Question 101·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Craft and Structure
Rather than assembling a predictable survey, the curator pursued a ______ vision, prioritizing works that unsettled visitors' assumptions over those that affirmed prevailing tastes.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For words-in-context questions, first paraphrase the sentence in your own words and identify the key contrast or cause-and-effect signals (like "rather than," "but," or "however"). Decide what kind of idea needs to go in the blank (for example, "challenging tradition" vs. "respecting tradition") using the surrounding phrases as clues. Then, quickly define each answer choice in simple terms and eliminate any that don’t match the sentence’s tone, topic, or direction. Finally, plug the remaining choice back into the sentence to confirm it preserves the intended meaning and contrast.
Hints
Use the contrast after "Rather than"
Look at how "Rather than assembling a predictable survey" is contrasted with the curator's chosen vision. What kind of vision would be the opposite of "predictable"?
Focus on "unsettled" vs. "affirmed"
Pay attention to the clause "prioritizing works that unsettled visitors' assumptions over those that affirmed prevailing tastes." Does the curator want to comfort visitors or challenge them?
Check the direction of attitude toward common tastes
Think about whether the curator is supporting common, popular tastes or pushing against them. Then, choose the word that best matches pushing against common or accepted tastes.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence and its contrast
Focus on the structure: "Rather than assembling a predictable survey, the curator pursued a ______ vision..." This shows a clear contrast:
- "predictable survey" = safe, typical, expected collection
- The curator instead chose something different from predictable.
Then, look at the description of that vision: "prioritizing works that unsettled visitors' assumptions over those that affirmed prevailing tastes."
- "Unsettled visitors' assumptions" = challenged what visitors normally think.
- "Affirmed prevailing tastes" = supported or agreed with what most people usually like.
So the blank must describe a vision that goes against common or accepted ideas/tastes.
Translate the key idea into your own words
Put the core idea into simpler words:
- The curator did not want art that just matched what people already like.
- Instead, the curator wanted art that shook things up and questioned normal beliefs and tastes.
So we are looking for a word that suggests challenging established beliefs or popular tastes, not supporting or respecting them, and not just being random.
Match each choice to the sentence meaning
Now consider the general meanings of the options and test them in the sentence’s context:
- A word that suggests respectfully yielding to others would not fit someone who is unsettling assumptions.
- A word that suggests being overly frugal or stingy doesn’t connect to ideas about tastes and assumptions.
- A word that suggests being unpredictable or driven by sudden whims doesn’t match the focused goal of challenging prevailing tastes.
- A word that suggests attacking or rejecting established beliefs, traditions, or popular tastes would fit the curator’s goal of choosing works that unsettle assumptions rather than affirm them.
Identify which option has this last meaning.
Select the best-fitting word
The word that means attacking or rejecting established beliefs or traditions, especially popular or widely accepted ones, is "iconoclastic". This perfectly matches a curator who chooses artworks that unsettle visitors' assumptions instead of affirming prevailing tastes.
Therefore, the correct answer is A) iconoclastic.