The general’s (disgraceful, dishonourable)
retreat shocked even his allies, but his downfall was caused largely by (excessive pride)
. His most (peculiar, unusual)
advisor kept proposing (unconventional, departing from established beliefs)
policies that many citizens found (hateful)
. Meanwhile, a (producing a lot)
journalist warned that a (likely to happen in future)
uprising was near. When a sudden (large destructive fire)
broke out in the capital, some people acted as if the ruler were (knowing everything)
and fully in control. In reality, the cabinet had reached no real (agreement)
at all.