Hi Team,
In the below question, I used Math Strategy following way.
- “Unfortunately” and “by” are two connecting words. But as Negative overpower Positive, Hence Two Ideas should contrast each other.
- Idea 1: his damaging attacks on the ramifications of the economic policy have been --------
Idea 2: his wholehearted acceptance of that policy’s underlying assumptions. (Positive)
- So Idea 1 should be Negative, as damaging attacks is already Negative, hence blank should be Positive.
- Only E is Positive, So I chose E.
But answer is something else.
- Where did my logic go wrong?
- Is contrast already existing? and it’s not related to blank?
- If we remove “Unfortunately”, would the answer change? Does “Unfortunately” has any role at all in the sentence?
Please help.
Thank you
- There seems to be no problem with your logic. The two sentences are contrasting.
- The contrast is related to the blank.
- “Unfortunately” does have a role to play. It tells you that a person intended one thing, but another happened instead.
In this case, the person intended to criticize the economic policy. However, due to his wholeheartedly accepting the underlying principles of the policy, his main objective was not achieved.
So, going back to your strategy. Yes, it does have to be a negative thing in the first sentence. However, for the person, a damaging attack is what he wants so that would not be considered a negative; in fact, it would be considered a positive. It is his verbal attack weakening that makes the first a negative, since it goes against his objective.
I hope that made sense.
