Official Explanation

B,F

Based on the context, you can assume that the blank will describe a hero’s ability to be harmed, so you can predict resistant, or unable, to describe the hero’s relationship to harm. Choice (A) obdurate has a meaning related to your prediction, but its connotations are more emotional than physical—it means “resistant to persuasion” or “unmoved by pity” and is therefore not appropriate in this context. Choice (C) oblivious may be tempting, but the second part of the sentence is clearly discussing actual bodily harm, not awareness of harm. Choice (B) impervious means “unable to be pierced” and is the best choice.

For the second blank, you could use the examples of Achilles’s heel and Samson’s hair to help you along. But whether or not you are familiar with these stories, you can use the straight-ahead road sign of the semicolon: the second part of the sentence carries the same ideas as the first. Since the first part of the sentence suggests that heroes all have some sort of flaw or problem, predict a word that means “open to harm.” Choice (D) gullible refers to someone who is easily tricked. This adjective does not make sense to describe a part of the body and is therefore incorrect. Choice (E) impotent describes what might become of a hero who has been harmed, but it does not work as the predicted meaning itself. Only choice (F) susceptible carries the correct meaning, “open to harm,” and is your answer.