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Despite the legend that portrays him as unable to lie about
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11 Apr 2019, 15:40
11 Apr 2019, 15:40
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Question Stats:
69% (00:39) correct
30% (00:51) wrong based on 226 sessions
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Despite the legend that portrays him as unable to lie about cutting down a cherry tree, George Washington was hardly as _______ as the apocryphal story would make him seem. In fact, he was a shrewd general who used deception and misdirection efficaciously during the American Revolutionary War.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| hapless |
| guileless |
| duplicitous | listless | artless |
| mendacious |
Re: Despite the legend that portrays him as unable to lie about
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13 Apr 2019, 05:17
13 Apr 2019, 05:17
2
Expert Reply
"Despite" is a shift word, signaling that the blank will contrast with Washington's supposed inability to lie. So the blank should have something about lying in it. However, we have "hardly" before the blank, which is another shift word. So the blank should actually be related to not lying. The second sentence confirms our interpretation, as it states that Washington was quite adept at lying.
We need words in the blank then that relate to not lying. "Mendacious" and "duplicitous" both have to do with lying, so they can be eliminated.
"Listless" means lacking energy, maybe just floating through life. That's not relevant. "Hapless" is also not relevant, as it has to do with unfortunate circumstances and being unlucky.
That leaves "artless" and "guileless," which aren't super common words, but both happen to mean innocent and without deception. So they fit perfectly in the blank as our correct pair.
We need words in the blank then that relate to not lying. "Mendacious" and "duplicitous" both have to do with lying, so they can be eliminated.
"Listless" means lacking energy, maybe just floating through life. That's not relevant. "Hapless" is also not relevant, as it has to do with unfortunate circumstances and being unlucky.
That leaves "artless" and "guileless," which aren't super common words, but both happen to mean innocent and without deception. So they fit perfectly in the blank as our correct pair.
Re: Despite the legend that portrays him as unable to lie about
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15 Apr 2024, 05:46
15 Apr 2024, 05:46
1
The word "despite" creates a contrast between the two parts of the sentence separated by the comma.
the legend that portrays him as unable to lie about cutting down a cherry tree AND George Washington was hardly as _______ as the apocryphal story would make him seem
Since the first part states "unable to lie" or truthful, the second part should state that he was capable of lying or not truthful. We have "hardly" which is a negator right next to the blank, so the word for the blank should be close to truthful or incapable of lying. The words are guileless (lacking in deception) and artless (naive, innocent).
The last sentence - In fact, he was a shrewd general who used deception and misdirection efficaciously during the American Revolutionary War. - proves that he was capable of guile or we could say that he was hardly guileless.
the legend that portrays him as unable to lie about cutting down a cherry tree AND George Washington was hardly as _______ as the apocryphal story would make him seem
Since the first part states "unable to lie" or truthful, the second part should state that he was capable of lying or not truthful. We have "hardly" which is a negator right next to the blank, so the word for the blank should be close to truthful or incapable of lying. The words are guileless (lacking in deception) and artless (naive, innocent).
The last sentence - In fact, he was a shrewd general who used deception and misdirection efficaciously during the American Revolutionary War. - proves that he was capable of guile or we could say that he was hardly guileless.
