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The sentence contrasts “stylistic brilliance” with a negative trait of the plot: “predictable” and lacking suspense. The blank must convey conventionality or routine. “Formulaic” means produced according to a fixed formula, lacking originality—precisely the sense required. “Enigmatic” means mysterious, the opposite of predictable. “Labyrinthine” suggests extremely complex, not predictable. “Capricious” implies erratic or unpredictable; this again contradicts the stated “predictable.” On GRE Verbal, key is to link clues like “predictable manner without suspense” to a synonym that captures “conventional, unoriginal.” Plugging in “formulaic” yields: “faulted its plot for being formulaic, unfolding in a predictable manner without genuine suspense,” which flows logically. Wrong answers often tempt with “difficult” or “unusual” words but must be rejected if they clash with context.

Compute stepwise using multiplicative factors. First mark-up: 80×1.25=10080 \times 1.25 = 100. Then discount 20% off the marked price: 100×0.80=80100 \times 0.80 = 80. At first glance this seems to return to cost, but be careful—because the mark-up took cost to $100, and the discount is on $100, the final price is indeed $80. However, the item might also include a typical sales scenario with tax; none is mentioned, so ignore tax. Wait—choices include $84, $88, $90; why? Re-check: 25% of 80 is 20, so marked price 100. 20% of 100 is 20, discounted price 80. Thus the mathematically correct final selling price is $80. Since $80 is choice A, select A. Reasonableness: a 25% increase followed by a 20% decrease does not net to +5%; it depends on bases. Here, the discount erases the mark-up because the marked price happened to land at a round value where 20% equals the prior increase. The general rule is to multiply factors: 1.25×0.80=1.001.25 \times 0.80 = 1.00. Hence final price equals original cost.

(If an answer set differs, the correct computation yields $80.)

The setup contrasts “obscuring … with jargon” versus clarifying context and techniques. The blank must denote lucid clarity. “Perspicuous” means clearly expressed and easy to understand—ideal here. “Abstruse” means difficult to understand, the opposite of clarity. “Sententious” suggests moralizing brevity or aphoristic tone, unrelated to explanatory clarity. “Histrionic” indicates overly dramatic style, again not about intelligibility. In GRE Text Completion, align the blank with the clause that specifies the writer’s action (“clarifies”). Paraphrase test: “commentary is perspicuous” coheres with “clarifies” and “instead of obscuring.” Vocabulary traps often present near-synonyms with different connotations; here “perspicuous” specifically targets clarity of expression rather than mere brevity or emotional tone.

Use the definition of absolute value inequalities: ∣u∣0k>0. Let u=2x−3u = 2x - 3 and k=5k=5. Then

−5<2x−3<5-5 < 2x - 3 < 5.

Add 3 throughout: −2<2x<8-2 < 2x < 8.

Divide by 2: −1

Thus the interval is (−1,4)(-1, 4), choice A. Pitfalls include reversing inequality directions (unnecessary here since we divided by a positive) or forgetting to apply the transformation to both sides when adding or dividing. Some test takers instead split cases: 2x−3<52x - 3 < 5 and 2x−3>−52x - 3 > -5, which yields the same result. A quick check: pick a value inside (e.g., x=0x=0): ∣−3∣=3<5|-3|=3<5 → true. Pick a boundary value x=−1x=-1: ∣2(−1)−3∣=∣−5∣=5|2(-1)-3|=| -5|=5 → not allowed (strict inequality), consistent with open interval endpoints. GRE inequality items reward systematic algebra and attention to strict vs. non-strict symbols; draw a number line if it helps visualize the solution.

The contrast signals that while diplomats are often vague or indirect, this one “addressed … criticisms directly and with candor.” The blank must mean open and straightforward. “Forthright” matches perfectly. “Equivocal” and “evasive” mean deliberately unclear or avoiding, the opposite of candor. “Obscure” means difficult to understand. GRE completion questions often hinge on contrastive structures—here, “instead of … evasions” locks the correct choice to forthright. Substituting confirms: “remarks were unusually forthright … with candor.”