active cultural life v.s. middle-class consumerism

Question

Although in eighteenth-century England an active cultural life accompanied the beginnings of middle-class consumerism, the---~~of literacy was~~--with the rise of such consumerism in the different areas of the country.
A. repudiation.. reconciled
B. renewal.. inconsistent
C. promotion.. combined
D. spread.. compatible
E. degree.. uncorrelated

From "although" and "accompanied", I know only "B. inconsistent" and "E. uncorrelated" fit the second the blank. But how can I tell which one fit the first blank, "renewal" or "degree"?

Thank you so much.

Jeff_999 · Accepted Answer

Oops!

Help me, help me.

Julielai · Answer

Hi Jeff,

The renewal of literacy sounds a tad odd, so I ruled that one out. Which leaves me with one answer...

Jeff_999 · Answer

Any more detailed explanation, Julie?

Julielai · Answer

I was bouncing between B and E, and I ruled "renewal of literacy" out because it didn't make sense to me. Besides, the first part of the sentence hints at a relationship, which the second part disproves. Hence "uncorrelated".

So I guess it's E.

Jeff_999 · Answer

I just don't understant why it's thedegree of literacy (It seems not to be implied in "an active cultural life".) Maybe middle-class consumerism was just rising, and literacy was already rooted in countries.

Julielai · Answer

Some people are highly literate; some are less literate. So we talk about degrees of literacy -- how lliterate are we? Very literate? Not very? Somewhere in between?

Hope that helps.

active cultural life v.s. middle-class consumerism

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