The novelist was known for her _________ prose, which, though admired by literary critics, often left casual readers confused and disengaged.
Show Hint
- Pellucid
- Turgid
- Perspicuous
- Convoluted
- Inscrutable
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The sentence sets up a contrast between how literary critics and casual readers react to the novelist's prose. Critics admired it, but casual readers were "confused and disengaged." This implies the prose was complex, dense, or difficult to follow. We need two words that describe this quality.
Step 2: Analyzing the Options
(A) Pellucid: Means transparently clear or easy to understand. This is an antonym.
(B) Turgid: Means pompous, boring, and overly formal. While this might confuse readers, it's more about style than complexity.
(C) Perspicuous: Means clearly expressed and easily understood. This is another antonym.
(D) Convoluted: Means extremely complex and difficult to follow. This is a perfect fit for describing prose that confuses readers.
(E) Inscrutable: Means impossible to understand or interpret. This also fits the context very well, describing the effect on the readers.
(F) Coherent: Means logical and consistent. This is the opposite of what would cause confusion.
Step 3: Selecting the Best Pair
"Convoluted" and "Inscrutable" are the best pair. "Convoluted" describes the structure of the prose (complex sentences, winding plots), while "Inscrutable" describes the reader's experience of it (impossible to understand). Together, they paint a complete picture of why casual readers were left confused.
Step 4: Final Answer
The words "Convoluted" and "Inscrutable" both effectively describe a writing style that, while potentially complex and interesting to a critic, is difficult for the average reader to understand, leading to confusion.
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