The actor’s ------- decline in popularity was as striking and unexpected as his ------- rise to prominence had been.
A. sudden . . meteoric
B. gradual . . equivocal
C. precipitous . . obscure
D. dazzling . . secret
E. inevitable . . unpredictable

Answer: [separator]A
Here's why:
If these terms were inserted into the sentence, the sentence would read “The actor’s sudden decline in popularity was as striking and unexpected as his meteoric rise to prominence had been.” We know that “striking and unexpected” describes both the actor’s rise and his decline; “sudden” fits with this description, as does “meteoric,” which means suddenly or temporarily brilliant.
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