SAT OwlQuestion bank / Words in Context
Economist Laila Brandt cautions that the apparent link between the two trends may be ______. Housing prices and coffee consumption both rose sharply in the city over the past decade, but she notes that both increases can be traced to a third factor: the arrival of thousands of well-paid technology workers.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
spurious
intrinsic
reciprocal
negligible
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
Brandt says both trends come from a third factor, so neither trend causes the other. A link that looks real but has no direct connection is "spurious."
Choice C, "reciprocal," would mean each trend influences the other, which is the opposite of Brandt's point.
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