Question

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. The historian's account was so _ _ _ _ that even minor inconsistencies in the primary sources were carefully examined before any conclusion was drawn.

• A. perfunctory
• B. meticulous
• C. arbitrary
• D. impulsive

Hint:

Common difficult vocabulary pairs: Meticulous–Careless, Perfunctory–Thorough, Laconic–Verbose, Magnanimous–Petty.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Contextual vocabulary questions test not merely the dictionary meaning of words but also the ability to understand how a word functions within a sentence. The correct choice must fit logically, grammatically, and contextually. The key to solving such questions is identifying the clue words present in the sentence.

Step 1: Identify the contextual clue. The sentence states: “even minor inconsistencies in the primary sources were carefully examined before any conclusion was drawn.” The phrase \[ \text{carefully examined} \] suggests extreme attention to detail. Thus, the missing word must indicate thoroughness and precision.

Step 2: Examine Option (A). \[ \text{Perfunctory} \] means done with minimal effort or interest. A perfunctory historian would not carefully examine minor inconsistencies. Hence option (A) contradicts the context.

Step 3: Examine Option (B). \[ \text{Meticulous} \] means extremely careful and precise. This perfectly matches the idea of scrutinizing even minor inconsistencies. Hence option (B) strongly fits the context.

Step 4: Examine Option (C). \[ \text{Arbitrary} \] means based on random choice rather than reason. This has no connection with careful examination. Hence option (C) is incorrect.

Step 5: Examine Option (D). \[ \text{Impulsive} \] means acting without careful thought. This is actually the opposite of the required meaning. Hence option (D) is incorrect.

Step 6: Final conclusion. The sentence describes a historian who investigates evidence with exceptional care. Therefore the most suitable word is: \[ \boxed{\text{Meticulous}} \] \[ \boxed{\text{Option (B)}} \]