Difficult as it may sometimes be, in all our dealings with both clients and competitors, we must be seen to be above _________.
| Blank (i) |
| profit |
| integrity |
| ambivalence |
reproach |
scruples |
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Official Explanation To unlock this question, recognize that the term in the blank must be a negatively charged word with which a reputable business would not wish to be associated. Suspicion works nicely. Choice (D) reproach, meaning “blame,” is the best fit for the context and is the correct answer. You can immediately eliminate (B) integrity and (E) scruples, which mean “adherence to ethical principles” and “moral considerations,” respectively. These qualities are desirable in a business or company. In context, choice (A) profit makes little sense; it’s not logical to say a company appears to be “above profit,” since one of the primary purposes of a business is to make a profit. Similarly, choice (C) ambivalence, meaning “undecided” or “uncertain,” makes little sense in context; indecision is not a quality that would make a company appear disreputable.