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Difficulty: EasySentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection

While the protagonist in the novel initially appears to act out of sheer altruism, a closer reading of the text reveals that her motivations are fundamentally __________, driven primarily by self-preservation and personal gain. Which TWO of the following answer choices, when inserted into the blank, produce completed sentences that are equivalent in meaning?

  1. mercenaryAnswer
  2. B
    altruistic
  3. self-servingAnswer
  4. D
    magnanimous
  5. E
    deceitful
  6. F
    dishonest

Answer

The correct options are 'mercenary' and 'self-serving', as both words describe motivations centered on personal advantage and self-interest.
The sentence relies on a contrast signaled by 'While', moving from apparent 'altruism' to actual motivations characterized as 'driven primarily by self-preservation and personal gain'. Both 'mercenary' and 'self-serving' precisely capture this focus on self-interest, producing two sentences that convey the exact same meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural signals and sentence context.
The opening transition word 'While' signals a contrast between the initial appearance ('sheer altruism') and the underlying reality described after the comma.
Identifying the contrast pivot dictates that the target word must mean the opposite of altruistic.
2
Determine the required contextual meaning for the blank.
The elaboration clause 'driven primarily by self-preservation and personal gain' defines the target meaning as self-interested or motivated by personal advantage.
The sentence explicitly explains the nature of the blank in the trailing modifier.
3
Evaluate choices to identify a contextual synonym pair.
'mercenary' and 'self-serving' both mean motivated by self-interest or personal gain, completing two sentences with identical meaning.
Sentence Equivalence requires both individual contextual fit and semantic equivalence between the completed sentences.

Key Concept

Sentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Sentence Equivalence: Contextual Synonym Pair Selection

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