Sentence completion plz help!!

Question

1. People of intelligence and achievement can nonetheless be so -- and lacking in -- that they gamble their reputations by breaking the law to further their own ends. (A) devious...propensity (B) culpable...prosperity (C) obsequious...deference (D) truculent... independence I don't understand the structure with "nonetheless" (=however)" in the middle of the sentence like the obove. Can you pleaze explain the meaning of the sentence and does "nonetheless" mean "however"?

2A number of scientists have published articles -- global warming, stating -- that there is no solid scientific evidence to support the theory that the Earth is warming because of increases in greenhouse gases. (A) debunking...categorically (B) rejecting...paradoxically (C) deploring...optimistically (D) dismissing...hesitantly (E) proving...candidly

Thanks

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]1. People of intelligence and achievement can nonetheless be so -- and lacking in -- that they gamble their reputations ... does "nonetheless" mean "however"? There was obviously anotehr sentence beforehand taht was being contrasted with this statement. Otherwise it's unnecessary.[/nq]
Personally I can't understand the sentence with any of the alternatives on offer - and I'm a native speaker and an English teacher - what kind of crazy examples are they using in this test?
[nq:1]2A number of scientists have published articles -- global warming, stating -- that there is no solid scientific evidence to ... rejecting...paradoxically (C) deploring...optimistically (D) dismissing...hesitantly (E) proving...candidly Have you already doine this test? Which answer do you think is correct?[/nq]
Regardcs, Einde

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]1. People of intelligence and achievement can nonetheless be so -- and lacking in -- that they gamble their reputations ... of the sentence like the obove. Can you pleaze explain the meaning of the sentence and does "nonetheless" mean "however"?[/nq]
It means something like "even so": "Even if they are intelligent and high achievers, people can be..." Is the correct answer (E)?
[nq:1]2. A number of scientists have published articles -- global warming, stating -- that there is no solid scientific evidence to support the theory that the Earth is warming because of increases in greenhouse gases. (A) debunking...categorically (B) rejecting...paradoxically (C) deploring...optimistically (D) dismissing...hesitantly (E) proving...candidly[/nq]
(A)

Adrian

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]1. People of intelligence and achievement can nonetheless be so ... the meaning of the sentence and does "nonetheless" mean "however"?[/nq]
[nq:1]There was obviously anotehr sentence beforehand taht was being contrasted with this statement. Otherwise it's unnecessary. Personally I can't understand ... I'm a native speaker and an English teacher - what kind of crazy examples are they using in this test?[/nq]
This is a real question from a Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). This is a kind of standard tests for post graduate students (including native English and non native English speakers) so I think it is very complicated and tricky. I am not a native speaker so I face lots of difficulties with these types of questions.
[nq:2]2A number of scientists have published articles -- global warming, ... (A) debunking...categorically (B) rejecting...paradoxically (C) deploring...optimistically (D) dismissing...hesitantly (E) proving...candidly[/nq]
[nq:1]Have you already doine this test? Which answer do you think is correct? Regardcs, Einde[/nq]
I infer that that group of scientiests don't believe in global warning so they will renounce the theory. But I am not sure if "debunking" fits this context. I think "to debunk" is to degrade or expose some crimes to public.

Please give me more explanation since I am not a native speaker so I don't understand profoundly the meaning of these words./

Thanks

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]1. People of intelligence and achievement can nonetheless be so -- and lacking in -- that they gamble their reputations ... of the sentence like the obove. Can you pleaze explain the meaning of the sentence and does "nonetheless" mean "however"?[/nq]
Though I'm a native speaker, this question doesn't make any obvious sense. Since this is the GRE, however, the test of it may be to pick the only word-pair that don't imply a contradiction.

In picking answer D, you are accusing these people both of truculence (being disposed to violence) AND of lacking independence. That sort implies a contradiction - being truculent AND dependent.

In picking answer C, you are accusing these people both of being obsequious (servile) AND of lacking deference. That's an outright contradiction.

In picking answer A, you are accusing these people both of being devious (dishonest) AND perhaps of lacking the propensity (inclination) to be devious.

I'd personally pick B, since this answer says these people are so culpable (already guilty of some misdeed) and lacking in prosperity (means or money) that they would break the law to further their own ends.
[nq:1]2A number of scientists have published articles -- global warming, stating -- that there is no solid scientific evidence to support the theory that the Earth is warming because of increases in greenhouse gases. (A) debunking...categorically (B) rejecting...paradoxically (C) deploring...optimistically (D) dismissing...hesitantly (E) proving...candidly Thanks[/nq]
I'm positive here that the answer is A.

To debunk usually means to disprove. Categorically in this sense means "without exception".

A number of scientists have published articles DEBUNKING (disproving) global warming, stating CATEGORICALLY (emphatically, and without exception) that there is no solid scientific evidence to support the theory that the Earth is warming because of increases in greenhouse gases.

E would be a contradiction: The sentence would read that scientists have proven global warming, only to candidly state that there is no scientific evidence for it.

D wouldn't make much sense, either: In it, scientists dismiss the idea of global warming (as being untrue) but only hesitantly claim that there is no solid scientific evidence to support the existence of global warming.

C doesn't make any sense at all: In this sentence, scientists deplore (speak against and despise) global warming, then optimistically deny its existence.

The same is true of B, which implies a contradiction: Scientists REJECT the idea of global warming, only to PARADOXICALLY (implying contradiction against their original point) reject evidence for global warming.

Usenet · Answer

Oops!

What I meant to say in my last post was that "Though I'm a native speaker, this question doesn't make any obvious sense. Since this is the GRE, however, the test of it may be to pick the only word-pair that DOESN'T imply a contradiction."

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2] There was obviously anotehr sentence beforehand taht was being ... kind of crazy examples are they using in this test?[/nq]
[nq:1]This is a real question from a Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). This is a kind of standard tests for post ... complicated and tricky. I am not a native speaker so I face lots of difficulties with these types of questions.[/nq]
[nq:2]Have you already doine this test? Which answer do you think is correct? Regardcs, Einde[/nq]
[nq:1]I infer that that group of scientiests don't believe in global warning so they will renounce the theory. But I am not sure if "debunking" fits this context. I think "to debunk" is to degrade or expose some crimes to public.[/nq]
To debunk something a theory is to say that it is a load of rubbish.
[nq:1]Please give me more explanation since I am not a native speaker so I don't understand profoundly the meaning of ... be a negative one and the second one has to be emphatic. A is the only one fitting this pattern.[/nq]
Regarding the first question, I've now come to the conclusion after much thought and a bit of prompting from Adrian Bailey that E is the correct answer.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

Usenet · Answer

Thank you very much. Your explanations are very helpful
[nq:2]1. People of intelligence and achievement can nonetheless be so ... the meaning of the sentence and does "nonetheless" mean "however"?[/nq]
[nq:1]Though I'm a native speaker, this question doesn't make any obvious sense. Since this is the GRE, however, the test ... some misdeed) and lacking in prosperity (means or money) that they would break the law to further their own ends.[/nq]
[nq:2]2A number of scientists have published articles -- global warming, ... debunking...categorically (B) rejecting...paradoxically (C) deploring...optimistically (D) dismissing...hesitantly (E) proving...candidly Thanks[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm positive here that the answer is A. To debunk usually means to disprove. Categorically in this sense means "without ... REJECT the idea of global warming, only to PARADOXICALLY (implying contradiction against their original point) reject evidence for global warming.[/nq]

Usenet · Answer

Liu Ju wrote:
[nq:1] in messagenews:...[/nq]
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan == I checked my dictionary, and you must use "propensity" here in its obsolete form. The only clue a tester would really have is that, in the other alternatives, the first term will not fit into the slot.

I'm not exactly sure what these tests prove.

The answer is A.

Michael

Sentence completion plz help!!

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