Question

the countess was certainly a bit _, though she stopped well short of being utterly _.
a. beautiful - pretty
b. pleasant - mad
c. eccentric - insane
d. interesting - dull

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the relationship between the two words in each option. The sentence implies a degree of a trait, with the second word being a more extreme version of the first.

• Option A: "beautiful" and "pretty" are similar in meaning, not a degree difference.
• Option B: "pleasant" (friendly) and "mad" (crazy) are unrelated in degree.
• Option C: "eccentric" (unconventional) and "insane" (mentally ill) show a degree, where "insane" is a more extreme form of being eccentric.
• Option D: "interesting" and "dull" are opposites, not a degree relationship.

Answer:

C. eccentric - insane