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The human mind can often reject the most ________ data
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20 Feb 2026, 00:08
20 Feb 2026, 00:08
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Question Stats:
50% (00:46) correct
50% (01:11) wrong based on 20 sessions
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The human mind can often reject the most ________ data in favor of something that, though valueless, at least sounds familiar.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| A. anomalous |
| B. inconsequential |
| C. peripheral | D. pertinent | E. germane |
| F. visible |
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Re: The human mind can often reject the most ________ data
[#permalink]
28 Feb 2026, 10:12
28 Feb 2026, 10:12
Expert Reply
The Logic: The "Contrast" Clue
The sentence uses the phrase "in favor of" to set up a comparison:
- The Accepted Data: Something that is "valueless" but "familiar."
- The Rejected Data: The mind rejects this data despite its quality. Because it is being contrasted with "valueless" data, the rejected data must be valuable, relevant, or important.
- The Goal: We need two synonyms that mean relevant or applicable to the matter at hand.
The Correct Answers:
D. pertinent
E. germane
- Why they work: Both words describe something that is directly relevant or applicable to a subject.
- Pertinent means relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
- Germane means relevant to a subject under consideration.
- The sentence suggests that humans often ignore highly relevant (pertinent/germane) information simply because it is unfamiliar, choosing instead a "valueless" idea that feels comfortable.
Why the others fail:
- A. anomalous: This means deviating from what is standard or expected. While the mind might reject "weird" data, anomalous does not contrast with "valueless" as effectively as words meaning "relevant."
- B. inconsequential and C. peripheral: These are "opposite traps." They mean unimportant or minor. If the data were inconsequential, it would be similar to "valueless" data, and the contrast wouldn't work.
- F. visible: This simply means able to be seen. Data being "visible" doesn't necessarily mean it is valuable or relevant.
The sentence uses the phrase "in favor of" to set up a comparison:
- The Accepted Data: Something that is "valueless" but "familiar."
- The Rejected Data: The mind rejects this data despite its quality. Because it is being contrasted with "valueless" data, the rejected data must be valuable, relevant, or important.
- The Goal: We need two synonyms that mean relevant or applicable to the matter at hand.
The Correct Answers:
D. pertinent
E. germane
- Why they work: Both words describe something that is directly relevant or applicable to a subject.
- Pertinent means relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
- Germane means relevant to a subject under consideration.
- The sentence suggests that humans often ignore highly relevant (pertinent/germane) information simply because it is unfamiliar, choosing instead a "valueless" idea that feels comfortable.
Why the others fail:
- A. anomalous: This means deviating from what is standard or expected. While the mind might reject "weird" data, anomalous does not contrast with "valueless" as effectively as words meaning "relevant."
- B. inconsequential and C. peripheral: These are "opposite traps." They mean unimportant or minor. If the data were inconsequential, it would be similar to "valueless" data, and the contrast wouldn't work.
- F. visible: This simply means able to be seen. Data being "visible" doesn't necessarily mean it is valuable or relevant.
gmatclubot
Re: The human mind can often reject the most ________ data [#permalink]
28 Feb 2026, 10:12
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