Last visit was: 24 Nov 2024, 17:22 It is currently 24 Nov 2024, 17:22

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 07 Jun 2014
Posts: 4813
Own Kudos [?]: 11197 [5]
Given Kudos: 0
GRE 1: Q167 V156
WE:Business Development (Energy and Utilities)
Send PM
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 07 Jun 2014
Posts: 4813
Own Kudos [?]: 11197 [2]
Given Kudos: 0
GRE 1: Q167 V156
WE:Business Development (Energy and Utilities)
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 11 Mar 2018
Posts: 32
Own Kudos [?]: 4 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 21 Jun 2018
Posts: 35
Own Kudos [?]: 14 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
sandy wrote:

This question is part of 5 lb. Book of GRE® Practice Problems Verbal Question Directory


The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging polemics with intransigent political opponents seemed at odds with the president’s _________ tendencies.
A. tenacious
B. idealistic
C. dialectical
D. contentious
E. quixotic
F. altruistic

Show: :: OA
B and E

Practice Questions
Question: 5
Page: 98


Though I got it correct, but just on the basis of options. Can you please elucidate it further? I didn't understand the question very much. How is "exchanging polemics" and "intransigent" contrasting with idealistic/quixotic?
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30018
Own Kudos [?]: 36379 [0]
Given Kudos: 25928
Send PM
Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Quote:
The daily arguments with opponents who won’t change their mind and dealing with people who make demands are likely to make someone more realistic about the limited prospects of accomplishing something, or less idealistic and quixotic, which are synonyms. Arguing with others is not likely to make someone less contentious or dialectical, but more so. And nothing here implies that the president’s policies are altruistic or that he is particularly tenacious. Alternatively, you can look at the answer choices. Idealistic and quixotic form one pair, and dialectical and contentious form another, so one of those pairs has to be the right answer.
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 14 Jun 2018
Posts: 23
Own Kudos [?]: 13 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
Can someone explain why the pair dialectical and contentious cannot be an answer?
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Sep 2018
Posts: 31
Own Kudos [?]: 3 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
can someone explain quixotic?
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 02 Oct 2018
Posts: 30
Own Kudos [?]: 40 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
polemics : a strong verbal attack
intransigent : stubborn, unyielding
The sentence conveys that the president is reacting to strong opposition inspite of his inherently calm attitude (essentially ideal).

A. tenacious : determined, persistent
B. idealistic : aiming for perfection
C. dialectical : logical discussion of ideas
D. contentious : controversial
E. quixotic : idealistic
F. altruistic : selfless concern for others

The best FIT should convey the meaning of ideal character as in Idealistic/Quixotic.
GRE Instructor
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 1065
Own Kudos [?]: 1426 [0]
Given Kudos: 24
Send PM
Re: The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
His daily routine was exchanging polemics with stubborn enemies and responding to lobbyists.

And since this is described as at odds with the president's tendencies, his tendencies are closest to the opposite of the above behaviour - non-contentious.

But we don't have a word closest to non-contentious in the choice list.

So, it is better to eliminate the wrong choices.

I can eliminate dialectical, contentious and tenacious.

I am left with idealistic, quixotic and altruistic.

Altruistic is not non-contentious. So eliminate it.

We are left with idealistic and quixotic, which are the best of the worst.
GRE Instructor
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 1065
Own Kudos [?]: 1426 [0]
Given Kudos: 24
Send PM
The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
Jeeva1989 wrote:
Can someone explain why the pair dialectical and contentious cannot be an answer?


Because we are looking for the exact opposite of dialectical and contentious, because of "seemed at odds with"


Because we are looking for the exact opposite of dialectical and contentious, because of "seemed at odds with (exchanging polemics with intransigent political opponents)"
Prep Club for GRE Bot
The daily routine of responding to lobbyists and exchanging [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts
GRE Instructor
1065 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne