He would ------ no argument, and to this end he enjoined us to ------.
Show Hint
- brook... silence
- acknowledge... neglect
- broach... abstinence
- fathom... secrecy
- tolerate... defiance
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The sentence describes a person's attitude towards argument and a corresponding command he gave. The phrase "to this end" indicates that the second action (what he "enjoined" or ordered) is a means to achieve the first condition.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The first part, "He would ------ no argument," suggests he would not tolerate or allow any argument. The second part, "he enjoined us to ------," must be a command that would prevent arguments from happening.
- (A) brook... silence: To "brook" means to tolerate or allow (often used in the negative, e.g., "brook no interference"). So, "he would brook no argument" means he would not tolerate any argument. To achieve this, he ordered us to maintain "silence." This is a perfect logical fit.
- (B) acknowledge... neglect: Acknowledging no argument and then ordering neglect is illogical.
- (C) broach... abstinence: To "broach" an argument is to raise it for discussion, which is the opposite of the intended meaning.
- (D) fathom... secrecy: To "fathom" an argument is to understand it. This doesn't fit the context of forbidding it. Ordering secrecy might prevent arguments, but the first word is incorrect.
- (E) tolerate... defiance: "He would tolerate no argument" is plausible, but ordering "defiance" would cause arguments, not prevent them.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The sentence correctly reads that he would "brook" (tolerate) no argument, and to achieve this, he commanded "silence."
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