Question

Difficulty: Very hardContrast and Reversal Clues

Based on the contrast structural signals within the passage below, complete the sentence by providing appropriate words for each blank.

Answer:Far from being an uncritical 【apologist】 of established economic orthodoxy, the theorist's final treatise proved unexpectedly 【iconoclastic】; although it retained the standard mathematical nomenclature of classical modeling, its underlying thesis systematically dismantled the foundational assumptions of free-market equilibrium.

Answer

The first blank requires a noun signifying a supporter or defender of established doctrine (such as 'apologist' or 'adherent'), while the second blank requires an adjective signifying the destruction or undermining of convention (such as 'iconoclastic' or 'subversive').
The structural signal 'Far from being' introduces a contrast, indicating that the first blank must describe an uncritical supporter of orthodoxy ('apologist' or 'adherent'). The subsequent concession signal 'although' contrasts the superficial retention of traditional nomenclature with the core dismantling of free-market premises, demanding a word in the second blank that denotes radical or tradition-challenging thought ('iconoclastic' or 'subversive').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initial contrast pivot 'Far from being...'
Sets up a direct reversal between what the theorist was expected to be and what the treatise actually demonstrated.
The structure 'Far from being [X]... the treatise proved unexpectedly [Y]' dictates that X describes a conventional supporter, while Y describes a radical departure.
2
Analyze the secondary concession pivot 'although...'
The clause states that 'although it retained... classical modeling, its underlying thesis systematically dismantled... equilibrium.'
The contrast between superficial conformity (retaining nomenclature) and core destruction (dismantling assumptions) confirms that the treatise's true character was revolutionary/subversive.
3
Determine suitable lexical fits for both blanks
Blank 1 takes terms meaning defender/advocate (e.g., 'apologist', 'champion'). Blank 2 takes terms meaning tradition-shattering (e.g., 'iconoclastic', 'heretical').
These choices fulfill both the overarching sentence reversal and the local clause contrast.

Key Concept

Decoding dual structural contrast signals ('Far from being' and 'although') to establish antonymous semantic relationships across multiple blanks.
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