Question

Though the scientist's theory was initially dismissed as absurd, it gradually gained ___ as more experimental data began ___ to its predictions.

• A. recognition, corroborate
• B. notoriety, oppose
• C. clarity, undermine
• D. irrelevance, validate

Hint:

Look for logical consistency across blanks. Both blanks should reflect the same tone and flow with the context of the sentence.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To solve the problem, we need to select the option that best fits the context of the sentence. The sentence discusses how a scientist's initially dismissed theory gradually became more accepted as evidence supported its predictions.

Let's analyze the given options:

1. recognition, corroborate: This combination makes sense in context. "Recognition" implies acceptance or acknowledgment of the theory as more information becomes available. The verb "corroborate" means to provide evidence that supports or confirms the theory, which fits well with the idea of experimental data aligning with predictions.
2. notoriety, oppose: "Notoriety" refers to being known for something negative, which doesn't fit an initially dismissed theory gaining credibility. "Oppose" would mean that the data goes against the theory, which is contrary to the sentence's intended message.
3. clarity, undermine: "Clarity" would indicate something becoming clearer, but in this context, "undermine" suggests weakening the theory, which is not the case here.
4. irrelevance, validate: "Irrelevance" suggests a lack of importance, which contradicts the idea of gaining acceptance. "Validate" means to confirm, but it doesn't combine well with "irrelevance" in this context.

The correct answer is the option that smoothly integrates with the sentence context, which is "recognition, corroborate." Thus, the completed sentence is: "Though the scientist's theory was initially dismissed as absurd, it gradually gained recognition as more experimental data began corroborate its predictions."