Sangfroid, mercurial.
The sentence says that Frederick the Great was
known for “his _________ under fire,” but goes on to say that his
“equilibrium sometimes failed him.” That is the clue. The blank must mean
something like grace or calm. “Sangfroid” (composure) is the best fit.
“Intrepidity” (bravery) and “cruelty” do not match the clue. The failed
equilibrium and “tirades” are both clues for blank (ii), which describes the
way he sometimes behaved with his ministers. “Mercurial” (temperamental)
is the best fit. “Fascist” (despotic) and “vainglorious” (boastful) go too far.
58.
Paradox, brook.
This sentence gives you very little to go on for blank (i);
as is often the case, the clue for the first part appears in the second part of the
sentence. This second part presents a dilemma indicated by “on the one hand”
and “on the other”: “teachers can ill afford to _________ indisputably
disruptive behaviors,” but too much strictness can actually promote
disruptions. So blank (ii) must be something like “tolerate,” as being tolerant
would contradict being “overly strict,” and blank (i) needs a word that
indicates a contradiction. Starting with blank (i), “entreaty” means a request,
and so doesn’t fit this phrase at all. The “necessity of taking disciplinary
action” sounds good in general, but the word “necessity” does not convey the
idea of a contradiction. Instead, “paradox,” which means a seemingly self-
contradictory situation, is the choice that best communicates the nature of the
situation. Moving to blank (ii), “fabricate” means to make up, and “mitigate”
means to lessen the impact of something; neither fits the idea of “tolerate.”
Here “brook,” which means to tolerate or condone, is the best fit.
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