Gabe <- Answered the problem on Brainly <-
Answer:
(D) previous Actuarian.
Explanation:
The word "predecessor" refers to someone who comes before the present or current one. In other words, the person who came before us, be it in a job or any work is the predecessor.
In the given context, the phrase "previous Actuarian" helps us understand the meaning of "predecessor". This is because the word "pre" is present in both "predecessor" and "previous", referring to the prefix "pre" which means "before".
Thus, the correct answer is option D.
Answer:
E. reinforce the author’s overarching claim about ordinary people’s capacity for success
Explanation:
Answer E
Correct. A base metal is a metal of little monetary value, as opposed to a precious metal like gold. In stating that “from apparently the basest metals we have the finest toned bells,” the author asserts that a material that is considered worthless can nevertheless become the medium for the beautiful sound of a high-quality bell. He notes that people who are not valued by society (“simple manhood,” “dregs of society”) can similarly achieve great things sometimes. He then observes that steel objects and rusty razors can actually improve in quality after being left “neglected and forgotten” in the dirt, reflecting that the most marginalized and maligned of people (“the lowly and despised”) can similarly become agents of “improvement and progress” for the world. The comparison between metals and people thus reinforces the author’s thesis that people who do not seem to possess great talent or many advantages can still achieve extraordinary things (“excellence often comes unheralded and from unexpected quarters”).
