Question 25·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Craft and Structure
Whereas early commentators praised the architect’s buildings for their spontaneity, later critics regard such praise as _____, noting that the apparent improvisation actually masks rigorous preplanning.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, first ignore the choices and use the sentence structure (especially contrast words like "whereas," "but," and "although") to predict a rough meaning for the blank in your own simple words. Then, check each choice against that prediction and the specific reason given in the sentence, eliminating words that don’t logically describe the thing in question (here, the early praise) or that don’t match the tone; this prevents you from being tricked by choices that sound sophisticated but don’t fit the context.
Hints
Use the contrast signaled by "Whereas"
Focus on the contrast between early commentators and later critics. How do the later critics feel about the earlier praise for spontaneity once they realize how much preplanning there was?
Paraphrase the key part
Try to restate the sentence in your own words, especially the part after the comma: "the apparent improvisation actually masks rigorous preplanning." How does that explanation make the original praise look?
Predict a simple meaning for the blank
Before looking closely at the choices, think: what kind of criticism would fit here? Are the critics calling the praise arrogant, random, overly emotional, or too shallow for a complex situation?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the sentence structure and contrast
The sentence begins with "Whereas," which signals a contrast between two viewpoints:
- Early commentators praised the architect’s buildings for their spontaneity.
- Later critics challenge that praise, pointing out that the "apparent improvisation" hides "rigorous preplanning."
So the later critics think there is not real spontaneity; they believe the praise for spontaneity is in some way mistaken or shallow.
Figure out what the blank must mean from context
The key phrase is "later critics regard such praise as _____, noting that...". The explanation after the comma tells us why they criticize the praise: what looks like improvisation is actually carefully planned.
So the critics think the praise is not deep or accurate; it ignores the reality of rigorous planning. A good prediction for the blank might be something like "shallow," "naive," or "too easy/simplistic."
Check each answer choice against your prediction and the tone
Now compare each choice to the idea that the praise is shallow or simplistic:
- Ask: Does the word describe praise that treats a complex situation too simply?
- Also check that the word logically describes praise (not a person) and matches the critical tone of the later critics.
Eliminate choices that mainly describe personality traits, random decisions, or emotional excess rather than shallow or overly simple praise.
Match the correct word to the context
Definitions:
- "Supercilious" means arrogantly superior or looking down on others.
- "Arbitrary" means based on random choice or personal whim, not on reason.
- "Effusive" means overly expressive or gushing with emotion.
- "Facile" means too simple or superficial, ignoring real complexity.
The later critics think the praise for spontaneity ignores the complex preplanning behind the buildings, so they see that praise as overly simple and shallow. Only "facile" captures this idea, so the correct answer is B) facile.