SAT OwlQuestion bank / Words in Context
A nineteenth-century treaty between two neighboring countries described their shared border as following "the highlands" between two rivers, without saying which ridge of hills was meant. Because the wording was so ______, both countries could claim that it supported their competing maps, and the dispute dragged on for decades.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
concise
eloquent
binding
ambiguous
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
The treaty never said which ridge it meant, so each country could read it in its own favor. Wording that allows more than one reading is "ambiguous."
Choice A, "concise," may describe short wording, but brevity alone does not explain why both sides could claim the treaty supported them; the problem is that it could be read two ways.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. Concise means brief, but the text highlights that the wording allowed multiple interpretations. Shortness alone does not explain why both countries could claim the treaty supported their competing maps.
- B. Eloquent refers to fluent or persuasive speaking. This does not fit the context of a legal document whose unclear phrasing led to a dispute over which specific ridge was intended.
- C. Binding means legally enforceable. While treaties are binding, the passage focuses on the vague description of the border, not the legal obligation to follow the agreement.
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