16Hit1600
Craft and StructureVery hardAdjective fixed by a 'though' contrast

Craft and Structure practice question

Though the essay's argument is ____, its prose is so tangled that most readers give up before reaching it.

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

  1. A. cogentCorrect
  2. B. incoherent
  3. C. verbose
  4. D. tentative

Answer: A. cogent

'Though' sets the argument's quality against the prose's failure. A strong, convincing argument buried in bad prose — 'cogent'.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. incoherent
'Incoherent' would make the argument as bad as the prose; 'though' demands a contrast.
C. verbose
'Verbose' describes wordiness, which is a fault of the prose, not a merit of the argument.
D. tentative
'Tentative' means hesitant and unsure — not a quality worth contrasting with tangled prose.

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