1. Analyze the Context: The author argues that Simone Weil's physical absence during the war should not be misinterpreted as a lack of loyalty. Therefore, the phrase in Blank (i) must reflect the accusation leveled against her due to her physical absence.
2. Blank (i): People who leave their country during a crisis (like a war) are often accused of abandoning it.
- A. a traitor to: This implies active betrayal, which is strong but fits the context of someone who "deserted."
- B. a deserter from: This perfectly captures the act of leaving one's post or country during a time of need.
- C. an apologist for: This implies defending an enemy, which doesn't follow from the fact that she was simply "abroad."
- Selection: B. a deserter from
3. Blank (ii): The sentence states her feeling was "real enough," but it wasn't about physical distance; it was about her political/moral beliefs. We need a word for a sense of distance or alienation.
- D. caprice: Whimsical or sudden change of mood. Incorrect.
- E. estrangement: A sense of alienation, separation, or detachment. This fits perfectly with her feeling of being disconnected from the Republic's ideals.
- F. diffidence: Shyness or lack of self-confidence. Incorrect.
- Selection: E. estrangement
4. Blank (iii): This blank refers to her physical location-the "abroad" mentioned in the first sentence.
- G. pedigree: Ancestry. Incorrect.
- H. whereabouts: Location or place of being. This matches the "geography" and "abroad" context.
- I. penury: Extreme poverty. While she may have been poor, the context is about her physical presence/location during the occupation.
- Selection: H. whereabouts

Final Selection
- Blank (i): B. a deserter from
- Blank (ii): E. estrangement
- Blank (iii): H. whereabouts

Difficulty Level: Hard