Question

Stories are a haunted genre; hardly BLANK kind of story, the ghost story is almost the paradigm of the form, and BLANK was undoubtedly one effect that Poe had in mind when he wrote about how stories work.
BLANK 1 Options: (A) a debased, (B) a normative, (C) a meticulous
BLANK 2 Options: (D) pessimism, (E) goose bumps, (F) curiosity

Hint:

Pay attention to idiomatic structures like "hardly X...". This phrase is often used to strongly deny that something is X and to set up a contrasting point. Understanding this structure helps identify the correct word for the blank.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: (A) a debased, (E) goose bumps
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This sentence makes a claim about the status of the ghost story within the larger "haunted genre." It uses a specific sentence structure to contrast a potential misconception with the actual reality.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Blank 1: The structure "hardly X, ... is almost the paradigm" means "It is not X; on the contrary, it is the prime example." A "paradigm" is the quintessential model or pattern. The sentence is arguing against the idea that the ghost story is an inferior or low-quality form. The word (A) a debased, meaning lowered in quality or value, fits this structure perfectly. The sentence argues that the ghost story is hardly a debased form; in fact, it is the central example of the genre.
Blank 2: The sentence shifts to discuss an intended effect of such stories, specifically in the context of Edgar Allan Poe, a master of the genre. The "haunted genre" aims to provoke feelings of fear, suspense, and horror. (E) goose bumps is a colloquial but very effective term for the physical sensation of fear or unease that these stories are designed to create. It is a more direct and visceral effect than "pessimism" or "curiosity."
Step 3: Final Answer:
The completed sentence argues that the ghost story is hardly a debased form but rather the paradigm of the genre, and that creating goose bumps was a key intended effect for a writer like Poe.