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Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
sandy wrote:

This question is part of 5 lb. Book of GRE® Practice Problems Verbal Question Directory


The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging polemics with intransigent political opponents seemed at odds with the president’s _________ tendencies.
A. tenacious
B. idealistic
C. dialectical
D. contentious
E. quixotic
F. altruistic

Show: :: OA
B and E

Practice Questions
Question: 5
Page: 98


Though I got it correct, but just on the basis of options. Can you please elucidate it further? I didn't understand the question very much. How is "exchanging polemics" and "intransigent" contrasting with idealistic/quixotic?
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Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
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The daily arguments with opponents who won’t change their mind and dealing with people who make demands are likely to make someone more realistic about the limited prospects of accomplishing something, or less idealistic and quixotic, which are synonyms. Arguing with others is not likely to make someone less contentious or dialectical, but more so. And nothing here implies that the president’s policies are altruistic or that he is particularly tenacious. Alternatively, you can look at the answer choices. Idealistic and quixotic form one pair, and dialectical and contentious form another, so one of those pairs has to be the right answer.
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Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
Can someone explain why the pair dialectical and contentious cannot be an answer?
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Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
can someone explain quixotic?
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Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
polemics : a strong verbal attack
intransigent : stubborn, unyielding
The sentence conveys that the president is reacting to strong opposition inspite of his inherently calm attitude (essentially ideal).

A. tenacious : determined, persistent
B. idealistic : aiming for perfection
C. dialectical : logical discussion of ideas
D. contentious : controversial
E. quixotic : idealistic
F. altruistic : selfless concern for others

The best FIT should convey the meaning of ideal character as in Idealistic/Quixotic.
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Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
His daily routine was exchanging polemics with stubborn enemies and responding to lobbyists.

And since this is described as at odds with the president's tendencies, his tendencies are closest to the opposite of the above behaviour - non-contentious.

But we don't have a word closest to non-contentious in the choice list.

So, it is better to eliminate the wrong choices.

I can eliminate dialectical, contentious and tenacious.

I am left with idealistic, quixotic and altruistic.

Altruistic is not non-contentious. So eliminate it.

We are left with idealistic and quixotic, which are the best of the worst.
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The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
Jeeva1989 wrote:
Can someone explain why the pair dialectical and contentious cannot be an answer?


Because we are looking for the exact opposite of dialectical and contentious, because of "seemed at odds with"


Because we are looking for the exact opposite of dialectical and contentious, because of "seemed at odds with (exchanging polemics with intransigent political opponents)"
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The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
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