Carcass wrote:
OE
In this sentence, there are clues in the phrases “no resolving the matter” and “strained and fragile,” which, along with the straight-ahead road signs “since” and “and,” suggest that the correct answers are going to describe or support a conflict between disagreeing parties. In this example, you may already sense the words that complete at least one of the blanks just from the construction of the sentence. The first blank must support or elaborate on the phrase “no resolving the matter,” so predict something that suggests the sides reached a point of no more negotiating. Now that you've predicted that blank, the others are easier. Neither side would "back down," and the resulting "bitterness" kept the relationship strained. Quickly go through the choices and select the ones that most closely match your predictions. For the first blank, (C) impasse matches the idea that they've reached a point of no more negotiating. As a result, they are not willing to "back down" or (D) capitulate, and the result is "bitterness" or (G) acrimony.
Hi Carcass,
Doesn’t regress also mean going back? Since I didn’t know what capitulate means, regress sounded okay to me. Or regress only is used only in reference to ideological backwardness?