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Poetaster, who at the outset believed one only needed time to write
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12 Oct 2025, 10:18
12 Oct 2025, 10:18
Expert Reply
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Question Stats:
42% (00:56) correct
57% (01:21) wrong based on 38 sessions
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Poetaster, who at the outset believed one only needed time to write a great novel, was constantly assailed by misgivings, and before completing even one chapter, he abandoned what he had come to deem a (n) ________ enterprise.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| A. unworthy |
| B. idealistic |
| C. illusory | D. notable | E. ill-fated |
| F. quixotic |
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Poetaster, who at the outset believed one only needed time to write
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31 Oct 2025, 11:36
31 Oct 2025, 11:36
Expert Reply
The correct synonyms that fit the blank and make the sentence mean the same thing are B. idealistic and F. quixotic.
Analysis
1. Analyze the Context: The Poetaster started with a naive, unrealistic belief (that a great novel only needed time). He then had "misgivings" and abandoned the project, realizing his initial belief was fundamentally flawed. The blank must describe a project that is unrealistic, impractical, or based on overblown fantasy.
2. Evaluate the Pair:
- F. quixotic: Refers to a project or person that is exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical (like Don Quixote fighting windmills). This perfectly describes an effort abandoned because it's too impractical and fantasy-driven.
- B. idealistic: Refers to a pursuit guided by unattainable ideals, lacking practicality. This is a very close synonym to the core meaning of quixotic in this context, where the Poetaster's initial concept was an unrealistic ideal.
Substituting either word maintains the same meaning: the Poetaster realized the project was based on an overly simple, impractical, and unrealistic dream, so he gave up.
- The enterprise was deemed idealistic.
- The enterprise was deemed quixotic.
Analysis
1. Analyze the Context: The Poetaster started with a naive, unrealistic belief (that a great novel only needed time). He then had "misgivings" and abandoned the project, realizing his initial belief was fundamentally flawed. The blank must describe a project that is unrealistic, impractical, or based on overblown fantasy.
2. Evaluate the Pair:
- F. quixotic: Refers to a project or person that is exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical (like Don Quixote fighting windmills). This perfectly describes an effort abandoned because it's too impractical and fantasy-driven.
- B. idealistic: Refers to a pursuit guided by unattainable ideals, lacking practicality. This is a very close synonym to the core meaning of quixotic in this context, where the Poetaster's initial concept was an unrealistic ideal.
Substituting either word maintains the same meaning: the Poetaster realized the project was based on an overly simple, impractical, and unrealistic dream, so he gave up.
- The enterprise was deemed idealistic.
- The enterprise was deemed quixotic.
Re: Poetaster, who at the outset believed one only needed time to write
[#permalink]
11 Nov 2025, 06:12
11 Nov 2025, 06:12
Is it BF or EF ?
