I'll be honest I messed this one up on my first try. I can probably ascribe my error to not reading the sentence properly.

The first sentence says that popular cliques comprise 'leaders who exert power over group activities and membership, second-tier members'. Notice the 'second-tier members' at the end? It indicates that there are hierarchies in the clique which means that the clique is 'stratified'. That is our first word.

We then move on to the second blank, it says that 'By contrast, middle friendship groups are more intimate and (ii)_____'. We already have a good idea of what kind of qualities the popular cliques have so now we're looking for something that contrasts those negative qualities. (i.e. we're looking for something positive). Of the three options, only reciprocal works which means 'something done in return' and indicates a give and take relationship which is a positive.

Lastly, the final sentence says that 'the structures of middle friendship groups are less ________' once again we're dealing with a direct comparison to the popular cliques. Which means that its less stratified, the only word similar to stratified is hierarchical. That's our third choice.

Thus, our answer is (A),(E),(H)

Why can't 'oppressive' work for the first option?

It states "comprising leaders who exert power over group activities and membership"

In my opinion this isn't a good question, it could be stratified or it could also be oppressive since it mentions leaders who exert power over GROUP ACTIVITIES and MEMBERSHIP...

Sir

could you explain to me way better the meaning of the sentence as a whole and why B and C fit better that A in the (i) blank ?


Thank you

'Popular cliques are highly (i)_____' it talks something about the popular clique while "comprising leaders who exert power over group activities and membership" talks about the leader. So, 'oppressive' cant be a right choice for blank (i).

Popular cliques are highly (i)_____, comprising leaders who exert power over group activities and membership, second-tier members, and so on. The bases of leadership include athleticism, coolness, and toughness for boys, and high socioeconomic status, good looks, and stylishness for girls. Leaders are admired rather than liked. By contrast, middle friendship groups are more intimate and (ii)_____ than popular cliques, and their structures are less (iii)_____.

Let us look at the first blank first.

Popular cliques are highly (i)_____, comprising leaders who exert power over group activities and membership, second-tier members, and so on.

By contrast, middle friendship groups are more intimate and (ii)_____ than popular cliques, and their structures are less (iii)_____.

We can see clearly that the popular cliques have a multi-tier structure where power is exerted by those above on those below, and by contrast, the middle friendship groups are more intimate. Thus the choice for the first blank is stratified. We can rule out oppressive, though it is tempting, because exertion of power does not automatically imply oppression.

The second blank is very easy because the phrase - middle friendship groups are more intimate and (ii)_____ than popular cliques - makes us choose the synonym of intimate which is reciprocal. Also reciprocal relationship is the exact opposite of top-tier groups exerting power on lower-tier groups.

Naturally the word for the third blank is hierarchical since the middle group friendships are intimate reciprocal than popular groups which are stratified. Hence their structures will be less hierarchical.

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