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Difficulty: HardIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

Read the passage below carefully. Which exact word is required to complete the established idiomatic expression?

Answer:Instead of dealing with the multi-layered administrative bottleneck through tedious procedural reviews, the newly appointed vice-chancellor decided to cut the 【Gordian】 knot by abolishing the redundant bureaucracy entirely.

Answer

Gordian
The established idiomatic expression is 'to cut the Gordian knot', which signifies taking swift, bold, and decisive action to solve a complex or intractable problem. In the given sentence, the vice-chancellor's act of completely abolishing the redundant bureaucracy rather than engaging in prolonged procedural reviews fits this precise meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context and structural intent.
The context describes taking a bold, decisive, and unconventional action to resolve a complex, long-standing administrative problem directly rather than using slow, traditional methods.
Understanding the context clarifies which fixed figurative phrase applies to the scenario.
2
Identify the missing component of the idiomatic expression.
The fixed idiom 'to cut the Gordian knot' means to solve an extraordinarily complex or difficult problem with swift, drastic action.
The proper noun 'Gordian' completes the historical and literary idiomatic expression.

Key Concept

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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