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Genius, in the modern understanding, is not a ________ lightning strik
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18 Jun 2026, 10:35
18 Jun 2026, 10:35
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66% (00:35) correct
33% (00:57) wrong based on 18 sessions
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Genius, in the modern understanding, is not a ________ lightning strike that yields a single masterwork and then subsides; rather, it is now conceived as a steady, underlying current that charges every endeavor its possessor undertakes.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| A. a fleeting |
| B. a ponderous |
| C. an arbitrary | D. a didactic | E. an ephemeral |
| F. a haphazard |
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Re: Genius, in the modern understanding, is not a ________ lightning strik
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21 Jun 2026, 04:00
21 Jun 2026, 04:00
Expert Reply
Explanation
The sentence contrasts two conceptions of genius. The old view: "a ______ lightning strike that yields a single masterwork and then subsides." The new view: "a steady, underlying current that charges every endeavor." The contrast is between something brief, transient, short-lived and something steady, enduring, permanent. The word "lightning strike" reinforces the metaphor of sudden, brief illumination. The blank must mean lasting only a short time; transient; passing quickly.
The correct pair must be tight synonyms that both describe something of very short duration.
- A. a fleeting - Passing swiftly; lasting only a short time; transient. "Not a fleeting lightning strike" perfectly captures the brief, momentary nature of the old view. Correct.
- B. a ponderous - Slow, heavy, clumsy. This is the opposite of what "lightning strike" demands. Incorrect.
- C. an arbitrary - Random, unmotivated, based on whim. This describes lack of reason, not brevity. Incorrect.
- D. a didactic - Intended to instruct; preachy. This describes purpose, not duration. Incorrect.
- E. an ephemeral - Lasting for a very short time; transitory. "Not an ephemeral lightning strike" produces a sentence virtually identical in meaning to the one with "fleeting." Correct.
- F. a haphazard - Random, disorganized, lacking order. Like "arbitrary," this describes lack of structure, not brevity. Incorrect.
The sentence contrasts two conceptions of genius. The old view: "a ______ lightning strike that yields a single masterwork and then subsides." The new view: "a steady, underlying current that charges every endeavor." The contrast is between something brief, transient, short-lived and something steady, enduring, permanent. The word "lightning strike" reinforces the metaphor of sudden, brief illumination. The blank must mean lasting only a short time; transient; passing quickly.
The correct pair must be tight synonyms that both describe something of very short duration.
- A. a fleeting - Passing swiftly; lasting only a short time; transient. "Not a fleeting lightning strike" perfectly captures the brief, momentary nature of the old view. Correct.
- B. a ponderous - Slow, heavy, clumsy. This is the opposite of what "lightning strike" demands. Incorrect.
- C. an arbitrary - Random, unmotivated, based on whim. This describes lack of reason, not brevity. Incorrect.
- D. a didactic - Intended to instruct; preachy. This describes purpose, not duration. Incorrect.
- E. an ephemeral - Lasting for a very short time; transitory. "Not an ephemeral lightning strike" produces a sentence virtually identical in meaning to the one with "fleeting." Correct.
- F. a haphazard - Random, disorganized, lacking order. Like "arbitrary," this describes lack of structure, not brevity. Incorrect.
gmatclubot
Re: Genius, in the modern understanding, is not a ________ lightning strik [#permalink]
21 Jun 2026, 04:00
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