GRE General TestVerbal ReasoningMedium
A pilot, preparing for a long-haul flight, meticulously checked every item on the pre-flight checklist. Despite the advanced automation in modern aircraft, the pilot understood that human vigilance remained ______ for ensuring passenger safety and operational integrity.
- Aparamount
- Bsuperfluous
- Cincidental
- Dnegligible
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. paramount
The sentence indicates a contrast with 'advanced automation' by stating that human vigilance is still critical for 'passenger safety and operational integrity'. This implies it is of utmost importance. 'Paramount' means more important than anything else, fitting this meaning.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 'Superfluous' means unnecessary, especially through being more than enough, which contradicts the idea of vigilance being critical.
- C. 'Incidental' means occurring as a minor accompaniment to something else; secondary, which contradicts the importance implied.
- D. 'Negligible' means so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering, which contradicts the critical role of vigilance.
Text Completion: Role of Contrast
Contrast indicators signal that the blank will express an idea opposite or different from a previously mentioned concept, highlighting a key distinction.
- Words like 'despite', 'however', 'although' signal contrast.
- The blank often emphasizes the significance of the contrasting idea.
- Helps to understand nuanced relationships in sentences.
Memory trick: Opposite ideas, but one shouts louder!