OFFICIAL EXPLANATION


$\(\mathbf{A}, \mathbf{F}, \mathbf{H}\)$

These philosophers were trying to do something with the notions of "change and stability." Since change and stability are opposing ideas, predict that they were trying to harmonize the two ideas. For the first blank, choice (A) reconcile is a match for your prediction. Neither (B) eliminate nor (C) confirm takes into account the opposing forces of change and stability.

The third blank may be easier to predict for than the second. The word in the blank will describe the kind of particle they believed the atom to be, and another description is offered in the second part of this sentence: "from which all other varieties of matter are formed." Predict something like fundamental or basic or smallest. (H) indivisible is correct-although you now know that atoms can be split, this was not known at the time of the Greek philosophers, and indivisible fits the sense of the sentence. (G) mythical doesn't work; these philosophers didn't see atoms as the stuff of myth but rather as a real particle from which all other matter was formed. (I) munificent means "generous" or "bountiful"; this wouldn't be a logical way to describe a particle.

For blank (ii), predict that they were imagining or hypothesizing the atom. (F) postulating matches this prediction. Neither (D) denying the existence of the atom nor ( $\mathbf{E}$ ) ignoring it would have helped the philosophers reconcile the concepts of change and stability.