Each of the following sentences has two blanks. Select the most appropriate pair of words from the options given to fill in the blanks so that the sentence is grammatically and contextually correct. The researcher’s findings were initially dismissed as ______, but subsequent evidence served to ______ the validity of her unconventional hypothesis.

The sentence shows a shift from rejection to validation. Initially, the findings were not taken seriously, so the first blank should reflect something like uncertain or not well-founded, which is captured by “speculative.” The second part indicates that later evidence supported the hypothesis. Therefore, the word must mean to confirm or strengthen, making “substantiate” correct. Other options fail logically: “trivial… undermine” continues negativity “definitive… question” contradicts progression “flawed… obscure” weakens clarity “invalidate” contradicts validation Thus, the sentence describes initial scepticism followed by confirmation.