SAT Reading & Writing · Words in Context
The negotiator's reputation for finding a middle ground made her the obvious choice to ______ the dispute between the two departments…
The negotiator's reputation for finding a middle ground made her the obvious choice to ______ the dispute between the two departments before it escalated further.
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: B: mediate
The passage describes someone known for finding middle ground being chosen specifically to handle a dispute, exactly the role mediate names: to help resolve a disagreement between opposing parties. Escalate would mean intensifying the conflict, the opposite of what a middle-ground finder would do. Ignore would mean disregarding the dispute entirely, contradicted by being chosen specifically to handle it. Publicize concerns making something widely known, unrelated to resolving a disagreement.
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