While the delegate clearly sought to _____ the optimism that has emerged recently, she stopped short of suggesting that the conference was near collapse and might produce nothing of significance.
can someone explain this question, I’m trying not to go by ear, but I still need to understand the statement atleast a little, I dont understand the second half of this statement at all. Is she saying that to ______ the optimism she is short of suggesting that the conference is near collapse/produce nothing of consequence?
If that is the case, then how are we categorising the second idea as good or bad…can someone point out the phrase that suggests negative or positive.