Video Explanation

Text Explanation

Answers: (A), (B)

The second part of the sentence states that travelogues do not result from relaxing travel. Therefore, the first blank indicates a word that is opposite of relaxing. (A) and (B) both imply difficulty and challenge.

(E), (F), while synonyms, are the opposite of the blank. 

(C) could work in isolation, but creates a different sentence than the one that results from (A) and (B). 

I suppose (D) could work in isolation, but again it creates a very different sentence than the rest of the answer choices. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does "invite" mean in this sentence?

A: In this sentence, "invite" means something closer to "seek" or "look for":

The travel writer must invite ______________ ; few, if any travelogues, have ever been inspired by a languorous afternoon poolside.

The second part is saying that it is very rare that a travelogue writer gains his or her inspiration from spending an afternoon relaxing next to a pool.  The implication is that inspiration for a travelogue must come from exciting or troubling events. Lounging around by the pool will not bring the necessary inspiration.

Q: What is the role of "few" in this sentence?

A: As the text explanation notes, the phrase "few, if any..." implies a shift in the sentence.  This tells us that there is a very small number of travelogues that have " been inspired by a languorous afternoon poolside." Therefore, most travelogues must have been inspired by something that is not languorous.

A "languorous afternoon poolside" refers to a lazily-spent afternoon at the pool.