Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable option:
A great literary or artistic work is known as a ________
A)pot-pourri
B)par excellence
C)bete noire
D)peccadillo
E)magnum opus

Answer 1

Hint: Since we are required to name quality to fill the blank, the word must be a noun.

Complete step-by-step answer:

From the hint given to us, we know that the word must be a noun as we are required to name a quality. Hence, the noun we shall be using must mean great literary work or artistic work.
Potpourri means a mixture of things. It is a noun. However, we observe that it does not fit the context of the sentence, as it is not suitable for representing a great literary work or artistic work. Hence, option A is not the correct answer.
Par excellence means better than the majority. It is an adjective. It is a noun. However, we observe that it does not fit the context of the sentence, as it is not suitable for representing a great literary work or artistic work. Moreover, it is an adjective and not a noun. Hence, option B is not the correct answer.
Bete noire means something that one really dislikes or resents. It is a noun. However, we observe that it does not fit the context of the sentence, as it is not suitable for representing a great literary work or artistic work. Hence, option C is not the correct answer.
Peccadillo means a comparatively smaller mistake or fault. It is a noun. However, we observe that it does not fit the context of the sentence, as it is not suitable for representing a great literary work or artistic work. Hence, option D is not the correct answer.
Magnum opus means a work of art, music, or literature that is highly regarded and is considered to be the best work produced by the artist, composer, or writer. It is a noun. We observe that it fits the context of the sentence, as it is suitable for representing a great literary work or artistic work. Hence, the option E is the correct answer.

Note: Magnum opus is also written as opus magnum. Opus Magnus is derived from Latin where it means a great work produced by an artist, composer, or writer.