16Hit1600
Craft and StructureVery hardWord for reducing tension

Craft and Structure practice question

The mayor's decision to attend the protest in person, and to listen rather than speak, did much to ____ a confrontation that had seemed inevitable.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

  1. A. defuseCorrect
  2. B. provoke
  3. C. publicise
  4. D. prolong

Answer: A. defuse

Listening in person headed off a confrontation: defused it.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. provoke
Provoking would bring the confrontation on.
C. publicise
Publicising is not what the sentence describes.
D. prolong
Prolonging would keep it going.

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