Question 1·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Craft and Structure
In her keynote address, Dr. Liao cautioned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, while promising unprecedented efficiency, could ______ human judgment by fostering an overreliance on algorithmic recommendations.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, always start by ignoring the choices and instead paraphrasing what the blank must mean using the clues around it, especially any contrast words (like "but," "while"), and any phrases after the comma that explain or give a cause (like "by fostering an overreliance..."). Decide whether the missing word should be positive, negative, or neutral and what it roughly suggests (e.g., weaken, strengthen, praise, limit). Then test each choice in the sentence, eliminating any whose core meaning clearly doesn’t match your paraphrase or the sentence’s tone. Choose the option that best fits both the meaning and the logical flow of the sentence, not just a word you recognize or that "sounds smart."
Hints
Look at the contrast in the sentence
Notice the structure: AI is "promising unprecedented efficiency," but Dr. Liao "cautioned" it could do something to human judgment. Is the effect on human judgment likely positive or negative?
Use the phrase after the blank
Focus on "by fostering an overreliance on algorithmic recommendations." If people rely too much on algorithms, what happens to the role of human judgment in making decisions?
Decide the general idea of the missing verb
Before looking at the choices, describe in your own words what happens to human judgment in this situation. Then look for the choice whose meaning most closely matches that idea and fits the warning tone.
Eliminate choices that don’t match the context
Ask of each answer: Does this word describe human judgment becoming more active, stronger, forgiven, or pushed aside because of heavy reliance on algorithms? Cross out any that clearly don’t fit.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the overall meaning and tone
Read the full sentence:
"In her keynote address, Dr. Liao cautioned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, while promising unprecedented efficiency, could ______ human judgment by fostering an overreliance on algorithmic recommendations."
The key points:
- Dr. Liao cautioned (warned), so the blank should describe a potential problem.
- There is a contrast: AI is promising unprecedented efficiency, but it could do something negative to human judgment.
- So we expect a word that shows a harmful effect on human judgment.
Use the phrase after the blank as a clue
Focus on the explanation after the blank: "by fostering an overreliance on algorithmic recommendations."
If people become overly reliant on algorithmic recommendations, they depend too much on algorithms and less on their own judgment.
So the missing verb should describe human judgment becoming less central or weaker in practice, because algorithms are taking over the decision-making role.
Check each answer choice against the sentence meaning
Now test each option in the sentence and see if it matches the idea that human judgment is being pushed aside:
- galvanize: means to shock or excite someone into action. That would suggest AI makes human judgment more active or energized, which does not match the warning about overreliance.
- consolidate: means to combine or make stronger/more solid. That would suggest AI makes human judgment more unified or stronger, which again does not fit the concern.
- exonerate: means to clear someone from blame or guilt. That has nothing to do with how much we rely on human judgment versus algorithms.
All three choices fail to show human judgment being reduced, sidelined, or pushed aside because of reliance on algorithms.
Confirm the best-fitting word
The remaining choice, “supplant,” means to take the place of something or replace it, often by being used instead.
If AI "could supplant human judgment by fostering an overreliance on algorithmic recommendations," the sentence is saying that heavy reliance on algorithms could cause them to take over the role that human judgment used to play. This perfectly matches the warning tone and the explanation after the blank.
So, the correct answer is D) supplant.