Doubt in one question in TC and SE Session 9

GRE Verbal Problem Solving
1

Hello @gregmat

Hope you are doing well

I had a doubt regarding one question in TC and SE session 9. Have attached the screenshot below

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Now when I did this I came up with the blanks being flexible and that the two blanks will be synonyms of each other but when the blanks are shown we don’t have see anything being close to flexible. So in that case can we atleast keep the idea that they will be synonyms of each other and solve it?

Also, you explain that we can’t use Math strategy on the same person. e.g Greg is happy but he is sad. But in the question we have two sets of groups talking about each others perspectives one from the outsiders and one from insiders.

2

I used math strategy and some external context.

Rigidity = no change
Flexible = open to change

Being open to change doesn’t match with A and B but it works with C. Think of it as someone who anticipates change/trendsetter etc. For the second blank just use previously referenced.

3

“While many outside the company attributed the company’s success to its president’s(i) _____ , insiders realized that this success owed more to the president’s inflexibility than to any (ii) _____ that the president might be supposed to have displayed.”

The Contrast between A and B

A. outside the company: Indicates the perspective of those who aren’t closely affiliated with the company’s operations. They are likely to perceive things differently and more positively due to the word success.
B. insiders realized: Points towards a contrast between the outsiders’ belief and the insiders’ knowledge. This implies that the insiders see things differently and may be aware of less apparent factors influencing the success.

Additional Imp. Clues

  1. more: Sets up a comparison between two factors, one of which is the president’s inflexibility.
  2. inflexibility: This is crucial because it gives us a direct quality to contrast with. The choice for the second blank should differ from “inflexibility” and align more with the outsiders’ positive perception.
  3. supposed to have displayed: This phrase means that outsiders believe the president has shown this quality, even if insiders think differently. It suggests that the second blank should be a commendable quality or trait

Now, from the question all i get it blank i should be some positive trait( if flexible was an ans choice then it would have been pretty straight forward) and all the choices given for blank i are positive trait ;

What is really imp. here is blank ii; how many synonyms pair can you see for this question ? And what additional info. knowing blank ii might be same idea as blank i provide is that blank ii is also a positive trait:

  • “obduracy” is synonymous with inflexibility, so it’s redundant.
  • “caprice” indicates whimsicality or unpredictability, which isn’t exactly a commendable trait tied to success.
  • “foresight” implies the ability to predict what will be necessary in the future, a trait that outsiders could perceive as beneficial for the company’s success.
4

So if flexible isn’t there. I can still stick with the idea that the blanks are going to be synonyms.