Directions: For the given question, select one entry for the blank from the given choices, to best complete the text.

For as long as the culture of business has been an integral part of American life, it has also been frowned upon by important sectors of our society. Among our intellectuals especially, the business world has been the subject of many __________, portraying corporations large and small, and the people who run them, as heartless, soulless agents of greed. Not to be left behind, the Church has called them (the corporations) the agents of devil.

(1) Correct; because businesses have been frowned upon, portrayed as heartless, soulless, and as the agents of the devil, a strongly worded phrase was needed. (2) Incorrect; because the businesses have been portrayed as being heartless, soulless, and as agents of the devil, a strongly worded option that sums up these derogatory references is needed.  (3) Incorrect; debate would stem from disagreement. Here, there is complete consensus about the character of businesses. (4) Incorrect; though close, it is not critical enough as is required by the overall sharply derisive tone of the passage. (5) Incorrect; though close, it is not critical enough as is required by the overall sharply derisive tone of the passage.