OE


The sentence is quite complex. It can often be helpful to reduce such a sentence down to its main core-eliminating the tacked-on modifiers -and then add the extra information back in as needed. Doing so here leaves you with: "The $\qquad$ nature of Thomas Paine's political diatribes is now downplayed by government officials." The word "diatribes" denotes strongly negative speech or writing, and, as such, their "nature" would more likely be controversial or fiery than understated or restrained. "Pallid," which means pale or weak, forms a close, but incorrect, pair with "anemic." "Antithetical" works superficially-it means directly opposed or mutually incompatible but it doesn't connote a nature that would need to be downplayed. "Deferential," meaning respectful, is the opposite of the needed meaning. That leaves the correct pair: "incendiary," which means inflammatory and provocative, and "demagogic," which refers to verbiage intended to arouse strong negative sentiments (usually against an established power).