GRE® Verbal Practice | Text Completion Q10

This GRE text completion practice question focuses on how free press is treated in authoritarian rule. Is it free or is it under constant vigil? Try the question without looking at the answer explanation. If you face difficulty in arriving at the correct answer, take help from the detailed explanation provided below.

Question 10: In an authoritarian dictatorship where free press is suppressed, even the slightest sign of _______ can be interpreted as __________ .

S No.	Blank 1	S No.	Blank 2
A	revolution	D	defiance
B	dissent	E	obedience
C	conformity	F	sedition

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Explanatory Answer

Meanings for the words given in this question are provided in the table. Before going through the detailed explanation, check whether you are able to arrive at the answer after knowing meanings for the words.

S No.	Word	Meaning
A	Revolution	A drastic change
B	Dissent	Expressing disapproval, especially against authority
C	Conformity	Compliance, or submission
D	Defiance	Disobedience or disregard
E	Obedience	Following orders with respect
F	Sedition	Insubordination, or treason

Let us simplify the second part of the sentence to understand how it is structured - Even the slightest sign of A can be interpreted as B. This means that B is a more drastic and exaggerated version of A. A, by itself is not too bad, but it is exaggerated and interpreted as B, and thus made out to be much worse.

B has to be an exaggerated version of A. The only combination that makes sense is B and F. Even the slightest sign of dissent is interpreted as sedition.

The combination C-E does not make sense because the sentence talks about negative ideas such as suppression of free press by an authoritarian government.

Choices B & F are the correct answers.