Words in Context

SAT Reading and Writing· difficulty 3/5

The new policy was sold to voters as a modest reform, but in practice it represented a sea change in how the city handled affordable housing. Within five years, almost every assumption of the old system had quietly been overturned.

As used in the text, what does the phrase "sea change" most nearly mean?

  • A

    weather pattern

  • B

    fundamental transformation

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  • C

    ocean tide

  • D

    minor adjustment

Explanation

Almost every assumption is overturned, so "sea change" means a fundamental transformation, contrasting ironically with the "modest reform" framing.

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