Despite relying on the well-to-do for commissions, the portrait painter was no________: he depicted the character of those he painted as he perceived it.

A) hypocrite

B) egotist

C) sycophant

D) adulator

E) braggart

F) coward




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There are several pieces of contextual information in this sentence.

First there's the word DESPITE, which suggests there will be some kind of opposite action later on in the sentense.
Next, WELL-TO-DO provides some possible context.

And, finally, there's some useful information AFTER the blank: he depicted the character of those he painted as he perceived it.
This last part begs the question "How else might the painter depict his well-to-do (wealthy) subjects?"
Well, some painters (in their quest to make enough money to eat ) might paint overly flattering depictions of their clients.

So, the word DESPITE suggests that, even though it might be in the painter's best interest to paint flattering portraits of his clients, he does NOT do this.

We have: the portrait painter was no________
What word(s) might fit here?
How about FLATTERER or perhaps TOADY

Check the answer choices....
The best fit are C and D

Cheers,
Brent
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Brent Hanneson – Creator of greenlighttestprep.com

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a slight hint from me as an amateur- focus on these words "despite ... commissions, ... no _____" --> for which they derive with such an interpretation that "though they can get more money from commission, they are not X"