Question

the ___ reactions of the viewers varied widely: some laughed at the art, while others were inspired to engage in thought and still others were moved to tears.

avid
bias
candid
compelling
conform
conscientious
disparity
diverse
humility
implicit
indulge
irrelevant
notable
novelty
paradox
precede
subjective
substantiate
transparent
unscrupulous

Explanation:

Analyze the sentence context

The sentence states: "The \_\_\_\_\_ reactions of the viewers varied widely: some laughed at the art, while others were inspired to engage in thought and still others were moved to tears."
The colon introduces examples of how the reactions differed: laughing, thinking, and crying.
The phrase "varied widely" indicates that the reactions were of different kinds or types.

Evaluate the word choices

We need an adjective that describes reactions that are different from one another, matching "varied widely".
Let's look at the provided word list:

• diverse: showing a great deal of variety; very different. This perfectly matches "varied widely".
• disparity: a noun meaning a great difference (not an adjective).
• subjective: based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. While reactions are subjective, "varied widely" directly points to their variety, making "diverse" the most precise fit.
• candid: truthful and straightforward; frank.
• compelling: evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

Select the correct word

The adjective diverse fits grammatically and semantically to describe the wide variety of reactions (laughing, thinking, crying).

Answer:

The <blank>diverse</blank> reactions of the viewers varied widely: some laughed at the art, while others were inspired to engage in thought and still others were moved to tears.