"In years past, Paul had adeptly balanced his love of fine wine and women with (iii) _______career" is the clue. Previously he didn't eschew life pleasures but balanced with his work, but now he entirely devoted himself to hedonistic pursuits. Hence the first blank is eschew.

Hope that helps.

Although never one to (i) _______ life’s pleasures, only recently had Paul devoted himself entirely to (ii) _______pursuits. In years past, Paul had adeptly balanced his love of fine wine and women with (iii) _______career.

Blank (i)
A.revel in
B.eschew
C.peruse

Blank (ii)
A.misanthropic
B.hedonistic
C.nefarious

Blank (iii)
A.a feckless
B.a nugatory
C.an exacting

Could someone explain why "revel" doesnt work in blank (i), shouldnt it be:
Although Paul was not known to revel in pleasures, only recently he started devoting himself to such pleasures, instead of
Although Paul was not known to give up pleasures, only recently he started devoting himself to such pleasures

I understand the immediate clause, indicates Paul indulged in such pleasures, but isnt sentence saying that Paul broke this work-pleasure balance and started indulging in a large extent to the pleasures ? Shouldnt "revel" resonate with such strong indulgence ?

Paul never really TOTALLY avoided indulging in life's pleasures, but only recently he has TOTALLY indulged himself in hedonistic pleasures. Because in the years past he did enjoy drinking wine and other stuff. So, the first blank should be eschew.

Can someone explain me? What does it mean by Paul's never trying to avoid (eschew) the life pleasures but recently he is devoted to life pleasures again? I mean Paul is already in hedonistic pursuits. How should he "not avoiding" it?

It means that Paul is not a person who totally avoids (sometimes enjoys but not every times) pleasures but recently he has entirely devoted himself to hedonistic pleasures.

Thank you!

Although never one to (i) _______life’s pleasures, only recently had Paul devoted himself entirely to (ii) _______ pursuits. In years past, Paul had adeptly balanced his love of fine wine and women with (iii) _______career.

There is a contrast being suggested between recent times and years past in this sentence.

In the past we are told that Paul adeptly balanced his love of fine wine and women with some kind of career. Since the word balance indicates two contrasting entities, we can be sure it must have been an exacting career and not a feckless (irresponsible) or nugatory (no value or importance) one.

If he was balanced in his pleasure seeking in the past, in recent times, he would be hedonistic.

The idiom "Although never one to" indicates a progression from moderate to excessive and therefore, the best word is eschew.

Although never one to eschew life's pleasures, only recently had Paul devoted himself entirely to hedonistic pursuites.

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