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Craft and StructureMediumWords in context

Craft and Structure practice question

The committee's report was praised for its ____ analysis: it examined every objection in careful detail before reaching a conclusion.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

  1. A. cursory
  2. B. thoroughCorrect
  3. C. biased
  4. D. reluctant

Answer: B. thorough

The clue 'examined every objection in careful detail' signals completeness, so 'thorough' fits. 'Cursory' means the opposite (hasty). Always anchor the blank to the sentence's own evidence.

Why the other answers are wrong

A. cursory
'Cursory' means hasty and superficial — the exact opposite of examining every objection in careful detail, which is the sentence's own evidence for the blank.
C. biased
The sentence praises the report and says every objection was examined; nothing indicates one-sidedness, and 'biased' wouldn't be something a report is praised for here.
D. reluctant
'Reluctant' describes unwillingness, but the report actively examined every objection — the clue points to how completely the analysis was done, not how willingly.

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