SAT Reading & Writing · Words in Context
The committee's report was praised for its unusually ______ tone, acknowledging the limitations of its own data and explicitly noting…
The committee's report was praised for its unusually ______ tone, acknowledging the limitations of its own data and explicitly noting several questions that remained unresolved instead of presenting its conclusions as beyond dispute.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Answer and explanation
Answer: C: circumspect
The passage describes a report that acknowledges its own limitations and openly flags unresolved questions instead of overstating its certainty, which is exactly what circumspect names: cautious, careful not to overreach. Dismissive would suggest disregarding concerns, the opposite of acknowledging limitations. Celebratory implies triumphant tone, contradicted by the report's cautious hedging. Urgent concerns a sense of pressing importance, not the epistemic caution the passage describes.
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