Question

Many regime loyalists of Xi Jinping are just going through the motions. It is hard to miss the theatre of false pretence that has permeated the Chinese body politic for the past few years. Last summer, I was one of a handful of foreigners (and the only American) who attended a conference about the "China Dream," Mr. Xi's signature concept, at a party-affiliated think tank in Beijing. We sat through two days of mind-numbing, nonstop presentations by two dozen party scholars- but their faces were frozen, their body language was wooden, and their boredom was palpable. They feigned compliance with the party and their leader's latest mantra. But it was evident that propaganda had lost its power, and the emperor the prop had no clothes.

• A. Mr. Xi is surrounded by supporters and well-wishers who pretend that they believe philosophy.
• B. The endgame of communist rule in China has begun, and Xi Jinping's ruthless measures are only bringing the country closer to a breaking point.
• C. Mr. Xi's reality is now known to close associates and regime loyalists.
• D. Mr. Xi's attempts to cover up the atrocities of his regime have now been exposed.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Mr. Xi is surrounded by supporters and well-wishers who pretend that they believe philosophy.

The paragraph states that party scholars in China pretended to be in agreement with the regime and their leader's latest thoughts but it was clear that they did not believe in it. "The emperor had no clothes" hence indicates that Mr. Xi is surrounded by people who pretend to be supporters but are not really. Hence, he stands exposed to outsiders and in reality, does not have the cover of his well wishers. So (I) is the answer. (II) is incorrect because it refers to the breaking point for the country but does not indicate how Mr. Xi stands exposed. (III) is wrong because passage does not talk about Xi's reality getting exposed to all, his party members knowing his reality does not necessarily leave him exposed to everyone else. (IV) is incorrect because one cannot infer that Xi has tried to cover up the atrocities of his regime.