Question:

The value of Davis' sociological research is compromised by his unscrupulous tendency to use materials ---- in order to substantiate his own claims, while ---- information that points to other possible conclusions.

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Pay attention to strong descriptive words like "unscrupulous." This single word sets the negative tone for the entire sentence and guides you toward words that describe dishonest or biased behavior.
Updated On: Oct 4, 2025
  • haphazardly.. deploying
  • selectively.. disregarding
  • cleverly.. weighing
  • modestly.. refuting
  • arbitrarily.. emphasizing
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This sentence describes a biased researcher. The word "unscrupulous" (dishonest) is a major clue. The sentence structure, with the word "while," sets up a contrast between how the researcher treats evidence that supports his claims and evidence that does not.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- The first blank describes how an unscrupulous researcher would use materials to "substantiate his own claims." He would likely choose only the evidence that helps him. A word like "selectively" would fit. - The second blank describes how he would treat "information that points to other possible conclusions." He would ignore or dismiss it. A word like "ignoring" or "disregarding" would fit. Let's evaluate the options:

(A) haphazardly.. deploying: Using materials haphazardly (randomly) would not be an effective way to substantiate a claim.
(B) selectively.. disregarding: This pair is perfect. An unscrupulous researcher uses materials selectively (choosing only what supports his case) while disregarding (ignoring) any conflicting information. This describes confirmation bias.
(C) cleverly.. weighing: Weighing all information is what a good researcher does, not an unscrupulous one.
(D) modestly.. refuting: "Modestly" doesn't fit the context. Also, refuting other conclusions is part of research, but the sentence implies he's ignoring the information itself.
(E) arbitrarily.. emphasizing: Using materials arbitrarily (randomly) is similar to haphazardly. It's not a good fit.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The words "selectively" and "disregarding" best describe the biased and unscrupulous methods of the researcher.
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