Blue book, test 4, pg 588, Ques 5

<p>Sentence Completion:
Opponents of the research institute label it----- anachronism; its scholars, they allege, have ------ rivaling those of pre-Revolutionary French nobility.</p>

<p>A. an elitist... perquisites
B. a monarchical... tribulations
C. an irreproachable... luxuries
D. a reprehensible... afflictions
E. a commendable... priviledges</p>

<p>The answer is A, but I haven't a clue why.</p>

<p>Can someone explian to me the LOGIC (i konw all the vocab) of this sentence?</p>

<p>Choice (A) is correct. "Elitist" means favoring a small, high-status group, and "perquisites" are privileges. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "Opponents of the research institute label it an elitist anachronism; its scholars, they allege, have perquisites rivaling those of pre-Revolutionary French nobility." A research institute that provides perquisites, or privileges, that are so excessive that they rival those of pre-Revolutionary French nobility can appropriately be called elitist, or favoring a small, high-status group.</p>

<p>Collegeboard explanation</p>

<p>First off, one must look at the key words given in the sentence. Opponents and scholars are these words. </p>

<p>Opponents wouldn't say something nice about the institute now would they?
So we take out the choices whose first word is used in a positive way. That takes out C for irreproachable and D for commendable. </p>

<p>Scholars arn't going to say something bad about the institute either. So that gets rid of B for tribulations and D for afflictions.</p>

<p>Therefore, the only choice left is A. </p>

<p>Process of elimination works most of the time.</p>

<p>I didn't know what perquisites meant, but I knew all the other words in the choices, so I was able to eliminate everything but A.</p>