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For decades, biographers of the inventor Thomas Edison produced almost
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31 Jul 2026, 22:54
31 Jul 2026, 22:54
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59% (01:00) correct
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For decades, biographers of the inventor Thomas Edison produced almost unfailingly ________ accounts, but the gradual release of his private papers—revealing a man far more fallible than the legend suggested—eroded the reverential consensus, and by the century's end, scholars no longer felt compelled to treat him as a secular saint.
| Blank (i) |
|---|
| A. vituperative |
| B. dispassionate |
| C. panegyrical | D. meticulous | E. iconoclastic |
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Re: For decades, biographers of the inventor Thomas Edison produced almost
[#permalink]
02 Aug 2026, 04:00
02 Aug 2026, 04:00
Expert Reply
{Answer and Explanation}
Correct answer: C. panegyrical
The blank describes early biographical accounts that were later undercut by private papers revealing Edison's flaws. The "reverential consensus" and "secular saint" indicate the accounts were excessively praising. The blank must mean formally or elaborately praising; like a eulogy.
A. vituperative - Bitterly critical. This is the opposite of what early accounts were. Incorrect.
B. dispassionate - Neutral, objective. Does not capture excessive praise. Incorrect.
C. panegyrical - Relating to formal, elaborate praise. Correct.
D. meticulous - Carefully detailed. Describes accuracy, not reverence. Incorrect.
E. iconoclastic - Attacking cherished beliefs. This describes the later critical stance, not the early reverential one. Incorrect.
Correct answer: C. panegyrical
The blank describes early biographical accounts that were later undercut by private papers revealing Edison's flaws. The "reverential consensus" and "secular saint" indicate the accounts were excessively praising. The blank must mean formally or elaborately praising; like a eulogy.
A. vituperative - Bitterly critical. This is the opposite of what early accounts were. Incorrect.
B. dispassionate - Neutral, objective. Does not capture excessive praise. Incorrect.
C. panegyrical - Relating to formal, elaborate praise. Correct.
D. meticulous - Carefully detailed. Describes accuracy, not reverence. Incorrect.
E. iconoclastic - Attacking cherished beliefs. This describes the later critical stance, not the early reverential one. Incorrect.
gmatclubot
Re: For decades, biographers of the inventor Thomas Edison produced almost [#permalink]
02 Aug 2026, 04:00
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