Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Pretended to be
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of the English idiom “pass oneself off as,” which appears in the sentence: “He passed himself off as a noble man.” Idioms are fixed expressions whose overall meaning cannot be fully predicted from the individual words. Recognising the established sense of such expressions is essential for accuracy in reading comprehension and verbal ability.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The idiom “pass oneself off as X” means to pretend to be X in order to deceive others. The key components are agency (the subject does it deliberately) and falsity (the claimed identity is not genuine). Options that describe how others regarded him, without implying his deliberate deception, miss the idiomatic meaning. Therefore, we should choose the paraphrase that preserves both intention and falseness.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Substitute the best option into the sentence: “He pretended to be a noble man.” The sentence remains coherent and preserves the idea of deception. In dictionaries and corpora, “pass off” is consistently glossed as “misrepresent” or “present falsely,” reinforcing our choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Learners often confuse who is acting and who is judging. If the structure is “pass himself off,” the subject is the deceiver, not merely the object of others’ views. Watch for the preposition “as,” which introduces the false role or identity.
Final Answer:
Pretended to be
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