Academics, when locking rhetorical horns, can toss off the most pointed barbs by deploying nothing more than an understated phrase, so it should come as no surprise that they are also prone to seeing ______ where none exist.




During a debate, academics can ignore some incisive remarks by using some lightweight retorts. Because, they become so used to insults that they look for them even when they are present.

The blank should be similar to insult - snub and slight is a pair. The other pairs don't fit in the context: Misinterpretations and misperceptions; conspiracies and rivalries.
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+1 kudos to all the posts containing proper explanations

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why not conspiracy and rivalry?

Please see also the explanation above provided by the mod.

Basically the academic when they have some sort of challenge the only thing the might able to do is to see something suspicious where there is nothing hidden.

Difficult question in its wording but this is not the way ETS makes questions..

Regards
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So, why it is here if it doesn't serve the ETS style ?
How can we benefit from it in other words?

Because you stretch your mental muscles and learn even new words.

In fact, the official material should be used at the beginning to assess your possible initial score, in the middle to bespoke your preparation and in the last stage before the exam.

In the middle stages, you should use a mix. Considering also that ETS has a lot of questions to train but for instance, ETS does not provide as many as official questions GMAC provides
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Great.
I agree, sometimes I feel that I finished all the ETS and need more to practice.

Could someone please explain what this line means 'when locking rhetorical horns' and how it is used in different sentences.

Thanks and regards

As usual, the blank should be similar - snub and slight is best pair. The other don't fit: Misinterpretations and misperceptions; conspiracies and rivalries.

to get into an argument with someone or embroiled into an argument. Basically means going into a conflict about an issue or argument
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"Pointed Barbs" is a good hint for the answer, snub and slight are closest in terms of finding something that means insult to fill out the passage correctly.

Someone can explain me why?

why ?' what did not you understand Sir ??
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