncertain.
- "vivid" means intensely clear and striking, creating a strong mental image.
Only "vivid" describes the kind of rich, clear detail that lets readers "easily picture every room," so the correct answer is A) vivid.