Examkin

Question

Difficulty: Very hardMulti-Blank Dependency Tracking

While early musicologists dismissed the composer's late string quartets as (i)________ exercises in academic formalism, contemporary theorists argue that these compositions actually harbor a (ii)________ structure, whose apparent disjunctions mask a rigorous, underlying harmonic symmetry.

Which of the following pairs of words best completes the blanks to maintain the logical and semantic coherence of the passage?

  1. (i) pedantic ... (ii) labyrinthineAnswer
  2. B
    (i) pedantic ... (ii) amorphous
  3. C
    (i) subversive ... (ii) labyrinthine
  4. D
    (i) spontaneous ... (ii) amorphous
  5. E
    (i) inspired ... (ii) derivative

Answer

The pair '(i) pedantic ... (ii) labyrinthine' correctly completes the text.
The first blank requires an adjective with a negative connotation indicating excessive adherence to academic rules to match 'dismissed' and 'academic formalism'; 'pedantic' fits precisely. The second blank requires a word describing an intricate structural state that accounts for 'apparent disjunctions' while concealing 'rigorous, underlying harmonic symmetry'; 'labyrinthine' captures this complex, maze-like quality. Together, the pair maintains complete cross-sentence structural alignment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze structural clues and tone for Blank (i).
The clause notes that critics 'dismissed' the work as 'exercises in academic formalism'. Blank (i) must carry a negative valence meaning excessively scholarly, formulaic, or dull.
The word 'pedantic' (overly concerned with formal rules and book learning) perfectly aligns with this context.
2
Analyze structural pivots and dependency for Blank (ii).
The pivot word 'actually' signals a contrast between early dismissal and modern reappraisal. The clause states 'apparent disjunctions mask a rigorous, underlying harmonic symmetry'. Blank (ii) must describe a complex or highly involved structure that can conceal such internal logic.
'Labyrinthine' (intricate, complex, maze-like) explains how surface disjunctions can obscure deep structural symmetry.
3
Verify inter-blank dependency and overall sentence coherence.
Combining 'pedantic' and 'labyrinthine' creates a coherent progression: early critics saw mere academic rule-following (pedantic), but modern theorists recognize an intricate, complex architecture (labyrinthine) with hidden order.
This maintains complete semantic and structural integrity across both clauses.

Key Concept

Multi-Blank Dependency Tracking
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Multi-Blank Dependency Tracking

More questions from this topic