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Question

Difficulty: EasyTone and Connotation Matching

Despite the intense scrutiny from critics, the lead researcher maintained a ______ demeanor throughout the panel discussion, greeting every attendee with warmth and addressing challenging questions with genuine affability. Which of the following words best completes the sentence?

  1. A
    pugnacious
  2. B
    supercilious
  3. cordialAnswer
  4. D
    aloof
  5. E
    dogmatic

Answer

The word 'cordial' correctly completes the sentence by matching the positive, friendly tone indicated by the surrounding context clues.
The correct choice is 'cordial' because its definition (warm, friendly, and gracious) and positive connotation directly mirror the explicit contextual clues 'warmth' and 'genuine affability'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural signals and context clues in the sentence.
The phrases 'greeting every attendee with warmth' and 'genuine affability' signal a distinctly positive, friendly, and approachable tone.
Contextual clues dictate the emotional valence (connotation) of the word needed in the blank.
2
Evaluate the connotation of each option against the required positive valence.
'Cordia' carries a positive connotation meaning warm and friendly, whereas the other choices carry negative or detached connotations.
Selecting a word with matching connotative tone ensures semantic and stylistic coherence.

Key Concept

Tone and Connotation Matching
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Topics

Tone and Connotation Matching

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