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Monarchial reigns (i) _______ tended to be (ii) _______ dynastically s
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13 Nov 2025, 01:09
13 Nov 2025, 01:09
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Question Stats:
42% (00:53) correct
57% (02:07) wrong based on 7 sessions
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Monarchial reigns (i) _______ tended to be (ii) _______ dynastically speaking, than those royal courts in which palace machinations had not become a quotidian affair. In the latter, a pall of complacency would fall over the kingdom so that if suddenly there were an earl with an axe to grind, so to speak, his path to usurpation would be (iii) ________ .
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
|---|---|---|
| A. marked by intrigue | D. imperiled | G. largely unobstructed |
| B. characterized by hubris | E. volatile | H. a treacherous one |
| C. weakened by attrition | F. robust | I. hardly assured |
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Re: Monarchial reigns (i) _______ tended to be (ii) _______ dynastically s
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13 Nov 2025, 07:03
13 Nov 2025, 07:03
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Re: Monarchial reigns (i) _______ tended to be (ii) _______ dynastically s
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14 Nov 2025, 01:16
14 Nov 2025, 01:16
Expert Reply
Detailed Analysis
1. Analyze the Contrast: The sentence compares two types of royal courts:
- Group 1: Courts where "palace machinations had not become a quotidian affair." (Complacent courts).
- Group 2 (The Blank's Group): Courts that are (i) ______ and are contrasted with the complacent ones.
2. Determine Blank (i) \& (ii): The Dynamic Reign
- The first clause describes a type of reign that is being contrasted with the complacent reigns (the "latter"). The complacent reigns are vulnerable because "a pall of complacency" allows usurpation to be easy.
- Therefore, the reigns in the first clause must be not complacent-they must be constantly challenged or filled with internal conflict, making them stronger in the long run.
- Blank (i): Something marked by challenge or strife.
- A. marked by intrigue (secret plotting, machinations). This fits the idea of constant, non-complacent internal struggle.
- Blank (ii): Compared to the complacent reigns, these reigns tended to be ________ dynastically speaking. Since the complacent ones are easily overthrown (as seen in Blank iii), the reigns marked by intrigue must be more successful or stable over time.
- F. robust (strong and healthy). Constant internal competition might keep the dynasty sharp and less vulnerable to sudden external threats than a complacent one.
- E. volatile (unpredictable, liable to change) would suggest instability, which contradicts the overall point that these are safer than the complacent ones.
3. Determine Blank (iii): The Complacent Court's Vulnerability
- Context: In the complacent courts (the latter), if an earl wants to usurp power ("axe to grind"), his path to usurpation would be _______
- Logic: Since a "pall of complacency" has fallen over the kingdom, there is no one vigilant or prepared to stop the usurpation. The path must be easy.
- G. largely unobstructed (not blocked or hindered). This aligns perfectly with the idea that complacency makes the kingdom vulnerable to sudden overthrow.
1. Analyze the Contrast: The sentence compares two types of royal courts:
- Group 1: Courts where "palace machinations had not become a quotidian affair." (Complacent courts).
- Group 2 (The Blank's Group): Courts that are (i) ______ and are contrasted with the complacent ones.
2. Determine Blank (i) \& (ii): The Dynamic Reign
- The first clause describes a type of reign that is being contrasted with the complacent reigns (the "latter"). The complacent reigns are vulnerable because "a pall of complacency" allows usurpation to be easy.
- Therefore, the reigns in the first clause must be not complacent-they must be constantly challenged or filled with internal conflict, making them stronger in the long run.
- Blank (i): Something marked by challenge or strife.
- A. marked by intrigue (secret plotting, machinations). This fits the idea of constant, non-complacent internal struggle.
- Blank (ii): Compared to the complacent reigns, these reigns tended to be ________ dynastically speaking. Since the complacent ones are easily overthrown (as seen in Blank iii), the reigns marked by intrigue must be more successful or stable over time.
- F. robust (strong and healthy). Constant internal competition might keep the dynasty sharp and less vulnerable to sudden external threats than a complacent one.
- E. volatile (unpredictable, liable to change) would suggest instability, which contradicts the overall point that these are safer than the complacent ones.
3. Determine Blank (iii): The Complacent Court's Vulnerability
- Context: In the complacent courts (the latter), if an earl wants to usurp power ("axe to grind"), his path to usurpation would be _______
- Logic: Since a "pall of complacency" has fallen over the kingdom, there is no one vigilant or prepared to stop the usurpation. The path must be easy.
- G. largely unobstructed (not blocked or hindered). This aligns perfectly with the idea that complacency makes the kingdom vulnerable to sudden overthrow.
