Rydra Wong, the protagonist of Samuel R. Delany’s 1966 novel Babel-17, is a poet, an occupation which, in Delany’s work, is
not ______: nearly a dozen of the characters that populate his novels are poets or writers.
infallible
atypical
lucrative
tedious
Choice B is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of Samuel R. Delany’s character Rydra
Wong. As used in this context, “atypical” would mean unrepresentative or not common. The text indicates that Wong is one
of “nearly a dozen” characters in Delany’s novels who are poets or writers. This context conveys that being a poet isn’t an
atypical occupation for a character in one of Delany’s works.  
Choice A is incorrect because “infallible” means to be accurate or without fault, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The
text focuses on the fact that Delany has written many characters who are poets and writers. This context suggests that the
occupation isn’t atypical for Delany, not that the occupation isn’t infallible, or problematic. Choice C is incorrect because
“lucrative” means to be proﬁtable, which wouldn’t make sense in context. If writing poet characters weren’t proﬁtable, it
wouldn’t be logical to explain this by citing that Delany gave many of his characters the same occupation. Choice D is
incorrect because “tedious” means to be boring, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the fact that
Delany has written many characters who are poets and writers. This context suggests that the occupation isn’t atypical for
Delany, not that the occupation isn’t tedious.