A literary scholar argued that the author's later works, while often praised for their stylistic innovations, frequently suffered from a certain narrative ______, as characters' motivations became increasingly opaque and their actions seemingly arbitrary.
- Alucidity
- Bperspicuity
- Ctransparency
- Dconsistency
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. consistency
The sentence states that characters' 'motivations became increasingly opaque and their actions seemingly arbitrary.' This implies a lack of logical connection or predictable behavior. 'Consistency' refers to acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate. A lack of consistency would mean motivations are opaque and actions arbitrary. While 'transparency' and 'lucidity' are related to clarity, 'consistency' best captures the idea of motivations and actions being unreliable and arbitrary, fitting the 'narrative ______' most broadly.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Lucidity means clarity of expression or understanding, similar to transparency, but less fitting for 'arbitrary actions' than 'consistency'.
- B. Perspicuity means clarity or lucidity, which is related but not as encompassing for 'arbitrary actions' as consistency.
- C. Transparency means easily seen through or detected; while related to clarity, 'consistency' better captures the arbitrary nature of actions.
Narrative Coherence Breakdown
This concept involves identifying a word that describes a lack of logical flow, predictability, or internal agreement within a story, often manifested in character motivations or plot events.
- Look for descriptions of character motivations or actions that are confusing, illogical, or unpredictable.
- Identify words signaling a departure from clear, understandable storytelling (e.g., 'opaque', 'arbitrary').
- Choose a word that represents the absence of logical connection or reliable patterns in a narrative.
Memory trick: When story threads fray, clarity fades away.