Sentence: A(n) ... attitude at a critical time such as this is not justified.

[Ilovepsycho]

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1. John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on _______ rather than on ability.

a. chance
b. seniority
c. nepotism
d. superciliousness
e. maturation

I think the answer might be B, but someone insist on C.
I am wondering whether to be correct, and the reason why that's the answer.

2. A(n) ________ attitude at a critical time such as this is not justified by the somber news reaching us from the war front.

a. sanguine
b. pessimistic
c. salubrious
d. arbitrary
e. sordid

[Milanya]

1. There is not enough context. This question is quite ambiguous.
If John has been with the company since time immemorial then b. is OK, but if he is a CEO's son-in-law then the correct answer is c.

2. a. is the answer. Sanquine means positive, optimistic attitude and it is not justified by somber (sad) news.
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con·text - The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.

[SkiIucK]

Hello there,

Hard questions. Could you share with us where you found them?

Thanks.