The most striking thing about the politician is how often his politics have been (i)__________ rather than ideological, as he adapts his political positions at any particular moment to the political realities that constrain him. He does not, however, piously (ii)__________ political principles only to betray them in practice. Rather, he attempts in subtle ways to balance his political self-interest with a (iii) __________, viewing himself as an instrument of some unchanging higher purpose.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
|---|---|---|
| A. quixotic | D. brandish | G. profound cynicism |
| B. self-righteous | E. flout | H. deeply felt moral code |
| C. strategic | F. follow | I. thoroughgoing pragmatism |
Why doesn’t flout works in the second blank?