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Unlike her predecessor, Mayor Williams would not (i)
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05 Nov 2025, 00:21
05 Nov 2025, 00:21
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Question Stats:
37% (00:39) correct
62% (01:11) wrong based on 8 sessions
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Unlike her predecessor, Mayor Williams would not (i) _______ any impertinence from her subordinates. Even a (ii) ______ comment she tended to construe as one full of (iii) _____ .
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
|---|---|---|
| A. discountenance | D. seemingly innocuous | G. subterfuge |
| B. elicit | E. clearly tangential | H. prolixity |
| C. brook | F. somewhat ambivalent | I. contumely |
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Re: Unlike her predecessor, Mayor Williams would not (i)
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12 Nov 2025, 06:51
12 Nov 2025, 06:51
Please provide the explanation
Re: Unlike her predecessor, Mayor Williams would not (i)
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12 Nov 2025, 08:19
12 Nov 2025, 08:19
Expert Reply
Detailed Analysis
1. Analyze the Contrast and Tone: The sentence sets up a contrast with the predecessor: "Unlike her predecessor," Mayor Williams is tough. The tone is negative regarding insubordination ("impertinence," "ultimatum").
2. Determine Blank (i): Her Reaction to Impertinence
- Context: Mayor Williams "would not _______ any impertinence from her subordinates." Since she is strict and the predecessor was presumably more lenient, she must be unwilling to tolerate it.
- Fit: C. brook means to tolerate or allow. "Would not brook" means she would not tolerate it.
- A. discountenance means to refuse to approve or sanction, which is close, but brook is the standard word used for refusing to tolerate.
- B. elicit (to draw forth) is the opposite of the required meaning.
3. Determine Blank (ii): The Type of Comment
- Context: She is so strict that "Even a (ii) ______ comment" is construed as full of (iii) ________ . The word "Even" signals that the comment itself must seem innocent or mild, making her reaction seem excessive.
- Fit: D. seemingly innocuous means appearing harmless. This provides the necessary contrast: the comment seemed harmless, yet she reacted strongly.
- E. clearly tangential (irrelevant) is unrelated to the severity of the comment.
- F. somewhat ambivalent (uncertain) is unrelated to whether the comment is impertinent.
4. Determine Blank (iii): The Interpretation
- Context: She construed (interpreted) the harmless comment (Blank ii) as being full of ______ . Since she is responding to "impertinence," the interpreted meaning must be disrespect or contempt.
- Fit: I. contumely means insulting language or treatment; contemptuous or humiliating treatment. This perfectly captures the strong sense of disrespect she perceived.
- G. subterfuge (deception) is about hiding something, not the nature of the insult itself.
- H. prolixity (wordiness) is irrelevant.
The completed sentence reads:
Unlike her predecessor, Mayor Williams would not brook any impertinence from her subordinates. Even a seemingly innocuous comment she tended to construe as one full of contumely.
1. Analyze the Contrast and Tone: The sentence sets up a contrast with the predecessor: "Unlike her predecessor," Mayor Williams is tough. The tone is negative regarding insubordination ("impertinence," "ultimatum").
2. Determine Blank (i): Her Reaction to Impertinence
- Context: Mayor Williams "would not _______ any impertinence from her subordinates." Since she is strict and the predecessor was presumably more lenient, she must be unwilling to tolerate it.
- Fit: C. brook means to tolerate or allow. "Would not brook" means she would not tolerate it.
- A. discountenance means to refuse to approve or sanction, which is close, but brook is the standard word used for refusing to tolerate.
- B. elicit (to draw forth) is the opposite of the required meaning.
3. Determine Blank (ii): The Type of Comment
- Context: She is so strict that "Even a (ii) ______ comment" is construed as full of (iii) ________ . The word "Even" signals that the comment itself must seem innocent or mild, making her reaction seem excessive.
- Fit: D. seemingly innocuous means appearing harmless. This provides the necessary contrast: the comment seemed harmless, yet she reacted strongly.
- E. clearly tangential (irrelevant) is unrelated to the severity of the comment.
- F. somewhat ambivalent (uncertain) is unrelated to whether the comment is impertinent.
4. Determine Blank (iii): The Interpretation
- Context: She construed (interpreted) the harmless comment (Blank ii) as being full of ______ . Since she is responding to "impertinence," the interpreted meaning must be disrespect or contempt.
- Fit: I. contumely means insulting language or treatment; contemptuous or humiliating treatment. This perfectly captures the strong sense of disrespect she perceived.
- G. subterfuge (deception) is about hiding something, not the nature of the insult itself.
- H. prolixity (wordiness) is irrelevant.
The completed sentence reads:
Unlike her predecessor, Mayor Williams would not brook any impertinence from her subordinates. Even a seemingly innocuous comment she tended to construe as one full of contumely.
