Question 81·Hard·Words in Context
Because the archaeological record is notoriously fragmentary, inferences about the social organization of Paleolithic communities often rest on ______ evidence: scattered hearth remains and stone tools are interpreted as indicators of kinship patterns.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, first paraphrase the sentence without looking at the choices and decide what kind of word (positive/negative, strong/weak, certain/tentative, etc.) should fill the blank based on the clues around it. Then, look at each answer choice and match its core meaning—not a vague association—to your predicted idea, eliminating options that don’t fit the sentence’s tone or logic. Be especially careful with words that sound sophisticated or “legal/technical”; always ask, “Does this exact meaning fit the situation described?”
Hints
Use the description of the archaeological record
Focus on the phrase “the archaeological record is notoriously fragmentary.” Ask yourself: does this make the conclusions sound very certain or more tentative?
Think about the type of evidence given
The evidence consists of “scattered hearth remains and stone tools” that are “interpreted” as signs of kinship patterns. Are these direct, obvious proofs, or clues that require interpretation?
Compare the general tones of the choices
Decide whether the blank should suggest strong proof, absolute certainty, formal witness statements, or something more tentative. Then pick the word whose usual meaning best matches that tone.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the basic meaning of the sentence
Paraphrase the sentence in your own words: Because the archaeological record is very incomplete, conclusions about how Paleolithic people organized their societies are based on a certain kind of evidence. The examples given—scattered hearth remains and stone tools—are being interpreted as signs of kinship patterns.
So, the blank should describe the type of evidence that underlies these inferences.
Use the context clues about the evidence
Look closely at the clues:
- “the archaeological record is notoriously fragmentary” — the data is incomplete.
- “inferences … rest on ___ evidence” — they are drawing conclusions from this evidence.
- “scattered hearth remains and stone tools are interpreted” — they are not direct proof; they need interpretation.
These clues suggest the evidence is indirect and uncertain, not clear and decisive.
Match each answer choice’s meaning to the context
Now, consider what each word generally means:
- probative: having the quality of proving or strongly tending to prove something.
- categorical: absolute, definite, leaving no room for doubt or exceptions.
- testimonial: relating to formal statements or testimony by witnesses (often in court or official settings).
- conjectural: based on conjecture—hypotheses or guesses formed from limited information.
Keep in mind the context of scientists interpreting limited physical remains. Which type of evidence would you expect here?
Choose the word that best fits the idea of tentative inferences
Because the record is fragmentary, archaeologists are not working with strong proof, absolute certainty, or eyewitness statements. Instead, they are making educated guesses from scattered remains.
- This does not match probative (strongly proving something).
- It does not match categorical (absolute, certain).
- It does not match testimonial (based on witness statements).
The word that correctly captures conclusions drawn as educated guesses from incomplete evidence is “conjectural,” so the best answer is D) conjectural.