Multiple choice

Directions: For the following question, choose the option that fills up the blanks most correctly.

Let us remember that _________ is a very dangerous thing, permitting us to do by degrees that which we would _________ doing all at once.

  1. imperceptible, balk at

  2. gradualism, shrink from

  3. identification, profit from

  4. fanaticism, prefer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The first missing word has been elaborated in the second part of the sentence as 'permitting us to do by degree'. Among the choices imperceptible, gradualism, identification, and fanaticism for this word, it is 'imperceptible' and 'gradualism', which has a nexus to do something by degrees. 'Balk at' refers to irritate or to frustate, which gives no sense to the sentence whereas 'gradualism' with 'shrink from' (meaning avoid completely) completes a meaningful sentence, confirming the correctness of this choice. Hence, (2) is the answer.

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