New research by marine biologists Sarah Jenkins and Kenji Sato is inspired by their observation that while there are countless studies on marine life in shallow coastal waters, there is a _______ studies concerning the biological processes of organisms living in the deepest parts of the Mariana Trench.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
quarrel about
dearth of
profusion of
verisimilitude in
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The text sets up a contrast using "while": there are "countless studies" of shallow waters, but there is a _______ of studies of the deep trench. "Dearth of" means a scarcity or lack of, which provides the logical contrast to "countless."
Choice A is incorrect because "quarrel about" implies a disagreement, not a quantity, which is what the contrast requires. Choice C is incorrect because "profusion of" means an abundance, which would not contrast with the abundance of shallow water studies. Choice D is incorrect because "verisimilitude" means the appearance of being true or real, which does not fit the context of the quantity of studies.