Question

Being a bit hesitant about _________ the man as a complete fraud, I decided to attack the weaker points of his theory, _________ them one by one.

• A. denouncing – debunking
• B. ridiculing – proving
• C. castigating – strengthening
• D. mocking – destroying

Hint:

When choosing pair words, ensure both blanks match tone and logical flow of the sentence.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the sentence meaning.
The speaker is hesitant to openly call the man a fraud, so instead they decide to attack the weaker parts of his theory. This suggests the second blank must mean “exposing errors.”
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) denouncing – debunking: Denouncing means publicly accusing, and debunking means exposing falsehoods. This fits logically.
(B) ridiculing – proving: Proving does not fit the idea of attacking weak points.
(C) castigating – strengthening: Strengthening is opposite of the required meaning.
(D) mocking – destroying: Destroying is too extreme and does not fit the tone.
Step 3: Conclusion.
(A) correctly expresses hesitation to accuse directly and then exposing the flaws step by step.