3
Answer: ASet 10: Words in Context (Intermediate)
Explanation
PASSAGE
The treaty was _____ negotiated over several months of intensive diplomacy.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A. painstakingly✓ Correct
B. hastily
C. secretly
D. accidentally
Detailed Answer Explanation
Choice A is the best answer. "Painstakingly" is correct because it means "with great care and thoroughness." The context clues in the passage indicate that this meaning best completes the sentence logically.
Why others are wrong: B ("Hastily" means "with excessive speed," which doesn't fit the context.), C ("Secretly" means "in a hidden manner," which doesn't fit the context.), D ("Accidentally" means "by chance," which doesn't fit the context.).