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When Smithers took over as chairperson, her colleagues were looking
[#permalink]
20 Feb 2026, 00:51
20 Feb 2026, 00:51
Expert Reply
00:00
Question Stats:
63% (00:50) correct
36% (01:04) wrong based on 19 sessions
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When Smithers took over as chairperson, her colleagues were looking forward to a less confrontational time on the board of governors, since they reasoned that no one else was likely to be as ________ as her predecessor.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| A. mordant |
| B. aggressive |
| C. flexible | D. bellicose | E. complaisant |
| F. jaundiced |
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Re: When Smithers took over as chairperson, her colleagues were looking
[#permalink]
28 Feb 2026, 10:08
28 Feb 2026, 10:08
Expert Reply
The Logic: Contrast and Characterization
The sentence sets up a contrast between the new chairperson (Smithers) and her predecessor (the person who held the job before her).
- The Goal: The colleagues want a "less confrontational" time.
- The Reason: They believe no one else will be as $[\mathrm{X}]$ as the previous chairperson.
- The Deduction: If they want less confrontation now, it means the predecessor must have been very confrontational.
- The Target: We need two synonyms for confrontational, argumentative, or warlike.
The Correct Answers:
B. aggressive
D. bellicose
- Why they work: Both words describe someone who is ready to fight or argue. Aggressive is a common term for forceful behavior, while bellicose (from the Latin bellum, meaning war) specifically means demonstrating aggression and a willingness to fight. Together, they explain why the board was so confrontational in the past.
Why the others fail:
- A. mordant: This means biting or caustic in thought/manner (often referring to a sharp sense of humor). While a mordant person might be unpleasant, it doesn't specifically mean "confrontational."
- C. flexible and E. complaisant: These are "opposite traps." They mean yielding or willing to please others. If the predecessor had been these things, the board wouldn't have been confrontational.
- F. jaundiced: This means cynical or pessimistic (affected by bitterness or resentment). While a jaundiced person might be difficult, the word doesn't directly mean "confrontational."
The sentence sets up a contrast between the new chairperson (Smithers) and her predecessor (the person who held the job before her).
- The Goal: The colleagues want a "less confrontational" time.
- The Reason: They believe no one else will be as $[\mathrm{X}]$ as the previous chairperson.
- The Deduction: If they want less confrontation now, it means the predecessor must have been very confrontational.
- The Target: We need two synonyms for confrontational, argumentative, or warlike.
The Correct Answers:
B. aggressive
D. bellicose
- Why they work: Both words describe someone who is ready to fight or argue. Aggressive is a common term for forceful behavior, while bellicose (from the Latin bellum, meaning war) specifically means demonstrating aggression and a willingness to fight. Together, they explain why the board was so confrontational in the past.
Why the others fail:
- A. mordant: This means biting or caustic in thought/manner (often referring to a sharp sense of humor). While a mordant person might be unpleasant, it doesn't specifically mean "confrontational."
- C. flexible and E. complaisant: These are "opposite traps." They mean yielding or willing to please others. If the predecessor had been these things, the board wouldn't have been confrontational.
- F. jaundiced: This means cynical or pessimistic (affected by bitterness or resentment). While a jaundiced person might be difficult, the word doesn't directly mean "confrontational."
gmatclubot
Re: When Smithers took over as chairperson, her colleagues were looking [#permalink]
28 Feb 2026, 10:08
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