Question

members of the research and development council had been warned that the prototype was extremely ____, but were pleasantly surprised to see a model with many ____ usually incorporated only much later in the design process. flexible... advances; rudimentary... deficiencies; unreliable... trappings; crude... refinements

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first blank: The council was warned about the prototype, but then was pleasantly surprised. So the first word should have a negative connotation (since they were warned) and the second word should be positive (since they were surprised).

• "flexible" is positive, so eliminate the first option.
• "rudimentary" (basic, underdeveloped) is negative, but "deficiencies" (problems) is also negative. If the prototype had deficiencies, they wouldn't be pleasantly surprised, so eliminate the second option.
• "unreliable" is negative, but "trappings" (superficial features) don't fit with "incorporated later in design process" as trappings are more about appearance.
• "crude" (rough, unrefined) is negative (matches the warning), and "refinements" (improvements, polished features) are positive. Having refinements that are usually added later would be a pleasant surprise.

Answer:

D. crude ... refinements (assuming the options are labeled A to D with A: flexible ... advances, B: rudimentary ... deficiencies, C: unreliable ... trappings, D: crude ... refinements)