Official Answer:-

"Instead" indicates contrast with the idea of communicating "directly and intelligibly." The missing word has to mean "explanation," and that's what (A) elucidation means.
_________________

Can anyone explain it further please? How come elucidate is the contrast of directly?
_________________

Opposition of direct is indirect that means the told him to communicate in a direct way hence direct way is closely related to elucidate

Posted from my mobile device

Why the answer can't be Mystification? Because as instead contrasts directly and intelligibly, so the contrast is indirect i.e they are mystifying something?

Please explain.

The sentence asserts to speak clearly and directly BECAUSE speeches that would nOT in this inclination confuse and puzzle the people or the audience.

Mystification means to hide and confuse. The contrary of the word we fit in the blank

It is out scope

Hope this helps

Regards
_________________

Why shouldn't the answer for this be FRANK?
in the question they have specified directly and intelligibly
frank here indicates for being direct and intelligibly while option elucidation refers to clear

Elucidation here stands for explanation.

A is the answer.

where is frank Sir ?'
_________________

I think it's a kind of an extreme example.
The author warned to speak directly.
So, if speak with an "extensive" or huge explanation that could puzzle people.

For example: I have a RED car. Instead if I say I have a car which has RED Back body, RED wheels, RED Engine, RED bla bla bla bla.

May be that's the play the TC played

Advisors warned the congressman to communicate directly and intelligibly: speech that instead required extensive.............would bewilder and alienate the voters.


Semicolon here indicates first part is equivalent to the second part, Advisor warning them for not speaking clearly, which led bewildering in general public.

This is tricky QN though.
_________________

Hello from the GRE Prep Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GRE Prep Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.