Now that even the most unenlightened citizen can create a popular news
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11 Nov 2025, 07:28
Analysis of the Sentence
1. Identify the relationship: The sentence establishes a reason (the rise of unenlightened citizen news blogs) why we must adopt a certain attitude ("be ________ ") when dealing with news sources outside "traditional media."
2. Determine the required meaning: The proliferation of unqualified news sources means that one must exercise caution, doubt, or reserve. We need words that mean cautious or doubtful.
3. Contrast with the context: Because the new sources are unreliable (not "traditional media"), we should not be idealistic, open-minded, inflexible, or forgiving.
Evaluating the Options
We need a synonym pair meaning cautious or guarded.
- A. idealistic: Believing in ideals or perfection. (Opposite of being cautious.)
- B. skeptical: Not easily convinced; having doubts. (Strong Fit)
- C. wary: Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems. (Strong Fit)
- D. open-minded: Willing to consider new ideas. (Not appropriate when reliability is the issue.)
- E. inflexible: Unwilling to change. (Irrelevant.)
- F. forgiving: Ready to excuse faults. (Opposite of being cautious about flaws.)
The words skeptical and wary are excellent synonyms that convey the required sense of caution and critical doubt when assessing non-traditional, potentially unreliable news sources.
The correct answers are B. skeptical and C. wary.