Choose the correct option: The anthropologist's findings were considered so controversial that they were initially _____.

Correct — A. The trigger is so ... that: 'so controversial that they were initially _____'. The that-clause states the result of being controversial, so the blank needs a reaction controversy would cause.

Initially, 'at first', hints that the reception later changed.

Disregarded (ignored, set aside) is the negative reaction on offer → option (a).

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  celebrated — Celebrated is praise. The result clause after 'so controversial' needs a reaction the controversy caused, and praise is not one.
• (c)
  acclaimed — Acclaimed means praised with enthusiasm, the same clash as celebrated. Controversy does not produce acclaim, so cause and result would not match.
• (d)
  adopted — Adopted means accepted and taken up. Findings disputed for being controversial are not taken up at first, which is the point of 'initially'.

In a so + adjective + that sentence, the that-clause states a consequence of the adjective. Read the adjective first and ask what it would cause.

Controversial means causing public disagreement. The reactions it causes are doubt, dismissal or neglect, not praise or acceptance.

Initially marks a first reaction and hints that it later changed. That suits a negative word here.

Key facts

• so + adjective + that + clause: the clause states a result of the adjective.
• Controversial = causing public disagreement or dispute.
• Disregard = pay no attention to, ignore.
• Initially = at first, at the beginning.

Common traps

• Choosing celebrated or acclaimed because they sound like a fitting fate for research, without reading the so ... that cause.
• Choosing adopted, which clashes with controversial: disputed findings are not taken up at first.

No directly related past PYQ was found.