OE


This sentence's straight-ahead roadsign, the semicolon, indicates that the theme in one clause is mirrored in the other. The pundits felt the mayor wanted to "avoid confrontation" and gave up her "already minimal resolve."

Predict an answer

The words need to reflect that the mayor gave in too easily and was weak or cowardly.

Select the two choices that most closely match your prediction

(B) craven and (C) timid both indicate lack of courage or boldness, and these are the correct answers.

(A) temperate and (D) moderate are synonyms meaning "mild" and are too neutral to reflect the fact that the mayor "easily relinquished" her position to "avoid confrontation." The words needed here must indicate that the mayor is weak or cowardly. Choice (E) self-serving is incorrect because nothing in the context of the sentence shows that the mayor is doing this for her own benefit. (F) radical is incorrect because it conflicts with the keywords in the second clause. The mayor's resolve was already minimal, and she "easily" gave up; radical, or extreme, therefore doesn't fit.

Check your answers to see if the sentence retains the same meaning

Pundits were quick to say that the mayor's stance on environmental reform was far too craven/timid; she easily relinquished her already minimal resolve to avoid confrontation.