(i) ___________ is unlikely to gain a reputation for reliability; Garth's poorly disguised excuses, however, were improbably interpreted by his (ii)_________ , hypochondriac employer as a sign of great foresight and (iii)_________.An
embezzler or
pilferer can be reliable, but a
malingerer, one who avoids work, is unlikely to gain a reputation for reliability.
A hypochondriac is one who is anxious about his health. The comma in between the blank and hypochondriac indicates that the word for the blank should be related in some way to hypochondriac. The word
trepidatious means apprehensive or anxious and goes well with hypochondriac and is therefore the right word for the blank. The other two are way off the mark, though one may be misled by mistaking casuistic with caustic.
For the third blank, we need a word that is related to foresight and
sagacity fits the bill perfectly.
_________________