# Social science passage vocabulary

Words for policy, method, and the gap between a stated aim and a real one.

5 question(s), with answers and distractor explanations.

### The policy was ____ designed to reduce congestion, though its authors privately conceded it would do little.

*core · social-science*

0. ostensibly  **← answer**
1. demonstrably
2. inadvertently
3. comprehensively

**Why it fits:** "Though its authors privately conceded" sets up a contrast between the stated purpose and the real one, which is exactly what "ostensibly" marks.

**Why the others fail:**
- *demonstrably* — "Demonstrably" claims the effect was proven — the sentence says the opposite.
- *inadvertently* — "Inadvertently" means by accident, but the policy was deliberately designed.
- *comprehensively* — "Comprehensively" describes how thoroughly something was done, not the gap between claim and reality.

### The committee insisted the cut-off was principled, but it could not explain why the threshold fell at that figure rather than any other, which made it look ____.

*core · social-science*

0. arbitrary  **← answer**
1. stringent
2. provisional
3. unanimous

**Why it fits:** Being unable to justify why the number is that number and not another is precisely what makes a choice arbitrary.

**Why the others fail:**
- *stringent* — "Stringent" means strict. A threshold can be strict and still be well justified, so it does not follow from the sentence.
- *provisional* — "Provisional" means temporary. The sentence is about justification, not duration.
- *unanimous* — "Unanimous" describes agreement among people, not the basis for a number.

### Funding for the second phase is ____ on the pilot meeting its enrolment target.

*core · social-science*

0. contingent  **← answer**
1. incidental
2. tantamount
3. impervious

**Why it fits:** The funding depends on a condition being met, which is what "contingent on" states.

**Why the others fail:**
- *incidental* — "Incidental" means minor or occurring by chance, the opposite of a governing condition.
- *tantamount* — "Tantamount" means equivalent to, which does not fit a dependency.
- *impervious* — "Impervious" means unaffected by, which reverses the relationship.

### Even the study’s critics ____ that its sample was larger than any collected before.

*core · social-science*

0. concede  **← answer**
1. contend
2. contest
3. construe

**Why it fits:** "Even the critics" signals that they are admitting something that does not help their case.

**Why the others fail:**
- *contend* — "Contend" means to argue for, but critics arguing for the study’s strength would not need "even".
- *contest* — "Contest" means to dispute, which contradicts the "even the critics" framing.
- *construe* — "Construe" means to interpret, which does not capture the admission.

### The new protocol does not guarantee agreement; it merely ____ the conversation between the two parties.

*stretch · social-science*

0. facilitates  **← answer**
1. mandates
2. obviates
3. adjudicates

**Why it fits:** "Does not guarantee ... merely" indicates the protocol makes the conversation easier without forcing an outcome.

**Why the others fail:**
- *mandates* — "Mandates" means requires, which is stronger than the sentence allows.
- *obviates* — "Obviates" means makes unnecessary, but the conversation still happens.
- *adjudicates* — "Adjudicates" means judges and decides, which contradicts not guaranteeing agreement.

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