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When the geochemist demonstrated that the iridescent mineral veining
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22 Jun 2026, 01:29
22 Jun 2026, 01:29
Expert Reply
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Question Stats:
41% (01:07) correct
58% (01:07) wrong based on 17 sessions
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When the geochemist demonstrated that the iridescent mineral veining that dominated the cliff face accounted for less than three percent of the rock formation's total volume, she exposed a striking paradox: the veins' dazzling conspicuousness ________ their near-negligible material presence.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| A. exaggerates |
| B. obscures |
| C. compensates for | D. eclipses | E. camouflages |
| F. diminishes |
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Re: When the geochemist demonstrated that the iridescent mineral veining
[#permalink]
24 Jun 2026, 04:00
24 Jun 2026, 04:00
Expert Reply
Let's analyze this.
Key setup:
- The veins are visually dazzling and dominate the cliff face.
- But they account for less than 3 % of the total volume.
- This is a paradox: the veins' visual dominance contrasts sharply with their negligible material presence.
The blank: "the veins' dazzling conspicuousness _____ their near-negligible material presence."
The paradox is that the visual prominence (conspicuousness) is disproportionate to, or hides, or belies the tiny physical amount.
Examining choices:
- A. exaggerates $=$ makes it seem greater than it is. Fits: visual prominence "exaggerates" material presence.
- B. obscures = hides, makes unclear. Could work: the flashiness hides how little there is.
- C . compensates for $=$ makes up for. Not quite the paradox - doesn't capture the deceptive contrast.
- D. eclipses = overshadows, outshines. Doesn't fit "eclipses their near-negligible presence" - it would eclipse something else, not the presence itself.
- E. camouflages = disguises, hides. Close to obscures. The conspicuousness hides the small quantity. Fits.
- F. diminishes $=$ makes it seem less. Opposite - conspicuousness would not diminish the presence.
Pairing synonyms for sentence equivalence:
The two that both mean the visual showiness conceals or belies the small amount are B. obscures and E. camouflages.
- "obscures their near-negligible material presence" = hides it from view.
- "camouflages their near-negligible material presence" = disguises it.
Both create the same meaning: what you see (dazzling conspicuousness) masks the reality (tiny material presence).
Answer: B. obscures and E. camouflages
Key setup:
- The veins are visually dazzling and dominate the cliff face.
- But they account for less than 3 % of the total volume.
- This is a paradox: the veins' visual dominance contrasts sharply with their negligible material presence.
The blank: "the veins' dazzling conspicuousness _____ their near-negligible material presence."
The paradox is that the visual prominence (conspicuousness) is disproportionate to, or hides, or belies the tiny physical amount.
Examining choices:
- A. exaggerates $=$ makes it seem greater than it is. Fits: visual prominence "exaggerates" material presence.
- B. obscures = hides, makes unclear. Could work: the flashiness hides how little there is.
- C . compensates for $=$ makes up for. Not quite the paradox - doesn't capture the deceptive contrast.
- D. eclipses = overshadows, outshines. Doesn't fit "eclipses their near-negligible presence" - it would eclipse something else, not the presence itself.
- E. camouflages = disguises, hides. Close to obscures. The conspicuousness hides the small quantity. Fits.
- F. diminishes $=$ makes it seem less. Opposite - conspicuousness would not diminish the presence.
Pairing synonyms for sentence equivalence:
The two that both mean the visual showiness conceals or belies the small amount are B. obscures and E. camouflages.
- "obscures their near-negligible material presence" = hides it from view.
- "camouflages their near-negligible material presence" = disguises it.
Both create the same meaning: what you see (dazzling conspicuousness) masks the reality (tiny material presence).
Answer: B. obscures and E. camouflages
gmatclubot
Re: When the geochemist demonstrated that the iridescent mineral veining [#permalink]
24 Jun 2026, 04:00
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