Multiple choice

Find the appropriate word and fill blank (ii).

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

In the first place, I wish to state my _____(i)_______ belief that poetry should not try to teach, that it should exist simply because it is a created beauty. We do not ask the trees to teach us moral lessons. We know that these texts are ______(ii)_______, but many of us do not yet see that to write an obvious moral all over a work of art, picture, statue, or poem, is not only ridiculous, but ______(iii)______ and offensive.  We distrust a beauty we only half understand, and rush in with our ______(iv)______ suggestions.

  1. considerate

  2. awesome

  3. ridiculous

  4. obvious
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

"Ridiculous" is correct because the sentence is repeating the idea from earlier: the author has stated that "to write an obvious moral all over a work of art... is not only ridiculous, but ______ and offensive." The parallel structure suggests the same idea is being restated, and we already know these texts are ridiculous. This creates consistency in the passage's argument about the inappropriateness of forcing moral lessons onto art.

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