例 5. (OG Authentic GRE Practice Test Section 3, Q17)
The most striking thing about the politician is how often his politics have been (i)______ rather than ideological, as he adapts his political positions at any particular moment to the political realities that constrain him. He does not, however, piously (ii)______ political principles only to betray them in practice. Rather, he attempts in subtle ways to balance his political self-interest with a (iii) ______, viewing himself as an instrument of some unchanging higher purpose.
BLANK (i) BLANK (ii) BLANK (iii)
(A) quixotic (D) brandish (G) profound cynicism
(B) self – righteous (E) flout (H) deeply felt moral code
(C) strategic (F) follow (I) thoroughgoing pragmatism
KEY:CDH
(一) 选取第一空所在部分：
The most striking thing about the politician is how often his politics have been (i)______ rather than ideological, as he adapts his political positions at any particular moment to the political realities that constrain him.
1. Blank1 中应该填入一个形容词，用来描述政治家的政治策略的属性。
2. Rather than 对前面的属性取反，写出 ideology ，则 blank1 中的属性是 ideology的反义词。
3. As 引导的后半句是对于前半句的重复说明，因而政治家的政策是根据不断变化的现实而改变的，因而政治家的特点应该体现出“变化”感。
4. 选择与自主判读已知的词汇填空：
[1]. quixotic：(幻想的)foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action
[2]. self-righteous：(自以为是的) convinced of one's own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others : narrow - mindedly moralistic
[3]. strategic：(有策略的)of, relating to, or marked by strategy
(二) 选取第三空所在部分：
Rather, he attempts in subtle ways to balance his political self-interest with a (iii)______, viewing himself as an instrument of some unchanging higher purpose.
1. 句子前面的 rather 表示本句话与前述相反，而在这句话内部，没有任何反义关联元素，也没有否定词，故对应部分是同义关系。
2. Blank3 中应该填入一个名词或名词性结构，表明政治家在改变自己态度时所拥有的一种东西。
3. 后面说政治家实际上把自己视为一种更高的目标的执行者，因而其最终是为了追求自己的人生目标，实现自己的政治价值而存在的，这种更高的目标使得其能够仅仅通过微调来实现自己的政治价值，而不是突然放弃或支持什么，因而这个是一种正向的约束。
4. 选择与自主判读已知的词汇填空：
[1]. profound cynicism：极度犬儒主义(负方向)
[2]. deeply felt moral code：深刻的道德准则(正方向)
[3]. thoroughgoing pragmatism：彻底的实用主义(方向不定)
(三) 选取第二空所在部分：
He does not, however, piously (ii) ______ political principles only to betray them in practice. Rather, he attempts in subtle ways to balance his political self-interest with a (iii) ______, viewing himself as an instrument of some unchanging higher purpose.
1. Rather 表示前后两句话相反，最后一句话中说其实政治家从长远上来看是不动摇的，因而前面的话说的是政治家是动摇的。
2. 而政治家的态度决定了他们的行为方式，他们的动摇是因为其对于政治理想的把握不够坚决所致，因而其背叛来自于其对于政治理念的不坚定态度，故选取“动摇”一意。而之间的 however 与 not 是对上半句话的否定，说明政治家其实不是厚颜无耻的之徒，一心只是为了自己的利益来做事儿。
3. 选择与自主判读已知的词汇填空：
[1]. brandish：(挥舞)to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
[2]. flout：(藐视)to treat with contemptuous disregard : SCORN
[3]. follow：(跟从)
(四) 理解句意，看是否逻辑与语义契合：
关于政治家最令人震撼的一点是他的政治立场是有策略地变化的，而不是一成不变的理想主义的，因为他在无时不刻地就当是他所处的政治环境来调整自己的政治立场的。然而，政治家并不是表面上使用政治原则为自己摇旗呐喊并实际上背叛政治原则的人。相反的是，政治家通过不断尝试细微的政治立场的调整来使自己的政治利益与自己内心深处的道德准则产生一个平衡关系，这样看来，实际上政治家应该追求的是一种更高级的、而且是不变的目标的执行者。
