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Though the recent row between the much loved prime minister and the am
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23 Sep 2025, 00:26
23 Sep 2025, 00:26
Expert Reply
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Question Stats:
81% (01:27) correct
18% (01:33) wrong based on 11 sessions
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Though the recent row between the much loved prime minister and the ambassador from the erstwhile colonial power will, in all likelihood, not foment outright protests--the way an incursion by this same foreign power into the country's airspace did--surely such discord will only serve to further ________ a people long since wary of foreign influence.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| A. gall |
| B. disabuse |
| C. demean | D. debase | E. rankle |
| F. marginalize |
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Though the recent row between the much loved prime minister and the am
[#permalink]
04 Oct 2025, 07:47
04 Oct 2025, 07:47
Expert Reply
Breakdown of the Blank
The sentence describes the effect of a recent political argument (row/discord) on a population that is already "long since wary of foreign influence."
- Context: The people are already suspicious and mistrustful of the foreign power.
- Effect: The discord will "only serve to further ________ a people."
The blank must describe an action that increases the people's suspicion, anger, or resentment toward the foreign power.
- A. gall: To make (someone) feel annoyed, resentful, or vexed. This is a strong fit, meaning the discord will further annoy or provoke resentment in the wary population.
- B. disabuse: To persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken; to enlighten. This is the opposite of what is intended, as it would suggest calming or correcting their wariness.
- C. demean: To cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something). While the prime minister might be demeaning the ambassador, the blank describes the effect on the people.
- D. debase: To reduce (something) in quality or value. This doesn't fit the emotional effect on the population.
- E. rankle: (Of a comment or fact) to cause annoyance or resentment that persists. This is a perfect synonym for gall and fits the context of increasing long-standing resentment among a wary population.
- F. marginalize: To treat (a person, group, or concept) as insignificant or peripheral. This describes the foreign power's possible action against the people, not the emotional effect of the discord on the people.
The two words that mean to annoy, vex, or cause persistent resentment are gall and rankle.
The correct choices are A. gall and E. rankle.
The sentence describes the effect of a recent political argument (row/discord) on a population that is already "long since wary of foreign influence."
- Context: The people are already suspicious and mistrustful of the foreign power.
- Effect: The discord will "only serve to further ________ a people."
The blank must describe an action that increases the people's suspicion, anger, or resentment toward the foreign power.
- A. gall: To make (someone) feel annoyed, resentful, or vexed. This is a strong fit, meaning the discord will further annoy or provoke resentment in the wary population.
- B. disabuse: To persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken; to enlighten. This is the opposite of what is intended, as it would suggest calming or correcting their wariness.
- C. demean: To cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something). While the prime minister might be demeaning the ambassador, the blank describes the effect on the people.
- D. debase: To reduce (something) in quality or value. This doesn't fit the emotional effect on the population.
- E. rankle: (Of a comment or fact) to cause annoyance or resentment that persists. This is a perfect synonym for gall and fits the context of increasing long-standing resentment among a wary population.
- F. marginalize: To treat (a person, group, or concept) as insignificant or peripheral. This describes the foreign power's possible action against the people, not the emotional effect of the discord on the people.
The two words that mean to annoy, vex, or cause persistent resentment are gall and rankle.
The correct choices are A. gall and E. rankle.
gmatclubot
Though the recent row between the much loved prime minister and the am [#permalink]
04 Oct 2025, 07:47
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