[quote="Carcass"]
Kazan was quickly (i)____________ by many of his contemporaries for his transgression, who saw his testimony as treachery, an act of (ii)____________ which stained how they viewed him both as an artist and as a man. It was only by continually making films that he was able to (iii)____________ his perceived sins and achieve some measure of atonement.
Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
(A) rebuked | (D) perfidy | (G)exacerbate |
(B) lauded | (E) sophistry | (H) deviate |
(C) mitigated | (F) redemption | (I) expiate |
We know that Kazan made a transgression, and his contemporaries were displeased with it (..saw his testimony as treachery).Therefore, we need a strong word of condemnation for the first blank. Only
rebuked fits the bill.
His contemporaries saw his testimony as treachery, hence the next phrase which continues describing his actions (an act of ____) should also convey a similar idea. The only word that fits the bill is
perfidy, which describes a state of being untrustworthy and deceitful, and is closely related to treachery. Since he works to atone for his sins,
sophistry cannot be the choice for the second blank. It is not strong enough word. Also it is not very closely related to treachery as perfidy is.
And since he achieved some measure of atonement, by continually making films,
expatiate is the word for the third blank.