Question

The man has ______ the rules of ethical conduct; he is _______ a beast.

• A. flaunted - literally
• B. ignored - basically
• C. broken - as
• D. flouted - virtually

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The sentence completion problem requires selecting the correct words to fill the blanks such that the resulting sentence is semantically coherent and logical. The sentence to analyze is: "The man has ______ the rules of ethical conduct; he is _______ a beast." Let's approach the solution step-by-step:

1. The first blank needs a verb that describes what the man has done to the "rules of ethical conduct." The options are: flaunted, ignored, broken, flouted.
2. Flaunted means to display something ostentatiously, which doesn't fit the context of violating rules. Ignored could imply neglect but isn't as strong as a direct violation. Broken could work but lacks natural conjunction with the second part of the sentence. Flouted means to openly disregard a rule, which fits the notion of unethical conduct, making it a strong candidate.
3. For the second blank, the phrase should convey the idea of behaving like a beast. The options are: literally, basically, as, virtually.
4. Literally means in a literal sense, which is unlikely since being a beast can't be literal. Basically conveys a fundamental level, but doesn't enhance the metaphor. As typically introduces a simile, yet "as a beast" isn't idiomatic here. Virtually denotes almost or practically, suggesting the man behaves similarly to a beast without literal transformation.

By analyzing the word meanings and sentence flow, the best choice is "flouted - virtually," forming the sentence: "The man has flouted the rules of ethical conduct; he is virtually a beast."