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Difficulty: Very hardWords Commonly Confused and Homonyms

Complete the sentence below with the most appropriate pair of words:

"Despite his public reputation as a strictly ________ diplomat who yielded to every demand of his hosts, his underlying strategy was remarkably ________, concealing a subtle scheme that ultimately outwitted the opposing delegates."

Which of the following word pairs correctly completes the sentence?

  1. complaisant / ingeniousAnswer
  2. B
    complacent / ingenuous
  3. C
    complaisant / ingenuous
  4. D
    complacent / ingenious

Answer

The pair 'complaisant / ingenious' correctly completes the sentence.
The correct answer pair combines 'complaisant' (disposed to satisfy or yield to others) and 'ingenious' (showing remarkable cleverness and inventiveness). This creates a coherent contrast between the diplomat's outward accommodating behavior and his inwardly clever tactics.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the first blank
The word describes a diplomat 'who yielded to every demand of his hosts'. The appropriate term is 'complaisant' (obliging, agreeable, eager to please), not 'complacent' (smug or self-satisfied).
The sentence specifies an active willingness to comply with demands rather than passive self-satisfaction.
2
Analyze the context of the second blank
The word describes a strategy 'concealing a subtle scheme that ultimately outwitted the opposing delegates'. The appropriate term is 'ingenious' (clever, inventive), not 'ingenuous' (naive, candid, innocent).
Outwitting opponents requires a clever and resourceful strategy, whereas 'ingenuous' implies simplicity and lack of subtlety.

Key Concept

Distinction between commonly confused paronyms: complaisant/complacent and ingenious/ingenuous
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Words Commonly Confused and Homonyms

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