Popular cliques are highly (i)_____, comprising leaders who exert power over group activities and membership, second-tier members, and so on. The bases of leadership include athleticism, coolness, and toughness for boys, and high socioeconomic status, good looks, and stylishness for girls. Leaders are admired rather than liked. By contrast, middle friendship groups are more intimate and (ii)_____ than popular cliques, and their structures are less (iii)_____.Let us look at the first blank first.
Popular cliques are highly (i)_____, comprising leaders
who exert power over group activities and membership,
second-tier members, and so on.
By contrast, middle friendship groups
are more intimate and (ii)_____ than popular cliques, and their structures are less (iii)_____.
We can see clearly that the popular cliques have a multi-tier structure where power is exerted by those above on those below, and by contrast, the middle friendship groups are more intimate. Thus the choice for the first blank is
stratified. We can rule out
oppressive, though it is tempting, because exertion of power does not automatically imply oppression.
The second blank is very easy because the phrase - middle friendship groups
are more intimate and (ii)_____
than popular cliques - makes us choose the synonym of intimate which is
reciprocal. Also reciprocal relationship is the exact opposite of top-tier groups exerting power on lower-tier groups.
Naturally the word for the third blank is hierarchical since the middle group friendships are intimate reciprocal than popular groups which are stratified. Hence their structures will be less
hierarchical.
_________________