Question 91·Easy·Words in Context
In the early days of party-line telephones, several households shared one connection, so callers were expected to be ______, speaking briefly so that their neighbors could place their own calls.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT words-in-context questions, always read the entire sentence and pay special attention to clues near the blank, especially phrases after commas or 'so that' and 'because.' First, decide the general meaning and tone the missing word needs (for example, polite vs. rude, brief vs. long). Then quickly recall or look up the core meaning of each option, plug each into the sentence in your head, and eliminate choices that don’t fit the logic or clash with key clue words. Usually you can remove two or three options quickly, leaving the one that best matches the situation and tone.
Hints
Focus on the key clue phrase
Look carefully at the part after the comma: 'speaking briefly so that their neighbors could place their own calls.' What does this tell you about why callers should behave a certain way?
Check the tone of the sentence
Is the sentence describing the callers in a positive way or a negative way? Are they being rude, or are they doing something appropriate and thoughtful?
Connect the situation to the word meanings
Several households share one phone line. Think about what kind of behavior makes sharing fair, then see which option best describes that type of behavior when you place it in the blank.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the context around the blank
Read the whole sentence: 'In the early days of party-line telephones, several households shared one connection, so callers were expected to be ______, speaking briefly so that their neighbors could place their own calls.' The key clue is the phrase after the comma: 'speaking briefly so that their neighbors could place their own calls.'
Infer the kind of behavior described
Because several households share one phone line, it is important not to talk too long. The phrase 'speaking briefly so that their neighbors could place their own calls' shows that callers should behave in a polite way that shows awareness of other people's needs. The missing word must describe this positive, others-focused behavior.
Evaluate each answer choice against the sentence
Test each option in the blank and see if it matches the idea and tone.
- A) 'Callers were expected to be accustomed, speaking briefly...' 'Accustomed' means used to something; it doesn’t describe behavior toward others and sounds grammatically and logically off here.
- C) 'Callers were expected to be absentminded, speaking briefly...' 'Absentminded' means forgetful or distracted; absentminded people are not especially likely to limit their talking for others' benefit.
- D) 'Callers were expected to be elaborate, speaking briefly...' 'Elaborate' means very detailed or complex, which clashes with 'speaking briefly.'
None of these three choices fits the idea of politely adjusting your behavior for neighbors.
Choose the word that fits meaning, tone, and grammar
The remaining option, B) 'considerate,' means thoughtful of other people and their needs. 'Callers were expected to be considerate, speaking briefly so that their neighbors could place their own calls' perfectly matches the situation of sharing a phone line and being polite, so the correct answer is B) considerate.