The detour road sign “but” indicates a turning point in the sentence. You can predict that the words that fill the blank mean the opposite of keeping something under cover. Choice (A) transparent means “obvious, straightforward” and is correct. Choice (D) forthright means “straightforward” and is the other correct answer. Choice (B) pusillanimous means “timid, cowardly in nature,” which doesn’t fit the sentence. Neither does choice (C) aggressive. Although one could characterize someone’s management style as “aggressive,” you need a word meaning “open” or “straightforward” to fit the sentence clues. Choices (E) and (F), slipshod and negligent, mean virtually the same thing, “careless.” Neither makes sense in context. The correct pair is choices (A) and (D).