Carcass wrote:
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
Practice Questions
Question: 18
Page: 159
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
_________________
Brent Hanneson - founder of Greenlight Test Prep
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