Question 83·Medium·Words in Context
Although the historian’s latest article is primarily ______, presenting a bare sequence of events with little comment, her earlier books were celebrated for their vivid interpretations and engaging narratives.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words in Context questions, first ignore the choices and reread the sentence, underlining key context clues (especially contrast words like “although,” “but,” or “however” and any descriptive phrases around the blank). Decide the general meaning and tone (positive/negative, emotional/plain, detailed/simple) that the blank needs. Then test each answer choice in the sentence, eliminating any that clash with the description or tone. Finally, choose the word that best fits both the specific description (like “bare sequence of events with little comment”) and the logical relationship set up by the sentence.
Hints
Locate the key contrast
Pay attention to the word “Although” and how it sets up a contrast between the historian’s latest article and her earlier books. Ask yourself: What are the earlier books like, and how is the new article different?
Focus on the description after the comma
Read the phrase “presenting a bare sequence of events with little comment” carefully. Think about what kind of writing that is: How detailed is it? How emotional or interpretive is it?
Check tone and meaning for each choice
Decide whether the blank should have a positive, negative, or neutral feel based on the context. Then, for each answer choice, ask: Does this word fit a bare, minimally commented list of events, and does it contrast with “vivid interpretations and engaging narratives”?
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the contrast signal word
Notice the word “Although” at the beginning. This tells you the sentence is contrasting the historian’s latest article with her earlier books.
- Latest article: primarily ______, “bare sequence of events with little comment.”
- Earlier books: “celebrated for their vivid interpretations and engaging narratives.”
So the blank must describe something very different from vivid and engaging writing.
Paraphrase the context around the blank
Focus on the phrase after the comma: “presenting a bare sequence of events with little comment.”
Paraphrase this: the article just lists events, simply and minimally, without much explanation or feeling. The tone is slightly negative or critical, not praising.
So you’re looking for a word that fits plain, minimal, somewhat superficial presentation, not rich or emotional writing.
Test each option against the sentence meaning
Now, quickly check how each option fits the idea of “a bare sequence of events with little comment” and the contrast with vivid, engaging books:
- Lyrical: suggests poetic, musical, or emotionally expressive writing.
- Laudatory: suggests strongly praising someone or something.
- Speculative: suggests involving guesses or theories without firm evidence.
- Perfunctory: suggests something done with minimal effort or detail, in a routine or superficial way.
Only one of these clearly matches the idea of a simple, bare listing of events with little comment and fits the mild criticism in the sentence.
Choose the word that best matches the context
The correct answer is B) perfunctory, because it describes work done with minimal effort or depth, matching “a bare sequence of events with little comment” and contrasting with her earlier “vivid interpretations and engaging narratives.”