Question

Fill in the blanks with the right choice of words:
We appreciated his ______ summary of the situation; he wasted no words yet delineated his positive most _____.
a) comprehensive : inadequately
b) succinct : direfully
c) cogent : persuasively
d) verbose : concisely
e) grandiloquent : eloquently

Answer 1

Hint: Depending on what comes before and after the blank, the blank will be filled with an adjective or adverb that further illustrates what the sentence is trying to say.

Complete answer:
An adjective is a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it. Its semantic role is to change the information given by the noun. In short, it lends description to the noun. They are of various types such as demonstrative, possessive, qualitative, quantitative, etc. The first blank needs to be filled with an adjective. The second blank needs to be filled with an adverb.
In the given sentence, the first part tells us that the person was very direct in his speaking and he did not beat around the bush. And with this, he managed to convince people.

Now, we know what we are looking for. Let’s look at the given options-
a) comprehensive : inadequately - The word ‘comprehensively’ refers to ‘in a way that includes or deals with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something’ and the word ‘inadequately’ refers to ‘in a way that lacks the quality or quantity required; unsatisfactorily’. These words do not fit into the context of the given sentence. These are not the required answers. So, this is an incorrect option.
b) succinct : direfully - The word ‘succinct’ refers to ‘(especially of something written or spoken) briefly and clearly expressed' and the word ‘direfully’ refers to ‘foreshadowing evil or disaster; ominous’. These words do not fit into the context of the given sentence. These are not the required answers. So, this is an incorrect option.
c) cogent : persuasively - The word ‘cogent’ refers to ‘(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing’ and the word ‘persuasively’ refers to ‘in a persuasive or convincing manner'. These words fit perfectly into the context of the given sentence. These are the required answers. So, this is the correct option.
d) verbose : concisely - The word ‘verbose’ refers to ‘using or expressed in more words than are needed' and the word ‘concisely’ refers to ‘in a way that is brief but comprehensive'. These words do not fit into the context of the given sentence. These are not the required answers. So, this is an incorrect option.
e) grandiloquent : eloquently - The word ‘grandiloquent’ refers to ‘pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress’ and the word ‘eloquently’ refers to ‘in a fluent or persuasive manner’. These words do not fit into the context of the given sentence. These are not the required answers. So, this is an incorrect option.

Note:
Use the method of trial and error in order to find out which option fits best. Make sure that the part of speech is fitting for the sentence, and retains the meaning of the sentence.