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Social media users routinely lament how exhausting it is to keep
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16 Sep 2026, 23:51
16 Sep 2026, 23:51
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Question Stats:
75% (01:04) correct
25% (00:50) wrong based on 16 sessions
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Social media users routinely lament how exhausting it is to keep their profiles updated, yet the sheer frequency and visible effort of their posting suggests the complaint may be at least partly (i) ________, calibrated more for an audience than for relief; for a great many of them, that constant online presence functions less as a burden than as a quiet source of (ii) _______.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) |
|---|---|
| A. staged | D. anxiety |
| B. performative | E. validation |
| C. premature | .F embarrassment |
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Social media users routinely lament how exhausting it is to keep
[#permalink]
01 Oct 2026, 05:22
01 Oct 2026, 05:22
Expert Reply
Full Explanation
Sentence Structure & Logic
The sentence establishes a contradiction between what social media users say and what they do:
What they say: Keeping profiles updated is "exhausting."
What they do: They post with "sheer frequency and visible effort."
Conclusion: The complaint may be partly (i) ______ "calibrated more for an audience than for relief."
Contrast: For many, constant online presence is "less as a burden than as a quiet source of (ii) ______."
Blank (i) - performative
The phrase "calibrated more for an audience than for relief" is the key clue. If the complaint is designed for an audience, it is not a genuine expression of feeling-it is a social display.
Performative = done for effect or as a social performance; intended to be seen by others rather than expressing genuine inner feeling.
The complaint is performative-users say posting is exhausting because that's what their audience expects to hear, not because they truly feel burdened.
Why not the others:
A. staged = deliberately arranged or faked. While close, staged implies a fully conscious deception. Performative is more precise in social contexts: it captures the idea that the complaint is a social act meant to convey a certain identity, not necessarily a calculated lie.
C. premature = happening too soon. Irrelevant to the context.
Blank (ii) - validation
The sentence says constant online presence is "less as a burden than as a quiet source of (ii) ______." This is the payoff that makes posting worthwhile despite the claimed exhaustion.
Validation = recognition or affirmation that one's feelings, opinions, or identity are acceptable and worthy. Social media posting provides a steady stream of likes, comments, and attention that affirms the user's sense of self.
This fits perfectly: the "burden" is performative, but the real reward is quiet validation.
Why not the others:
D. anxiety = worry or unease. If posting were a source of anxiety, it would be a burden, not a payoff.
F. embarrassment = shame or awkwardness. Again, this would be negative, not a "quiet source" of reward.
Sentence Structure & Logic
The sentence establishes a contradiction between what social media users say and what they do:
What they say: Keeping profiles updated is "exhausting."
What they do: They post with "sheer frequency and visible effort."
Conclusion: The complaint may be partly (i) ______ "calibrated more for an audience than for relief."
Contrast: For many, constant online presence is "less as a burden than as a quiet source of (ii) ______."
Blank (i) - performative
The phrase "calibrated more for an audience than for relief" is the key clue. If the complaint is designed for an audience, it is not a genuine expression of feeling-it is a social display.
Performative = done for effect or as a social performance; intended to be seen by others rather than expressing genuine inner feeling.
The complaint is performative-users say posting is exhausting because that's what their audience expects to hear, not because they truly feel burdened.
Why not the others:
A. staged = deliberately arranged or faked. While close, staged implies a fully conscious deception. Performative is more precise in social contexts: it captures the idea that the complaint is a social act meant to convey a certain identity, not necessarily a calculated lie.
C. premature = happening too soon. Irrelevant to the context.
Blank (ii) - validation
The sentence says constant online presence is "less as a burden than as a quiet source of (ii) ______." This is the payoff that makes posting worthwhile despite the claimed exhaustion.
Validation = recognition or affirmation that one's feelings, opinions, or identity are acceptable and worthy. Social media posting provides a steady stream of likes, comments, and attention that affirms the user's sense of self.
This fits perfectly: the "burden" is performative, but the real reward is quiet validation.
Why not the others:
D. anxiety = worry or unease. If posting were a source of anxiety, it would be a burden, not a payoff.
F. embarrassment = shame or awkwardness. Again, this would be negative, not a "quiet source" of reward.
gmatclubot
Social media users routinely lament how exhausting it is to keep [#permalink]
01 Oct 2026, 05:22
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