@Moderators
Please add option H and I in answer box

The First Blank

as the inevitable (i)________ of the intransigent opposing forces of radical and (ii)________ beliefs

We have intransigent opposing forces of radical and (ii)_________ beliefs

Since the forces are opposing and intransigent(uncompromising, unyielding), it can only be "the inevitable clash of the intransigent opposing forces"

The corresponding word from the choice list is collision.

It cannot be melding (blending, combining)

But dissolution can also make sense as choice for the first blank. But it can be eliminated because Winship argues that the crises was NOT "fixed and structural". Winship's view is contrasted (rather than) with the views of the other critics which holds sway throughout the sentence fragment with the blanks. And the critics view would be the exact opposite of Winship's views, that is, the crises IS "fixed and structural". If it was fixed and structural, the critics cannot be talking of the dissolution of the opposing forces. So, we can eliminate dissolution.

The second and third blanks clearly are a part of the pairs of opposing forces, so we can simply look for the opposite of radical, which is orthodox and the opposite of secular, which is clerical.

forces of radical and (ii)________ beliefs - I thought this sentence was talking about one type of force and chose "revolutionary" instead of orthodox.

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.