The English novelist William

The English novelist William Thackeray considered
the cult of the criminal so dangerous that he criticized Dickens’ Oliver Twist for making the characters in the thieves’ kitchen so -------.
(A) threatening
(B) riveting
© conniving
(D) fearsome
(E) irritating

I’m thinking of this sentence by using a support contrast strategy.
So, that ( a clue that the first part support the second ). So, because he considers it dangerous, he must criricize him because it is dangeruos. I thought the answer is A but it is B. May someone explains please by mentioning the thought process.

He criticizes Dickens for making the criminals in his novels attractive (cult). So, you have to look for something bad that makes sense for William to criticize (additionally, it basically has to match the first part, namely that the criminals are portrayed positively). Thus, riveting is the only congruous fit. “threatening” does not make sense, because, if Dickens had portrayed the thieves in such a manner, William would rather have approved than criticized such a portrayal.

the meaning of cult is a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object. So, how did you know that it means attractive ?

Usually, cult leaders are charming and they tend to be persuasive…in other words, attractive or appealing. Thackeray considered the criminals very dangerous because he thought they could captivate people.

I googled the meaning of cult, which means a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.
from where you are using attractive as a meaning ?

hmm I think it is common knowledge. But if you’re not convinced, you can check out the second definition

I’m not sure why I am getting one definition, any idea ?

check below pls.

Ah Google translate isn’t the best tool to use for definitions, unfortunately. Google dictionary is though… since it provides all the options and other related GRE words

You don’t even need to look at cult.
Just look at “dangerous” [negative] -> you want contrast -> Answer must be “riveting,” because it’s the only [positive] word here.

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