For the first blank of this question, I tried to apply math strategy because of the word “hardly”. To the right, it says that the story is paradigm which implies that it is a typical example or model, so I thought that since it is a model then the opposite has to be normal. So, I selected normative which means relating to a norm. But the answer is debase. Can someone say how it is possible?
As per my point of view, you’re applying math strategy correctly its that paradigm is like what is standard and normative too means standard and applying to norm
Ideally they both are synonyms. As per options, there’s no as such antonym is present other than debased
Only focusing on blank 1, here’s my thought process:
The use of math strategy was correct ofc, because the semi-colon. However, the trick is in the word hardly. They essentially negated the blank, so instead of a positive, its negative-negative. For example: instead of saying This pizza is good, they’re saying This pizza is not bad.
Coming back to the sentence. The phrase “almost paradigm of the form” is a reference to the “haunted genre”, thus the idea here is that the The ghost story is an archetype of the haunted genre.
First blank would obviously be support, and remember we need a negative word in the blank, not positive, because of the word hardly. Thus, through POE, normative and meticulous would be eliminated. If you want to go further and justify debased, here’s how you can think. Debase means to reduce in quality. So hardly debased would mean its almost the same quality, in this case almost the same form and no change. Which would also mean, the archetypical/quintessential form.
Hope this helps.
It sure does help. So the first blank has a negative connotation, hence it is debase.
Got it, thanks!