greMS15
Hi

Can I make a small request?

can you also write a few lines justifying your choice so that the audience also could go through your critical reasoning?

Thanks

sure . will do

I think, the answer will be arithmetic and reckoning..

Posted from my mobile device

I'm in favour of arithmetic and reckoning as well; please provide full explanation.

Analysis
1. Identify the Contrast: The sentence sets up a powerful contrast using the word "but":
- Appearance (Willingly lent, favourable terms) → Positive/Fair
- Reality (Curious method of _______ , made them mount to an incredible percentage) → Negative/Deceptive/Unfairly High Cost

2. Determine the Required Meaning: The blank needs a word that describes a secret, deceptive, or tricky method of calculating, accounting, or charging interest that makes the payments soar unexpectedly high. The process involves manipulation of the numbers to charge excessive rates.

3. Evaluate the Options:
- Observation: The act of noticing or perceiving. (Doesn't fit the context of calculating interest.)
- Disinterest: Lack of interest or concern. (Opposite of the highly focused, manipulative action described.)
- Hesitancy: Reluctance or unwillingness. (Doesn't relate to the calculation method.)
- Arithmetic: The process of calculation. (Too neutral; doesn't capture the curious, deceptive nature of the method.)
- Usury: The illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest. This directly describes the result (incredible percentage) and the practice being described. Excellent fit.
- Reckoning: The action or process of calculating or estimating something. Like "Arithmetic," it is a calculation, but it is often used in the context of settlement or accounting ("final reckoning"). In this context, it can imply a specific method of calculation, which fits the structure of "method of _______ ." Good fit.

Both Usury and Reckoning fit the context of a tricky financial/calculating method that results in unjustly high interest rates, leading to sentences that are very close in meaning.

The correct pair is Usury and Reckoning.

nope how is usury and recckoning synonyms?
Usury literally means to charge exorbitant amount of interest and reckoning means to calculate something or to estimate something

Definitely bad bad question.

Technically the OA is correct because arithmetic should be but is too neutral..
However, usury makes no sense. It's what he's doing, but doesn't fit the "method of..." structure well.