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Question

Difficulty: HardTone and Connotation Matching

Fill in each blank in the passage below with a word that establishes tone and connotation consistency across the text.

Answer:Far from being a 【laudatory】 chronicle of modern urban renewal, the architectural historian’s monograph offers an unsparingly 【scathing】 critique of post-war housing projects, detailing how bureaucratic overreach systematically eroded vibrant community structures.

Answer

Blank 1 requires a word with a strongly celebratory or flattering connotation (such as 'laudatory' or 'hagiographic'), while Blank 2 requires a word with a sharply critical connotation (such as 'scathing' or 'trenchant').
The sentence hinges on the contrast transition 'Far from being,' which indicates that the first blank must express an idealized or praiseful tone contrasting with the historian's true findings. Terms such as 'laudatory' or 'hagiographic' fit Blank 1 by supplying a complimentary valence. The second blank works alongside 'unsparingly' to characterize a severe critique of bureaucratic failures, requiring a fiercely critical word such as 'scathing' or 'trenchant' to maintain tone consistency.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural contrast signal in the sentence
The opening transition 'Far from being a...' sets up a direct opposition between the expected or rejected framing in Blank 1 and the actual nature of the monograph described in the main clause.
Recognizing structural contrast signals establishes that Blank 1 and Blank 2 must possess opposing connotative polarities relative to the monograph's actual critical stance.
2
Determine the required tone and connotation for Blank 1
Since the monograph delivers a harsh assessment of urban policy failures, the rejected perspective in Blank 1 must represent an uncritical, glowing, or overly complimentary portrayal (e.g., 'laudatory', 'hagiographic').
Matching the contrast introduced by 'Far from being' requires Blank 1 to carry an excessively positive or sanitized valence.
3
Determine the required tone and connotation for Blank 2
Blank 2 directly modifies 'critique' and is intensified by the adverb 'unsparingly' alongside details of 'systematically eroded vibrant community structures'. This context requires a severely severe, biting, or incisive word (e.g., 'scathing', 'trenchant').
Reinforcing the explicit negative evidence in the passage ensures Blank 2 aligns with the harsh, condemnatory tone of the text.

Key Concept

Tone and Connotation Matching
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Topics

Tone and Connotation Matching

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