A number of writers who once greatly ……. the literary critic have recently recanted, substituting …… for their former criticism.
(A) Lauded. .censure (B) influence. .analysis © simulated. .ambivalence (D) disparaged. .approbation (E) honored. .adulation
I think the answer is (A). Am I correct?
No, they are substituting something for criticism, so the something must be the opposite of criticism. Censure is very similar to criticism. Analysis does not really make sense, so B is incorrect. Simulated does not make sense for the first blank so C is incorrect. Bothe D and E would work for the second blank. For the first blank, it says “recanted”, so the first blank must match their “former criticism”. Honored is the opposite of criticism, so the answer must be D, since disparaged is similar to criticism and approbation is the opposite.
I am delighted by your explanation. I am very satisfied. Many many thanks!