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30 Jun 2025, 09:37
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
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(N/A)
Question Stats:
0% (00:00) correct
100% (00:36) wrong based on 5 sessions
History
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Although this historical figure had been (i) _________ politician and a brilliant inventor, the professor found herself unable to (ii) _________ the interest of her students in the career of a man with such outdated views.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) |
| A. an insipid | D. whet |
| B. a deft | E. accrue |
| C. an effete | F. tout |
MyGMATbuddy
Expert
Joined: 27 Jun 2025
Last visit: 11 Aug 2025
Posts: 46
Given Kudos: 5
Location: India
Schools: IIMB EPGP'23 (A$)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V39
GPA: 9.82
Expert reply
30 Jun 2025, 22:09
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The word “although” signals contrast. So even though the person was a good politician and inventor, the professor still couldn’t spark interest due to his outdated views.
So we expect positive in (i) and something like “spark” or “generate”. In (ii), but she was unable to do so.
Blank (i):
We're describing a politician and inventor positively (brilliant inventor), so we want a positive adjective for the politician.
A. insipid – dull or lacking vigor → negative
B. deft – skillful and clever → positive
C. effete – weak or worn out → negative
→ Correct: B. a deft politician
Blank (ii):
She’s unable to spark/raise interest in students — so the verb should mean "stimulate" or "excite".
D. whet – to stimulate or sharpen (e.g., whet the appetite) → fits
E. accrue – to accumulate → doesn’t fit context
F. tout – to publicly promote → not about stimulating interest directly
→ Correct: D. whet the interest
Final Answer:
B. a deft
D. whet
—
Pankaj J.
Success story: https://gmatclub.com/forum/how-i-scored ... l#p3588949
So we expect positive in (i) and something like “spark” or “generate”. In (ii), but she was unable to do so.
Blank (i):
We're describing a politician and inventor positively (brilliant inventor), so we want a positive adjective for the politician.
A. insipid – dull or lacking vigor → negative
B. deft – skillful and clever → positive
C. effete – weak or worn out → negative
→ Correct: B. a deft politician
Blank (ii):
She’s unable to spark/raise interest in students — so the verb should mean "stimulate" or "excite".
D. whet – to stimulate or sharpen (e.g., whet the appetite) → fits
E. accrue – to accumulate → doesn’t fit context
F. tout – to publicly promote → not about stimulating interest directly
→ Correct: D. whet the interest
Final Answer:
B. a deft
D. whet
—
Pankaj J.
Success story: https://gmatclub.com/forum/how-i-scored ... l#p3588949
19 Jul 2025, 03:49
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OE
“Although” indicates that the first blank must be something positive or interesting to the students. Only “deft” (skillful) works. “Insipid” (uninteresting) and “effete” (weak or ineffectual) are not positive ways of describing a politician. Despite the fact that the historical figure was so accomplished, he also had old-fashioned views; as a result, the professor hasn’t been able to get the students interested in him. “Whet,” which means stimulate, is the only word that fits. “Tout” is a bit of a trap—the professor could “tout” the historical figure as an interesting thing to learn about, but she can’t “tout” someone’s interest. Similarly, “accrue” means accumulate over time, which doesn’t fit here; although interest (money earned on a loan or bank deposit) can be accumulated over time, people’s interest in a topic is not said to accumulate.
Answer: B,D
“Although” indicates that the first blank must be something positive or interesting to the students. Only “deft” (skillful) works. “Insipid” (uninteresting) and “effete” (weak or ineffectual) are not positive ways of describing a politician. Despite the fact that the historical figure was so accomplished, he also had old-fashioned views; as a result, the professor hasn’t been able to get the students interested in him. “Whet,” which means stimulate, is the only word that fits. “Tout” is a bit of a trap—the professor could “tout” the historical figure as an interesting thing to learn about, but she can’t “tout” someone’s interest. Similarly, “accrue” means accumulate over time, which doesn’t fit here; although interest (money earned on a loan or bank deposit) can be accumulated over time, people’s interest in a topic is not said to accumulate.
Answer: B,D
