OE


The second blank is an easy place to start, and refers to determining who was right. The clue for the second blank is no one else cared. The transition word but indicates that the word for the second blank will be the opposite of the clue, so use “important” as a word for the second blank. Eliminate (D) and (F)— irrelevant, didactic— because they do not match important, and the correct answer for the second blank is (E), paramount. Now, look at the first blank, which refers to what the English teachers did over small grammatical points. The clue for the first blank is that determining who was right was, for them, paramount, so use “argue” as a word for the first blank. Choices (A) and (C)— prevail, exult— can be eliminated, because they do not match “argue.” The correct answer for the first blank is (B), quibble. The correct answer is (B) and (E).