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Though he displayed not a trace of unworldliness in his handling of un
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01 Sep 2026, 11:05
01 Sep 2026, 11:05
Expert Reply
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Question Stats:
16% (02:03) correct
83% (02:10) wrong based on 6 sessions
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Though he displayed not a trace of unworldliness in his handling of university finances, the philosopher struck colleagues as wholly untouched by the intellectual ________ that dictated which ideas were fashionable to entertain in salons and which were safe to profess in the staid common rooms of academe.
| Blank (i) |
|---|
| A. punctilios |
| B. orthodoxies |
| C. predilections | D. heterodoxies | E. idiosyncrasies |
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Re: Though he displayed not a trace of unworldliness in his handling of un
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03 Sep 2026, 04:06
03 Sep 2026, 04:06
can you please explain this sir
Re: Though he displayed not a trace of unworldliness in his handling of un
[#permalink]
03 Sep 2026, 04:25
03 Sep 2026, 04:25
Expert Reply
Explanation
The sentence sets up a contrast using the opening word "Though":
The philosopher was practical and worldly in handling university finances ("not a trace of unworldliness").
However, he was completely unaffected by the intellectual norms that controlled what was considered acceptable or fashionable in both high-society salons and traditional academic circles.
Orthodoxies means established, conventional beliefs, doctrines, or practices that are widely accepted as correct. These are exactly the kind of norms that dictate which ideas are "fashionable" or "safe" in a given environment.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. punctilios - refers to fine points of etiquette, ceremony, or formal procedure. While academic life has punctilios, they do not dictate which ideas are fashionable-they govern behavior and protocol, not intellectual content.
C. predilections - means personal preferences or biases. These are individual tastes, not the externally imposed, collective norms that determine what is "safe to profess."
D. heterodoxies - means unorthodox or dissenting opinions. Heterodoxies would challenge, not dictate, the safe and fashionable ideas. If the philosopher were untouched by heterodoxies, it would mean he never encountered nonconformist views, which doesn't match the meaning of the sentence.
E. idiosyncrasies - means peculiar or distinctive personal traits. These are individual quirks, not shared intellectual standards.
The sentence sets up a contrast using the opening word "Though":
The philosopher was practical and worldly in handling university finances ("not a trace of unworldliness").
However, he was completely unaffected by the intellectual norms that controlled what was considered acceptable or fashionable in both high-society salons and traditional academic circles.
Orthodoxies means established, conventional beliefs, doctrines, or practices that are widely accepted as correct. These are exactly the kind of norms that dictate which ideas are "fashionable" or "safe" in a given environment.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
A. punctilios - refers to fine points of etiquette, ceremony, or formal procedure. While academic life has punctilios, they do not dictate which ideas are fashionable-they govern behavior and protocol, not intellectual content.
C. predilections - means personal preferences or biases. These are individual tastes, not the externally imposed, collective norms that determine what is "safe to profess."
D. heterodoxies - means unorthodox or dissenting opinions. Heterodoxies would challenge, not dictate, the safe and fashionable ideas. If the philosopher were untouched by heterodoxies, it would mean he never encountered nonconformist views, which doesn't match the meaning of the sentence.
E. idiosyncrasies - means peculiar or distinctive personal traits. These are individual quirks, not shared intellectual standards.
