GRE General TestVerbal ReasoningMedium
The scientific community often champions the pursuit of pure knowledge, arguing that fundamental research, even without immediate practical applications, is inherently valuable. This perspective, however, sometimes clashes with public expectations for scientific endeavors to yield tangible, ______ benefits.
- Autilitarian
- Besoteric
- Cabstract
- Dtheoretical
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. utilitarian
The sentence contrasts 'pure knowledge' and 'fundamental research without immediate practical applications' with 'public expectations' for 'tangible' benefits. The blank needs a word that means practical or useful, which 'utilitarian' does.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 'Esoteric' means understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge, which doesn't fit 'tangible benefits'.
- C. 'Abstract' means existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence, which aligns with 'pure knowledge' but not the 'tangible benefits' expected.
- D. 'Theoretical' means based on or concerned with theory rather than practical application, which also aligns with 'pure knowledge' but not the public's expectation of 'tangible benefits'.
Text Completion: Opposing Ideas
A text completion strategy where the blank is filled with a word that expresses an idea opposite to one already presented in the sentence, often signaled by contrast words.
- Look for words like 'however', 'but', 'clashes with'.
- The blank will complete the contrasting idea.
- Helps distinguish between abstract and practical concepts.
Memory trick: When 'but' or 'however' appears, expect a flip!