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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
The subject matter of Henrik Ibsen's plays seems mundane when compared
[#permalink]
23 Jul 2025, 01:03
23 Jul 2025, 01:03
Expert Reply
00:00
Question Stats:
50% (01:10) correct
50% (00:37) wrong based on 4 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
The subject matter of Henrik Ibsen's plays seems mundane when compared to present-day plays, but when first performed, Ibsen's work was considered _______ and caused a palpable commotion in his native Norway.
| Blank (i) |
|---|
| A. banal |
| B. incendiary |
| C. bombastic | D. taciturn | E. luminous |
- Part of the project: GRE Hard and Tricky Verbal Practice: NEW Questions Daily - Gain 20 Kudos & Get FREE Access to GRE Prep Club TESTS
- Also replying to the unanswered questions
Re: The subject matter of Henrik Ibsen's plays seems mundane when compared
[#permalink]
24 Jul 2025, 05:58
24 Jul 2025, 05:58
why not option e ?!
Re: The subject matter of Henrik Ibsen's plays seems mundane when compared
[#permalink]
24 Jul 2025, 07:22
24 Jul 2025, 07:22
Expert Reply
1) Explanation
Let's break down the sentence to understand the context and the meaning required for the blank:
- "The subject matter of Henrik Ibsen's plays seems mundane when compared to present-day plays, but when first performed, Ibsen's work was considered $\qquad$ and caused a palpable commotion in his native Norway."
- "mundane when compared to present-day plays": This describes how Ibsen's plays are viewed now (ordinary, common).
- "but when first performed": The word "but" signals a strong contrast. The blank must describe how his work was viewed then.
- "caused a palpable commotion in his native Norway": This is a direct consequence of how his work was perceived. "Commotion" implies disturbance, excitement, or controversy. "Palpable" means easily perceived or felt.
- Therefore, the blank needs a word that means controversial, provocative, or highly impactful, leading to a strong reaction.
Let's evaluate the given options:
- A. banal: So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring. This is a synonym for "mundane" and would contradict the "but" clause and the "commotion."
- B. incendiary: Tending to stir up conflict; inflammatory. This perfectly fits the idea of causing a "palpable commotion" because it suggests the work was provocative and controversial.
- C. bombastic: High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated. This describes language that is pompous or pretentious, not necessarily something that causes a commotion due to its content.
- D. taciturn: (Of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. This describes a personality trait, not a characteristic of a play's content.
- E. luminous: Emitting or reflecting light; shining. This describes brightness or clarity, not something that would cause a commotion in a controversial sense.
Conclusion:
The context strongly indicates that Ibsen's work, though seemingly ordinary now, was highly controversial and disruptive when first performed. "Incendiary" is the best fit as it directly means "tending to stir up conflict" or "inflammatory," which would lead to a "palpable commotion."
The final answer is incendiary.
Let's break down the sentence to understand the context and the meaning required for the blank:
- "The subject matter of Henrik Ibsen's plays seems mundane when compared to present-day plays, but when first performed, Ibsen's work was considered $\qquad$ and caused a palpable commotion in his native Norway."
- "mundane when compared to present-day plays": This describes how Ibsen's plays are viewed now (ordinary, common).
- "but when first performed": The word "but" signals a strong contrast. The blank must describe how his work was viewed then.
- "caused a palpable commotion in his native Norway": This is a direct consequence of how his work was perceived. "Commotion" implies disturbance, excitement, or controversy. "Palpable" means easily perceived or felt.
- Therefore, the blank needs a word that means controversial, provocative, or highly impactful, leading to a strong reaction.
Let's evaluate the given options:
- A. banal: So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring. This is a synonym for "mundane" and would contradict the "but" clause and the "commotion."
- B. incendiary: Tending to stir up conflict; inflammatory. This perfectly fits the idea of causing a "palpable commotion" because it suggests the work was provocative and controversial.
- C. bombastic: High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated. This describes language that is pompous or pretentious, not necessarily something that causes a commotion due to its content.
- D. taciturn: (Of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. This describes a personality trait, not a characteristic of a play's content.
- E. luminous: Emitting or reflecting light; shining. This describes brightness or clarity, not something that would cause a commotion in a controversial sense.
Conclusion:
The context strongly indicates that Ibsen's work, though seemingly ordinary now, was highly controversial and disruptive when first performed. "Incendiary" is the best fit as it directly means "tending to stir up conflict" or "inflammatory," which would lead to a "palpable commotion."
The final answer is incendiary.
