Question 116·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Craft and Structure
Public statements about the university’s new interdisciplinary initiative stress openness to unconventional approaches; nevertheless, the ostensibly neutral language of the policy document clearly ______ a preference for projects that fit existing departmental boundaries.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words-in-Context questions, always read the entire sentence (or pair of sentences) and briefly paraphrase what the blank must mean in your own words before looking at the choices. Use signal words like “nevertheless,” “however,” or “therefore” to determine whether the missing word should express contrast, cause, or continuation. Then test each option by plugging it into the sentence and asking: 1) Does it match my paraphrased meaning? 2) Does it fit the tone (positive/negative, subtle/strong)? 3) Is it precise, not just barely acceptable? Eliminate choices that flip the meaning (e.g., hide vs. reveal, support vs. undermine) or that clash with context words like “ostensibly neutral” or “clearly.”
Hints
Use the contrast word
Look at the word “nevertheless.” How does the second part of the sentence need to oppose or undermine the first part’s claim of openness?
Focus on "ostensibly neutral" vs. reality
The phrase “ostensibly neutral language” suggests the policy seems neutral but is not truly neutral. Ask yourself: does the blank describe the preference as hidden, revealed, supported, or taken back?
Think about what "clearly ... a preference" implies
Because it says the language “clearly ___ a preference,” is the language making the preference visible or hiding it? Eliminate any choices that suggest the preference is being concealed or withdrawn.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the overall contrast
Focus on the structure:
- The first part: “Public statements ... stress openness to unconventional approaches” — this is positive about unconventional projects.
- The linking word “nevertheless” signals a contrast — something in the second part will undermine or contradict that stated openness.
So we expect the blank to describe how the policy document goes against the claim of openness.
Zoom in on the clause with the blank
Look at the second half of the sentence:
“the ostensibly neutral language of the policy document clearly ______ a preference for projects that fit existing departmental boundaries.”
Key phrases:
- “ostensibly neutral” means apparently neutral on the surface.
- “clearly … a preference” says that, in reality, the language shows that there is a preference.
So the blank must mean something like: the language, while pretending to be neutral, actually shows / gives away a preference for traditional, within-department projects (which conflicts with “openness to unconventional approaches”).
Test each option against the intended meaning
Now compare each word to the meaning you’ve identified.
We want a word that fits:
- Grammatically: “clearly ____ a preference”.
- In meaning: the language reveals a preference, despite claiming neutrality.
- In tone: it should support the idea that the policy secretly favors conventional projects instead of unconventional ones.
Check which option best captures the idea of supposedly neutral language showing a hidden bias.
Match the best-fitting word
Option A, “betrays,” can mean to reveal or give away something that was supposed to be hidden or not obvious, such as a hidden preference.
Substitute it:
“the ostensibly neutral language of the policy document clearly betrays a preference for projects that fit existing departmental boundaries.”
This perfectly captures the contrast: they claim openness to unconventional work, but the “neutral” policy wording actually gives away a preference for conventional, within-boundary projects. Therefore, the correct answer is A) betrays.