Word Problem

[Kirby]

So I came across a problem where you're supposed to select two words to "fill in the blank" for a given sentence. I'm not that great with words (if you guys already couldn't tell), so I'm a little stumped on it.

Here's the question:

Reporters described the storm's effect on voter turnout as ___________.
(a) harmful
(b) benign
(c) inconsequential
(d) calamitous
(e) deleterious
(f) beneficial

The answers are supposed to be (a) and (e). Sure. Those words work. Both "Reporters described the storm's effect on voter turnout as harmful" and "Reporters described the storm's effect on voter turnout as deleterious" are grammatical, and they both make sense. It's feasible to see them both in some text given the right context.

What stumps me is that I feel that the other end of the spectrum, choices (b) and (c) also make sense and are grammatical. That is, it would be grammatical and make sense to see, "Reporters described the storm's effect on voter turnout as benign" and "Reporters described the storm's effect on voter turnout as inconsequential"...

To me, it seems totally dependent upon the context. I suppose that it's more likely that a storm would be harmful to voter turnout than it would for it to be inconsequential... But given only a single sentence, how in the world can you know that this is the intention?

[Jedo]

Benign is the one that doesn't quite work in this context. It doesn't really mean the same thing as inconsequential and often has the sense of having a positive effect on something. Benign tumor is a special usage.

[Kirby]

Benign is the one that doesn't quite work in this context. It doesn't really mean the same thing as inconsequential and often has the sense of having a positive effect on something. Benign tumor is a special usage.

Great point. So it appears that the only set of words that have two that both work are a and e in this case.

This leads me to one question, though: hypothetically, if we had a synonym for "inconsequential", would it be just as valid to select that set, or are (a) and (e) better in another way?

[Jedo]

Great point. So it appears that the only set of words that have two that both work are a and e in this case.

This leads me to one question, though: hypothetically, if we had a synonym for "inconsequential", would it be just as valid to select that set, or are (a) and (e) better in another way?

In that case both sets would be equally valid, and the question wouldn't work. You can't use the fact that storms usually have negative effects to help answer the question

[Kirby]

Thanks, Jedo. So it seems that, again, it's not that multiple sets are valid - I just need to get a better sense of the word meanings.

[quantumf]

I must be missing something about the question, because in that sentence, all of the following are grammatically correct and make sense:

(a) harmful
(c) inconsequential
(d) calamitous
(e) deleterious

(d) would probably be my favourite choice, if the voter turnout really was terrible.

[Mef]

I must be missing something about the question, because in that sentence, all of the following are grammatically correct and make sense:

(a) harmful
(c) inconsequential
(d) calamitous
(e) deleterious

(d) would probably be my favourite choice, if the voter turnout really was terrible.

As I read it, the question is asking you to pick two choices that would give you essentially the same sentence (so basically, which two of the choices both make the sentence work and are also synonyms).

[daal]

Seems to me that this is a terrible question, leaving the student to guess what sort of person wrote the test.

[jts]

Hmm... I really don't like "harmful". Voter turnout isn't something you can harm or help... Raise or lower, yes. I like calamitous best, since abysmal turnout might be a calamity.

Inconsequential seems to be bad style. Maybe the storm was inconsequential, but its effect? You might as well say that the effect was ineffective - that, at least, might pass for humor.

[LocoRon]

Seems to me that this is a terrible question, leaving the student to guess what sort of person wrote the test.

I've yet to see any sort of grammar, reading, or writing comprehension questions on a test that do not come off as entirely contrived.

I remember when one question on a test required reading a page long essay about some guy listening to vinyl records. The question was something along the lines of "where would you expect to read this article?" The only answer I wanted to give to that was "on a test," since the whole thing was so contrived and shallow that no self-respecting editor would allow it to appear in their publication. Needless to say, that wasn't an option. Nowadays, I supposed it might show up on someone's blog, but, of course, that wasn't an option either.

[shapenaji]

What if they were voting on a measure to improve resilience to stormy weather?

[Javaness2]

beneficial is also completely possible. I think this is a stupid question

[Jedo]

beneficial is also completely possible. I think this is a stupid question

Beneficial itself is possible, but not with another synonymous word.

[Bonobo]

beneficial is also completely possible. I think this is a stupid question

Beneficial itself is possible, but not with another synonymous word.

“beneficial” ≈ “benign”, IMHO

[Javaness2]

Why do you need another synonymous word? Is that part of the exercise? My reading was that you just had to pick 2 words.

Given that it's an election, beneficial is synonymous with harmful