Question 188·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Craft and Structure
Contrary to early explorers’ reports that the desert expanse was barren, later satellite surveys uncovered ephemeral lakes and ancient irrigation canals, evidence that the region was once far from the desolation those initial accounts so confidently portrayed; the explorers’ depiction was therefore decidedly _____
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For Words in Context questions, first read the entire sentence (or pair of sentences) and pay close attention to logical connectors like “contrary,” “therefore,” “however,” and “because,” which tell you whether the blank should express contrast, cause, or result. Before looking at the choices, briefly predict the general meaning and tone of the missing word (for example: “a negative word meaning confidently wrong”). Then eliminate any choices whose core definitions, tone, or part of speech don’t match that prediction, even if you recognize them as “good vocabulary” words. This prediction-first approach helps you avoid being distracted by impressive but contextually incorrect options.
Hints
Use the contrast word
Focus on the phrase “Contrary to early explorers’ reports”. Ask yourself: did later evidence support or contradict what the explorers said?
Compare the explorers’ claim with the new evidence
Early explorers said the desert was barren, but satellites found lakes and irrigation canals showing the area was once “far from the desolation” they described. What does that tell you about how accurate the explorers’ description was?
Think about tone and evaluation
The blank describes the explorers’ depiction. Is the author praising it or criticizing it? Should the word be positive, neutral, or negative?
Check what kind of criticism it is
Is the sentence criticizing the explorers for being unfair, unclear, or wrong in what they confidently claimed? Use that to rule out choices that don’t match that specific kind of criticism.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the logical signals in the sentence
Notice the opening word “Contrary” and the phrase “therefore” near the end.
- “Contrary to early explorers’ reports…” tells you that what follows will oppose or disagree with those reports.
- “the explorers’ depiction was therefore decidedly _____” shows the blank must summarize what was wrong with those early reports, based on the new evidence.
Paraphrase what actually happened
Break down the content:
- Early explorers claimed “the desert expanse was barren.”
- Later, satellite surveys found “ephemeral lakes and ancient irrigation canals,” which is “evidence that the region was once far from the desolation” the explorers described. This means the explorers’ portrayal of complete barrenness was confident but incorrect: the region used to have water and irrigation, so it was not the total desolation they claimed.
Predict the kind of word that fits the blank
Because the explorers’ depiction turned out to be wrong, the blank needs a word that describes a description that seemed convincing but was not actually true. The tone is clearly negative toward the explorers’ reports: they were misleading or deceptive in their impression, not accurate or fair or clear.
Test each answer choice against your prediction
Now compare the choices to the idea “confident, convincing-sounding, but actually false or misleading”:
- A) specious: describes something that appears correct or plausible but is actually false or deceptive, which matches the explorers’ confidently wrong depiction.
- B) prescient: means having knowledge of future events; prophetically insightful, which would praise the explorers for being ahead of their time—not true here.
- C) unambiguous: means clear, not open to multiple interpretations, which says nothing about being true or false.
- D) equitable: means fair and impartial, which doesn’t fit the idea of being factually wrong. The only option that matches the needed meaning is A) specious.