Question

Select the correct words to complete the passage: "While early astronomers believed that planets orbited the Earth, modern observations have ________ this theory, demonstrating that planets actually revolve around the Sun."

• A. Corroborated
• B. Upheld
• C. Refuted
• D. Validated
• E. Dismissed

Hint:

In Text Completion questions, always look for structural clues and signal words. Words like "While," "Although," "However," and "Despite" signal contrast, while words like "Because," "Therefore," and "Consequently" signal cause and effect. Identifying these clues is the first step to finding the correct answer.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a Text Completion question that requires you to understand the logical structure of the sentence and choose the word with the most appropriate meaning. The key is to identify contrast words and the relationship between the ideas presented.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The sentence begins with the word "While," which is a signal word indicating a contrast or opposition between two ideas.

Idea 1: Early astronomers believed that planets orbited the Earth (geocentric theory).

Idea 2: Modern observations demonstrate that planets actually revolve around the Sun (heliocentric theory).

The second idea directly contradicts the first. Therefore, we need a word that means "disproven" or "proven false." Let's look at the options:

(A) Corroborated: To confirm or give support to a statement. This is the opposite of what is needed.

(B) Upheld: To maintain or support a decision or theory. This is also the opposite.

(C) Refuted: To prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false. This fits the context perfectly, as modern observations have scientifically proven the early theory wrong.

(D) Validated: To check or prove the validity of something. This is another word for confirming, which is the opposite of what's needed.

(E) Dismissed: To decide that something is not worth consideration. While modern science has dismissed the geocentric theory, "refuted" is a stronger and more precise word because it implies disproving through evidence, which is exactly what "modern observations" do.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The word "Refuted" correctly captures the action of modern observations proving the old theory to be incorrect.