From Edward Gibbon's *Decline and Fall* (1776). Select the word that fits the blank. "Inclined to peace by his temper and situation, it was easy for him to discover that Rome, in her present exalted situation, had much less to hope than to fear from the chance of arms; and that, in the prosecution of remote wars, the undertaking became every day more ______, the event more doubtful."
Adifficult
Benjoyable
Cexpedient
Dsimple
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. difficult
The phrase *every day more X, the event more doubtful* needs a parallel adjective intensifying with the negative direction. *Difficult* is the only option that produces the *more difficult / more doubtful / more precarious / less beneficial* degradation list that Gibbon builds.
- *Simple*, *expedient*, *enjoyable* contradict the *less beneficial* direction.
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