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She was not so (i) $\qquad$ as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfa
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23 Sep 2025, 23:38
23 Sep 2025, 23:38
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Question Stats:
22% (00:41) correct
77% (01:38) wrong based on 9 sessions
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She was not so (i) ________ as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfare he received after purportedly solving a hitherto intractable problem in number theory; nevertheless, once the furor died down she was not (ii) _______ in pointing out what she believed to be some notable inconsistencies in his proof.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) |
|---|---|
| A. savvy | D. loath |
| B. self-effacing | E. charitable |
| C. churlish | F. unstinting |
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She was not so (i) $\qquad$ as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfa
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07 Oct 2025, 12:47
07 Oct 2025, 12:47
Expert Reply
Analysis of Blank (i)
The structure of the first clause is: "She was not so (i) _______ as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfare..."
- Begrudge: To envy someone's possession or enjoyment of something.
- The mathematician received fanfare (great attention/praise) for solving a problem.
- The sentence states she was NOT so (i) that she would envy or resent the praise.
Therefore, the word in Blank (i) must describe a negative trait-such as being petty, rude, or grudging-that she is confirmed not to possess.
- A. savvy: Shrewd and knowledgeable. (Relates to intelligence, not pettiness.)
- B. self-effacing: Modest and retiring. (Relates to humility, not pettiness.)
- C. churlish: Rude in a mean-spirited and ungracious way. This is a perfect fit, as a churlish person would be likely to begrudge someone else's success. The sentence says she was not so churlish.
The best fit for (i) is churlish.
Analysis of Blank (ii)
The second clause introduces a contrast using "nevertheless": she didn't begrudge him, but "once the furor died down she was not (ii) ______ in pointing out what she believed to be some notable inconsistencies in his proof."
- The act of pointing out inconsistencies suggests she was willing to criticize the work.
- The blank describes her lack of restraint in pointing out these issues. We need a word that means she was not reluctant, not stingy, or not constrained in offering her criticism.
- D. loath: Reluctant; unwilling. If she was not loath (not reluctant), it means she was willing or eager to point out the inconsistencies. This makes the sentence logical.
- E. charitable: Kind or lenient in judging others. She was clearly not lenient, as she was pointing out flaws.
- F. unstinting: Giving or given without stint; unsparingly liberal (often referring to praise or effort). While this implies generosity, it doesn't fit the context of providing criticism or negative feedback. Loath provides the direct, necessary contrast for her action.
The best fit for (ii) is loath.
Final Solution
The completed sentence is:
She was not so churlish (i) as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfare he received after purportedly solving a hitherto intractable problem in number theory; nevertheless, once the furor died down she was not loath (ii) in pointing out what she believed to be some notable inconsistencies in his proof.
Blank (i): C. churlish
Blank (ii): D. loath
The structure of the first clause is: "She was not so (i) _______ as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfare..."
- Begrudge: To envy someone's possession or enjoyment of something.
- The mathematician received fanfare (great attention/praise) for solving a problem.
- The sentence states she was NOT so (i) that she would envy or resent the praise.
Therefore, the word in Blank (i) must describe a negative trait-such as being petty, rude, or grudging-that she is confirmed not to possess.
- A. savvy: Shrewd and knowledgeable. (Relates to intelligence, not pettiness.)
- B. self-effacing: Modest and retiring. (Relates to humility, not pettiness.)
- C. churlish: Rude in a mean-spirited and ungracious way. This is a perfect fit, as a churlish person would be likely to begrudge someone else's success. The sentence says she was not so churlish.
The best fit for (i) is churlish.
Analysis of Blank (ii)
The second clause introduces a contrast using "nevertheless": she didn't begrudge him, but "once the furor died down she was not (ii) ______ in pointing out what she believed to be some notable inconsistencies in his proof."
- The act of pointing out inconsistencies suggests she was willing to criticize the work.
- The blank describes her lack of restraint in pointing out these issues. We need a word that means she was not reluctant, not stingy, or not constrained in offering her criticism.
- D. loath: Reluctant; unwilling. If she was not loath (not reluctant), it means she was willing or eager to point out the inconsistencies. This makes the sentence logical.
- E. charitable: Kind or lenient in judging others. She was clearly not lenient, as she was pointing out flaws.
- F. unstinting: Giving or given without stint; unsparingly liberal (often referring to praise or effort). While this implies generosity, it doesn't fit the context of providing criticism or negative feedback. Loath provides the direct, necessary contrast for her action.
The best fit for (ii) is loath.
Final Solution
The completed sentence is:
She was not so churlish (i) as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfare he received after purportedly solving a hitherto intractable problem in number theory; nevertheless, once the furor died down she was not loath (ii) in pointing out what she believed to be some notable inconsistencies in his proof.
Blank (i): C. churlish
Blank (ii): D. loath
gmatclubot
She was not so (i) $\qquad$ as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfa [#permalink]
07 Oct 2025, 12:47
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