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Question

Difficulty: MediumFrequently Confused Words

Complete the sentence by filling in the blanks with the correct words from the frequently confused pair 'elicit' and 'illicit'.

Answer:The investigative journalist hoped to 【elicit】 a candid response from the city council members, specifically regarding allegations of their involvement in 【illicit】 real estate deals.

Answer

The first blank should be 'elicit' and the second blank should be 'illicit'.
The verb 'elicit' means to draw out or evoke, which fits the context of trying to get a response from council members. The adjective 'illicit' means illegal or forbidden, which correctly describes the suspicious or improper real estate deals.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the part of speech and meaning required for the first blank.
The sentence requires a verb after 'to' that means to draw out or evoke a response. The verb 'elicit' fits this definition and grammatical function.
This identifies the correct word for the first blank based on context and grammar.
2
Determine the part of speech and meaning required for the second blank.
The sentence requires an adjective modifying 'real estate deals' that means illegal or unlawful. The adjective 'illicit' fits this definition and grammatical function.
This identifies the correct word for the second blank based on context and grammar.

Key Concept

Frequently Confused Words (elicit vs. illicit)
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Topics

Frequently Confused Words

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