Re: Sentence completion plz help!!

Liu Ju wrote:
> 1. People of intelligence and achievement can nonetheless be so ------
> and lacking in ------ that they gamble their reputations by breaking
> the law to
>   further their own ends.
>   (A) devious...propensity
>   (B) culpable...prosperity
>   (C) obsequious...deference
>   (D) truculent... independence
> I don't understand the structure with "nonetheless" (=however)" in the
> middle of the sentence like the obove.
> Can you pleaze explain the meaning of the sentence and does
> "nonetheless" mean "however"?
There was obviously anotehr sentence beforehand taht was being 
contrasted with this statement. Otherwise it's unnecessary.

Personally I can't understand the sentence with any of the alternatives 
on offer - and I'm a native speaker and an English teacher - what kind 
of crazy examples are they using in this test?
> 2A number of scientists have published articles ------- global
> warming, stating ------- that there is no solid scientific evidence to
> support the
> theory that the Earth is warming because of increases in greenhouse
> gases.
>   (A) debunking...categorically
>   (B) rejecting...paradoxically
>   (C) deploring...optimistically 
>   (D) dismissing...hesitantly
>   (E) proving...candidly
Have you already doine this test? Which answer do you think is correct?

Regardcs, Einde