SAT Reading & Writing · Words in Context
The philosopher's argument was widely admired for its ______, building each conclusion so carefully on the last that no step seemed to…
The philosopher's argument was widely admired for its ______, building each conclusion so carefully on the last that no step seemed to require an unstated assumption.
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: D: rigor
The passage describes an argument built carefully step by step without unstated assumptions, exactly what rigor names: strict logical exactness. Brevity concerns length, not logical structure. Popularity concerns reception, not argumentative quality. Obscurity would suggest the argument was unclear, the opposite of the careful, transparent structure described.
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