A TC question in TC&SE book 3rd

[442574691]

P58

The common opinion at the court had it that her utterances as often as not ______ attitudes unbecoming of a lady. This reputation cost her the attentions of some gentlemen, above all thanks to their fear of being bested by her________.

elude subtlety
derided doggerel
evinced repartee

The answer is C and F.

I don't quite understand the first sentence. Could anyone explain this sentence for me?
Thanks a lot

[tommywallach]

Hey There,

So the first sentence says, "Most people though the way she spoke was not ladylike." We know it has to be NOT ladylike because of the second sentence, which tells us that some gentlemen didn't like her. "Evinced" means "demonstrated." We want her to demonstrate attitudes unbecoming of a lady. (In case you don't know, "unbecoming" means "inappropriate" or "unseemly."

Hope that helps!

-t

[442574691]

Hey There,

So the first sentence says, "Most people though the way she spoke was not ladylike." We know it has to be NOT ladylike because of the second sentence, which tells us that some gentlemen didn't like her. "Evinced" means "demonstrated." We want her to demonstrate attitudes unbecoming of a lady. (In case you don't know, "unbecoming" means "inappropriate" or "unseemly."

Hope that helps!

-t

Thanks, you are really helpful :)

[tommywallach]

That's the goal! : )

-t