1. The art critic took the time to __ every brushstroke, analyzing the masterpiece with a close and discerning eye. pantomime stymie facetious scrutinize

This question is a fill-in-the-blank type of question that tests the understanding of vocabulary and context. The sentence is about an art critic who is analyzing a masterpiece with a close and discerning eye. The word that fits best in this context is "scrutinize," which means to examine or investigate something in detail. The other options, "pantomime," "stymie," and "facetious," do not fit the context of the sentence. "Pantomime" refers to a performance that involves mimicking actions without the use of words, "stymie" means to obstruct or impede, and "facetious" means treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor. Therefore, the correct answer is "scrutinize."