Meaning: 'Do' in this context means to perform or achieve something, particularly in relation to whether marketing is effective in attracting audiences.

Wrong options:

• pull: 'Pull' implies attracting or drawing in, but it does not fit the idiomatic expression used here, which requires a verb that indicates achieving a result.
• work: 'Work' suggests functioning or being effective, but it does not match the idiomatic structure of 'do the trick'.
• play: 'Play' generally refers to engaging in an activity or performance, which does not convey the intended meaning of achieving a specific outcome in this context.

Correct answer: power

Explanation: The word 'power' is appropriate as it refers to the strength or influence that major studios have due to their financial resources. This fits contextually with the sentence discussing the disparity between major studios and others in the film industry.

Meaning: 'Power' in this context refers to the ability or capacity to influence or control, particularly in relation to marketing budgets in the film industry.

Wrong options:

• force: 'Force' implies a physical strength or coercion, which does not fit the context of financial influence in marketing.
• strength: 'Strength' suggests physical or metaphorical robustness, but it lacks the specific connotation of influence that 'power' conveys in this context.
• weight: 'Weight' typically refers to heaviness or importance, but it does not accurately capture the idea of influence in marketing.

Correct answer: stone

Explanation: The phrase 'killed stone dead' is an idiomatic expression meaning to completely destroy or eliminate something. 'Stone' fits perfectly in this context, emphasizing the finality of the impact of bad reviews on films.

Meaning: 'Stone' in this idiom intensifies the meaning of 'dead', suggesting an absolute and irreversible effect, particularly in relation to the success of films.

Wrong options:

• flat: 'Flat' does not convey the same intensity as 'stone dead' and is not commonly used in this idiomatic expression.
• point: 'Point' does not fit the idiomatic structure and lacks the necessary connotation of finality in this context.
• cold: 'Cold' can imply a lack of warmth or enthusiasm, but it does not match the idiomatic expression used here.

Correct answer: averse

Explanation: The word 'averse' fits grammatically and contextually as it describes a feeling of strong dislike or opposition. The phrase 'not averse to' indicates a willingness to accept something, which aligns with the context of discussing gimmicks in marketing.

Meaning: 'Averse' means having a strong dislike or opposition to something, indicating that while he may not mind some gimmicks, he is cautious about their overuse.

Wrong options:

• reluctant: 'Reluctant' suggests hesitance, but it does not convey the same level of strong dislike that 'averse' does in this context.
• counter: 'Counter' implies opposition but does not fit grammatically in the phrase 'not counter to the odd gimmick'.
• obstinate: 'Obstinate' means stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion, which does not accurately reflect the nuance of being open to some gimmicks.

Correct answer: vicious

Explanation: The word 'vicious' fits contextually as it describes a harsh or aggressive cycle, which aligns with the competitive nature of marketing in Hollywood. It conveys a sense of relentlessness in the marketing strategies employed.

Meaning: 'Vicious' means deliberately cruel or violent, indicating the cutthroat nature of the marketing strategies in the film industry.

Wrong options:

• relentless: 'Relentless' suggests persistence but lacks the connotation of aggression that 'vicious' provides in this context.
• brutal: 'Brutal' implies extreme cruelty or harshness, but 'vicious' captures the competitive nature more effectively in this context.
• merciless: 'Merciless' indicates a lack of compassion, but 'vicious' more accurately describes the aggressive cycle of marketing.

Correct answer: recover

Explanation: The word 'recover' fits grammatically and contextually as it refers to regaining or retrieving something lost, in this case, inflated production costs. It aligns with the overall theme of financial success in the film industry.

Meaning: 'Recover' means to regain possession of something, particularly in the context of financial losses in film production.

Wrong options:

• restore: 'Restore' implies bringing something back to a former condition, which does not fit the financial context as precisely as 'recover'.
• refund: 'Refund' refers specifically to returning money, which does not encompass the broader concept of regaining costs in production.
• reimburse: 'Reimburse' means to pay back, but it is more specific and does not convey the idea of regaining costs as effectively as 'recover'.