Explanation

The first part of the sentence suggests that the answer to Blank (i) names a quality that someone who chose to remain in his hometown might tend to have; in addition, the second part of the sentence suggests that this quality has to do with that person’sattitude toward the wider world. The answer choice for Blank (i) that best fits these conditions is “provincial,” so it is correct. Someone who is the opposite of provincial is interested in what is happening outside of his or her narrow domain, so the correct answer choice for Blank (ii) is “kept abreast of.” “Obstinate” may seem a plausible choice for Blank (i), as those who fit the “provincial” stereotype often not only are uninterested in other people’s opinions but also actively resist any pressure to change. However, “obstinate” by itself does not imply any particular attitude toward the world beyond one’s immediate environment, as one can be interested in other people’s opinions while at the same time clinging firmly to one’s own. Thus the correct answer is provincial (Choice A) and kept abreast of (Choice F).
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Way to memorize this: Keeping abreast of the Kardashians.

"to make light of" something is to trivialize something, bring down its seriousness.