Re: While the ethics committee ultimately the executive, the tai
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13 Apr 2019, 05:23
"While" is a shift word, creating a contrast. The second part of the sentence says that she was tainted by scandal. This means that the blank should mean something like the ethics committee ultimately "did not do anything that would taint her with scandal." They were investigating her personal dealings, but apparently did not decide to harm her reputation.
Looking at the answer choices, I see "exonerated," and know immediately that that should be one of the answers. The ethics committee freed the executive, or decided to acquit her of any charges.
Now I need a match for "exonerated." I see "exculpate," and while I'm not 100% sure of its definition, I'm fairly confident it's a good match with "exonerate." In reality, it's a very close synonym, meaning to declare someone not guilty.
Looking at the other choices, "dismissed," "discharged," and "repudiated" are very negative things here. So they don't work. "Lionized" is highly positive, but has no matching word.