Instances of reticence in the ancient chronicler's recording of calamitous events may simply be an indication of _______ to appear critical of the pharaoh handling of such ________ situations.
A) predisposition...stressful
B) refusal promising
C) tendency...catastrophic
D) reluctance...adverse
E) aversion...trivial

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Calamitous events cannot be described as promising or trivial situations. So, B and E can straightway be ruled out on consideration of the choices for the second missing word. A chronicler (meaning palace historian) would not have a predisposition or a tendency to appear critical of the pharaoh's (meaning the Egyptian ruler's) actions, because he would not then have been retained as the palace historian. His reluctance to criticize the king is understandable, because pharaohs were dictators, and would not easily tolerate criticism. So, D is the answer.

Instances of Reticence in the Ancient Chronicler's Recording of Calamitous