In the third century, bands of savage barbarians repeatedly broke through the frontier defenses of the Roman province of Gaul,_________the countryside with fire and sword, and either slew or carried off the____
a. scanned..partisans
b. pacified..vagabonds
c. devastated..inhabitants
d. blighted..oracles
I chose c
Right
Great choice! The correct answer is indeed c) devastated..inhabitants.
To arrive at this answer, we can approach it by eliminating the options that do not fit the given context.
First, let's consider option a) scanned..partisans. Although "scanning" could be associated with searching or examining, it does not accurately convey the idea of breaking through defenses, destroying the countryside, and slaying or carrying people off. Therefore, option a) can be eliminated.
Next, let's assess option b) pacified..vagabonds. "Pacified" implies achieving peace or calming a situation, which contradicts the description of bands of savage barbarians breaking through defenses and wreaking havoc. Additionally, "vagabonds" refers to wandering or homeless individuals, which is not directly connected to the context of the question. Thus, option b) can also be eliminated.
Finally, let's examine option d) blighted..oracles. "Blighted" generally means damaging or spoiling, but it does not accurately depict the actions of the barbarians in this context. Moreover, "oracles," referring to sources of divine guidance or prophecy, seems unrelated to the situation described. Consequently, option d) can be eliminated as well.
By process of elimination, we are left with the correct answer, c) devastated..inhabitants. It accurately captures the idea of the barbarians breaking through defenses, destroying the countryside, and either slaying or carrying off the inhabitants.