The following text is from a workplace training manual about effective communication.During the presentation, Marcus made several points about the...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from a workplace training manual about effective communication.
During the presentation, Marcus made several points about the new policy changes. His explanations were clear and well-organized, but when he reached the section about implementation timeline, he became somewhat vague. The audience noticed that his usually precise language shifted to more general terms and uncertain phrases.
As used in the text, what does the word "vague" most nearly mean?
Brief
Incorrect
Unclear
Boring
I'll solve this Words in Context question by first analyzing the passage to understand how "vague" is used, then finding the answer that best matches that meaning.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "During the presentation, Marcus made several points about the new policy changes." |
|
| "His explanations were clear and well-organized," |
|
| "but when he reached the section about implementation timeline, he became somewhat vague." |
|
| "The audience noticed that his usually precise language shifted to more general terms and uncertain phrases." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Marcus's presentation style shifted from clear and precise to unclear and uncertain when discussing the implementation timeline.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Marcus as an effective presenter, then shows a contrast where his communication became less effective in one specific section, and finally explains what that change looked like in concrete terms.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The context gives us clear clues about what "vague" means here
- Marcus went from being "clear and well-organized" to being "vague"
- We're told this means his "precise language shifted to more general terms and uncertain phrases"
- So "vague" is the opposite of "precise" and "clear"
- It means unclear, imprecise, or lacking specificity
- The right answer should capture this idea of being unclear or lacking precision
Brief
✗ Incorrect
- This means short or concise
- Nothing in the passage suggests Marcus's problem was speaking too briefly
- Being brief can actually be clear and precise, which contradicts the context
Incorrect
✗ Incorrect
- This means wrong or mistaken
- The passage doesn't suggest Marcus's information was factually wrong
- The problem was with clarity, not accuracy
Unclear
✓ Correct
- This perfectly matches our context analysis
- The passage contrasts "vague" with "clear" and "precise"
- The explanation shows his language became "more general" and "uncertain" - both describing unclear communication
Boring
✗ Incorrect
- This means uninteresting or dull
- Nothing in the passage suggests the audience found Marcus boring
- The issue was communication clarity, not engagement level