Poor writers often express mundane ideas with elaborate syntax and esoteric vocabulary.
Inattentive readers may be impresses but may well misunderstand the writing, while alert readers will easily see through the pretentiousness. Thus a good principle for writers is: ----------------.

Which one of the following completes the passage most logically?

a) the simpler the style, the better the writing
b) inattentive readers are not worth writing for
c) only the most talented writers can successfully adopt a complex style
d) a writing style should not be more complex than the ideas expressed
e) alert readers are the only readers who are sensitive to writing style.