Question 89·Medium·Words in Context
During the televised debate, the candidate remained ______, responding to personal attacks with measured, unemotional answers that belied the hostility of the exchange.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? aniкο.aі ЅАТ Quеstion Bank
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, first ignore the answer choices and use the surrounding sentence to paraphrase what should go in the blank (here: the candidate stays calm and shows little emotion despite hostility). Pay special attention to strong clue words—like "measured," "unemotional," and contrasts such as "belied the hostility"—to determine tone. Then, test each answer choice against your paraphrase, eliminating any that contradict the tone or add ideas not supported by the sentence (like aggression, avoidance, or excessive emotion), and select the one that most precisely matches the context.
Hints
Look closely at the description after the comma
Reread the part after the blank: how does the sentence describe the candidate’s answers and behavior during the debate?
Pay attention to tone words
Focus on the words "measured" and "unemotional" and the phrase "belied the hostility of the exchange." What overall attitude or emotional state do these suggest? Рroperty οf Аniкo.аі
Compare each option’s tone with the clues
Ask for each answer choice: Does this word match someone staying calm and controlled, or someone acting heated, overly emotional, or avoiding direct answers?
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the context clues around the blank
Focus on the key description after the comma: "responding to personal attacks with measured, unemotional answers that belied the hostility of the exchange."
This tells you:
- The candidate’s answers are measured (carefully controlled).
- The answers are unemotional.
- Their behavior contrasts with the "hostility" of the debate (the debate is heated, but the candidate is not). Aniкo AІ Тutor
Decide what kind of word is needed
From those clues, the blank should describe someone who does not react emotionally, even when attacked.
So you want a word that fits:
- Calm or not visibly upset
- Not showing strong feelings
- In contrast to a hostile, heated environment
Keep this idea in mind as you test each option.
Eliminate choices that clash with the calm, unemotional tone
Now check the options that clearly don’t match the calm, unemotional behavior:
- Bellicose means warlike or aggressively hostile. That would suggest the candidate is fighting back, not staying measured and unemotional, so it doesn’t fit.
- Evasive means avoiding giving a direct answer. The sentence says the candidate does respond, just in a measured and unemotional way—nothing suggests dodging the questions.
- Effusive means overly expressive or gushing with emotion. That is the opposite of "unemotional," so it cannot be correct.
Match the remaining option to the context
The remaining choice must describe someone who shows little or no emotion.
Impassive means not showing emotion or remaining expressionless. That fits perfectly with "measured, unemotional answers" and contrasts with the "hostility of the exchange."
So, the best and most precise choice is C) impassive.