It is puzzling to observe that Jones’s novel has recently been criticized for its (i)________ structure, since commentators have traditionally argued that its most obvious (ii)________ is its relentlessly rigid, indeed schematic, framework.Blank (1)Aspeculation aboutlack ofCattention toBlank (2)preoccupationBdisparityCflaw

For the first blank, the word that fits best is "lack of". The sentence mentions that it is puzzling to observe criticism for the novel's structure, implying that the criticism is negative or pointing out a deficiency. Therefore, "lack of" fits the context better than "speculation about" or "attention to".

For the second blank, the word that fits best is "flaw". The sentence mentions that the novel's most obvious characteristic is its rigid framework, which is traditionally argued. The word "flaw" fits this context because it refers to a negative characteristic or shortcoming, which aligns with the criticism mentioned in the first part of the sentence. Therefore, "flaw" fits the context better than "preoccupation" or "disparity".

So, the completed sentence is: "It is puzzling to observe that Jones’s novel has recently been criticized for its lack of structure, since commentators have traditionally argued that its most obvious flaw is its relentlessly rigid, indeed schematic, framework."