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Question

Difficulty: HardAdjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blanks with the grammatically correct modifiers.

Answer:Although the lead economist presented her findings 【persuasively】 before the parliamentary committee, the panel concluded that her growth projections were 【unduly】 optimistic given the persistent inflationary pressures.

Answer

The first blank requires an adverb of manner such as 'persuasively' or 'eloquently' to modify the action verb 'presented', while the second blank requires an adverb of degree such as 'unduly' or 'overly' to modify the predicate adjective 'optimistic'.
The sentence requires an adverb of manner ('persuasively', 'eloquently', 'articulately', or 'convincingly') to describe how the lead economist presented her findings, and an adverb of degree ('unduly', 'overly', 'excessively', or 'unreasonably') to intensify the adjective 'optimistic'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic role of the first blank.
The word modifies the action verb 'presented'. Therefore, an adverb of manner is grammatically required rather than an adjective.
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, whereas adjectives can only modify nouns or pronouns.
2
Analyze the syntactic role of the second blank.
The word modifies the adjective 'optimistic'. Therefore, an degree-modifying adverb (such as 'unduly' or 'overly') is required.
Modifying an adjective requires an adverb of degree to show the extent or intensity of the quality.

Key Concept

Adverbial Modification of Verbs and Adjectives
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Topics

Adjectives, Adverbs, and Modifiers

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