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18 Apr 2025, 04:29
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
(N/A)
Question Stats:
75% (00:47) correct
25% (00:45) wrong based on 4 sessions
History
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Time
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Not Attempted Yet
In his youth, Oscar Wilde catapulted to sudden fame both because of and despite his (i)_________ witticisms; however, the cutting remarks that won him renown also led to his financial and physical ruin, and he died (ii)_________ and sickly in a shabby Parisian hotel.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) |
| A. innovative | D. pallid |
| B. acerbic | E. aghast |
| C. inimical | F. impecunious |
20 Apr 2025, 02:51
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OE
Standing alone, any of the choices for the first blank could describe “witticisms,” which are witty remarks. Remarks could be “innovative” (original or creative), “acerbic” (sharp or sarcastic), or “inimical” (harmful or hostile). However, the remarks are described as “cutting remarks” after the semicolon, so the first blank should match that characterization. “Cutting” is a synonym for “acerbic,” so this is the best choice. “Inimical” is too negative, conflicting with the idea that “Wilde catapulted to sudden fame both because of and despite” his remarks. The second blank is part of a two-part list: “he died __________ and sickly.” The cause is given in the preceding two-part list: “the cutting remarks ... led to his financial and physical ruin.” A two-by-two structure like this stays in order, meaning that “financial ... ruin” is related to the blank, just as “physical ruin” is related to “sickly.” Only “impecunious,” which means poor or destitute, fits. Neither “pallid” (pale) nor “aghast” (horrified) fits with “financial ruin.”
Answer: B,F
Standing alone, any of the choices for the first blank could describe “witticisms,” which are witty remarks. Remarks could be “innovative” (original or creative), “acerbic” (sharp or sarcastic), or “inimical” (harmful or hostile). However, the remarks are described as “cutting remarks” after the semicolon, so the first blank should match that characterization. “Cutting” is a synonym for “acerbic,” so this is the best choice. “Inimical” is too negative, conflicting with the idea that “Wilde catapulted to sudden fame both because of and despite” his remarks. The second blank is part of a two-part list: “he died __________ and sickly.” The cause is given in the preceding two-part list: “the cutting remarks ... led to his financial and physical ruin.” A two-by-two structure like this stays in order, meaning that “financial ... ruin” is related to the blank, just as “physical ruin” is related to “sickly.” Only “impecunious,” which means poor or destitute, fits. Neither “pallid” (pale) nor “aghast” (horrified) fits with “financial ruin.”
Answer: B,F
