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

Hint:

The second blank needs a word meaning almost, in effect, not literally.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Read the full sentence as one idea: a man breaking ethical rules so badly that he acts almost like a beast.

1. flaunted - literally: "Flaunted" means to show off, not to break a rule, so this does not match breaking ethical conduct at all.
2. ignored - basically: "Ignored" is too soft for someone acting like a beast, and "basically" feels casual and out of place in this formal sentence.
3. broken - as: "Broken" could work loosely, but "is as a beast" is not correct English; you cannot say "is as" before a noun like this.
4. flouted - virtually: "Flouted" fits a deliberate, open breaking of rules, and "virtually" fits the sense of "almost, in effect," describing his beastly behavior without saying he is literally one.

Option D is the only pair that is both meaningfully and grammatically correct.

Let's summarize:

• Flouted means openly disregarding a rule.
• Virtually means almost, in effect, not literally.

Whenever two blanks appear together, test the full sentence, not just single words in isolation.