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Archaeology is a poor profession; modest sums are available for excava
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24 Feb 2026, 01:09
24 Feb 2026, 01:09
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Question Stats:
47% (01:01) correct
52% (00:44) wrong based on 23 sessions
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Archaeology is a poor profession; modest sums are available for excavating sites and even more (i) _______ amounts for preserving the excavations. As a result many sites that are still to reveal even a fraction of their potentially vital information have been (ii) ________ and left to the forces of Nature. Re-opening such sites in the future will be all but (iii) ________ .
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
|---|---|---|
| A. paltry | D. abandoned | G. trivial |
| B. controversial | E. overworked | H. impossible |
| C. abundant | F. denuded | I. rewarding |
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Re: Archaeology is a poor profession; modest sums are available for excava
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01 Mar 2026, 23:35
01 Mar 2026, 23:35
Expert Reply
The Logic: The "Poor Profession" Chain
1. Blank (i): A. paltry
- The Clue: The passage starts by stating "Archaeology is a poor profession" and mentions "modest sums" for excavation. The phrase "even more..." suggests that the funds for preserving are even smaller/worse than the "modest" funds for digging.
- Paltry means small or meager.
- B. controversial and C. abundant (plentiful) don't fit the "poor profession" context.
2. Blank (ii): D. abandoned
- The Clue: Because there is no money to preserve them, and they are "left to the forces of Nature," the sites have been deserted.
- Abandoned fits the idea of being left behind.
- E. overworked (used too much) and F. denuded (stripped bare) are less logical than simply leaving the site because you can't afford to keep it open.
3. Blank (iii): H. impossible
- The Clue: The phrase "all but" means "nearly" or "almost." If a site is left to the "forces of Nature" (erosion, weather, decay), the damage is usually permanent. Therefore, re-opening them in the future would be nearly impossible.
- G. trivial (easy/unimportant) and I. rewarding are too positive for a sentence about a "poor profession" losing "vital information."
1. Blank (i): A. paltry
- The Clue: The passage starts by stating "Archaeology is a poor profession" and mentions "modest sums" for excavation. The phrase "even more..." suggests that the funds for preserving are even smaller/worse than the "modest" funds for digging.
- Paltry means small or meager.
- B. controversial and C. abundant (plentiful) don't fit the "poor profession" context.
2. Blank (ii): D. abandoned
- The Clue: Because there is no money to preserve them, and they are "left to the forces of Nature," the sites have been deserted.
- Abandoned fits the idea of being left behind.
- E. overworked (used too much) and F. denuded (stripped bare) are less logical than simply leaving the site because you can't afford to keep it open.
3. Blank (iii): H. impossible
- The Clue: The phrase "all but" means "nearly" or "almost." If a site is left to the "forces of Nature" (erosion, weather, decay), the damage is usually permanent. Therefore, re-opening them in the future would be nearly impossible.
- G. trivial (easy/unimportant) and I. rewarding are too positive for a sentence about a "poor profession" losing "vital information."
gmatclubot
Re: Archaeology is a poor profession; modest sums are available for excava [#permalink]
01 Mar 2026, 23:35
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