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Sentence Completion Question #5

By Allen Grove, About.com

This question is from Sentence Completion Quiz #1

Directions: select the answer that best completes the sentence.

One might think that a great author's death would be surrounded by much ________, but the man actually died in ________.

(a) equanimity...obeisance
(b) publicity...obscurity
(c) fanfare...scandal
(d) balderdash...uncertainty
(e) surprise...penitence

Discussion: In this sentence, the phrase "one might think" and the word "but" create a well-defined contrast between the first word and the second. The sentence could be summarized as, "one might thing one thing to be true, but actually a second thing is true." The only pair of words to create a contrast that makes sense is "publicity" and "obscurity," choice (b).

Vocabulary:

  • balderdash - nonsense
  • equanimity - calmness; composure
  • fanfare - a flourish; an attention-grabbing public display
  • obeisance - homage; a gesture of respect (such as a bow)
  • obscurity - darkness; the state of being unknown or hidden
  • penitence - sincere regret for one's sins or wrongdoing
  • publicity - the state of being public and open to general observation
  • scandal - public disgrace
  • surprise - an unexpected occurrence
  • uncertainty - doubt

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