Multiple choice

Directions: Select the two answer choices that, when used to complete the sentence, fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole and produce completed sentences that are alike in meaning.

From the moment Kael began as a film critic at The New Yorker, at the start of 1968, she presided over the movies in the manner of Béla Károlyi watching a gymnast on the balance beam-shouting directives, ________ every flub, and cheering uncontrollably when a filmmaker stuck his landing.

  1. The second sentence provides additional evidence for the premise mentioned in the first sentence.

  2. The first sentence is a conclusion while the second supports the given conclusion.

  3. The first sentence elucidates the original tenets of the Knights of Columbus and the second sentence highlights how they have been corrupted.

  4. The first sentence highlights the values of the Order, and the second sentence points towards the successful perpetuation of the same.

  5. The first sentence provides additional evidence for the conclusion drawn in the second paragraph.
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A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) Correct; the sentence talks of Kael as a film critic, and how she presided over movies. An analogy with a gymnastic coach is made, and 'excoriating' correctly conveys how a coach would react to a flub (mistake). (2) Incorrect; humoring would mean tolerating good naturedly. However, since Kael is a film critic, it would be in the nature of her job to criticize bad movies. (3) Incorrect; the option is idiomatically incorrect. Also, jesting about flubs would go against the responsibility of a film critic. (4) Incorrect; the analogy with the gymnastic coach talks of three reactions; directing, applauding, and reacting to a flub. It would be hard to improve one's wards by ignoring their mistakes. (5) Correct; the sentence talks of Kael as a film critic, and how she presided over movies. An analogy with a gymnastic coach is made, and 'berating' correctly conveys how a coach would react to a flub (mistake). (6) Incorrect; the analogy with the gymnastic coach talks of three reactions; directing, applauding, and reacting to a flub. It would be hard to improve one's wards by overlooking their mistakes.

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