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Having long been branded an extremist by the faculty's most vocal crit
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27 Aug 2026, 03:13
27 Aug 2026, 03:13
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Question Stats:
53% (01:11) correct
46% (01:09) wrong based on 13 sessions
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Having long been branded an extremist by the faculty's most vocal critics, the new dean recognized that his surest path to acceptance lay in sounding as (i) ______ as possible; the deliberate (ii) _______ of his subsequent public statements is therefore no accident, designed to recast him as a (iii) _______ presence amid long-simmering departmental tensions.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
|---|---|---|
| A. combative | D. banality | G. unifying |
| B. uncontroversial | E. acerbity | H. divisive |
| C. erudite | F. opacity | I. capricious |
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Re: Having long been branded an extremist by the faculty's most vocal crit
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31 Aug 2026, 20:48
31 Aug 2026, 20:48
Expert Reply
Explanation
Blank (i): B. uncontroversial
“his surest path to acceptance lay in sounding as uncontroversial as possible”
He has been branded an extremist, so to gain acceptance he would want to sound moderate and non-provocative.
Blank (ii): D. banality
“the deliberate banality of his subsequent public statements is therefore no accident”
Banality means dullness or lack of originality. His intentionally bland statements help distance him from his former extremist reputation.
acerbity = harshness/bitterness
opacity = lack of clarity
Blank (iii): G. unifying
“designed to recast him as a unifying presence”
The context is “long-simmering departmental tensions.” Someone who helps reduce those tensions is a unifying figure.
divisive = causing disagreement
capricious = unpredictable
Final Answer: B,D,G
Blank (i): B. uncontroversial
“his surest path to acceptance lay in sounding as uncontroversial as possible”
He has been branded an extremist, so to gain acceptance he would want to sound moderate and non-provocative.
Blank (ii): D. banality
“the deliberate banality of his subsequent public statements is therefore no accident”
Banality means dullness or lack of originality. His intentionally bland statements help distance him from his former extremist reputation.
acerbity = harshness/bitterness
opacity = lack of clarity
Blank (iii): G. unifying
“designed to recast him as a unifying presence”
The context is “long-simmering departmental tensions.” Someone who helps reduce those tensions is a unifying figure.
divisive = causing disagreement
capricious = unpredictable
Final Answer: B,D,G
gmatclubot
Re: Having long been branded an extremist by the faculty's most vocal crit [#permalink]
31 Aug 2026, 20:48
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