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Question

Difficulty: MediumTone and Connotation Matching

Which words best complete the passage to preserve the intended structural contrast and connotative valence?

Answer:Rather than providing a 【dispassionate】 evaluation of the proposed environmental policy, the committee's final report was decidedly 【adulatory】, overwhelming readers with lavish praise while ignoring severe ecological risks.

Answer

The first blank requires a word meaning neutral or un-biased ('dispassionate'), while the second blank requires a word meaning excessively praiseful ('adulatory').
The contrast frame 'Rather than...' sets up an opposition between a balanced, unbiased baseline ('dispassionate') and an excessively laudatory actual output ('adulatory'). The phrase 'lavish praise' directly supports a strongly positive connotative valence for the second blank.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural contrast clues in the sentence
The initial transition 'Rather than providing...' establishes a direct contrast between the expected tone of the report and its actual tone.
Identifying transition signals reveals the relationship between the two blanks.
2
Determine the required connotative valence for the first blank
Since an ideal evaluation should be balanced and fair before contrasting with the actual report, the first blank requires a word denoting neutrality.
The contrast setup implies an expectation of objectivity that was not met.
3
Determine the required connotative valence for the second blank
The textual clue 'overwhelming readers with lavish praise' indicates an excessively positive, non-critical connotation for the second blank.
Elaboration clues following the blank define the extreme praiseful tone required.

Key Concept

Tone and Connotation Matching
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Topics

Tone and Connotation Matching

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