Verbal 7

She was far less concerned with the work at hand than with the opportunity to ascend the proverbial corporate ladder, even if doing so entailed resorting to ________ or other such Machiavellian schemes. mimicryartificeespionagecalumnysubterfugeflattery

(B) artifice and (E) subterfuge are the correct answers. The clues are "ascend ladder... resorting....Machiavellian schemes". We need a word that show this person will do whatever to get ahead. Machiavellian schemes suggests a word meaning cunning. (B) artifice and (E) subterfuge match up best.

Tentative, fearful even, his first forays into the theatrical arts were hardly ________. unheraldedauspiciouscommendableunpropitioussatisfactoryfavorable

(B) auspicious and (F) favorable are the correct answers. The clues are "tentative, fearful". If his attempts to enter were tentative and fearful, they hardly were promising. Two similar words to promising are (B) auspicious and (F) favorable. FAQ: Why can't "commendable" or "satisfactory" be correct? There are two main reasons why neither "commendable" nor "satisfactory" are the best answers. Firstly, "commendable" doesn't have a good synonym in the list of answer choices. "Satisfactory" does not either. If we look at the two words as a pair, we see that "commendable and "satisfactory" are not close in meaning and they don't produce equivalent sentences. (A "commendable" performance is worthy of praise, so it is much better than a "satisfactory" performance.) The correct answers, "favorable" and "auspicious," are perfect synonyms, so they produce sentences that mean the same thing. Secondly, let's examine the words "fearful" and "tentative" in the sentence. The first word, "fearful" doesn't necessarily imply being scared in this case but rather "timid by nature or revealing timidity." "Tentative" means "testing, trying," always describing something that is uncertain. Both of these words in conjunction imply a performance that doesn't inspire confidence or hope for future success. Since we're looking for a phrase that means the opposite of "tentative and fearful," we should look for words that mean promising. "Commendable" and "satisfactory" tell us something about the quality of the performance, but nothing about the potential quality of future performances.

Poetaster, who at the outset believed one only needed time to write a great novel, was constantly assailed by misgivings, and before completing even one chapter, he abandoned what he had come to deem a (n) ________ enterprise. unworthyidealisticillusorynotableill-fatedquixotic

(B) idealistic and (F) quixotic are the correct answers. The clues are "believed only needed time...write great novel". It was foolish for Poetaster to believe that he only needed time and he would be able to write a great novel. Many answer choices could work: unworthy, idealistic, illusory and quixotic. Only (B) idealistic and (F) quixotic are synonymous words though.

Galileo's drawings show that he first observed Neptune in 1612, and again in 1613. On both occasions, Galileo mistook Neptune for a fixed star when it appeared very close—in conjunction—to Jupiter in the night sky; hence, he is not credited with Neptune's discovery. During the period of his first observation, Neptune was stationary in the sky because it had just turned retrograde that very day (retrograde refers to the apparent backward motion created when the orbit of the Earth takes it past an outer planet). Since Neptune was only beginning its yearly retrograde cycle, the motion of the planet was far too slight to be detected with Galileo's small telescope.

According to the passage, all of the following can account for Galileo's inability to identify Neptune as a planet EXCEPT? - The direction in which Neptune rotates - A shift in the orientation between Neptune and the Earth - The almost indiscernible distance between Neptune and Jupiter - The condition of Galileo's instruments - The fact that Neptune's lack of motion suggested another celestial phenomenon

Last June, Endsville installed highway traffic cameras, in the hope that drivers along the highways would reduce their speeds. This June, the number of motorists caught speeding by the traffic cameras is nearly twice that caught last June.

All of the following, if true, can help account for the increase in motorists caught speeding by traffic cameras EXCEPT? - Police, throughout the year, have been increasingly less likely to pull over speeding motorists, since each month more highways in Endsville are equipped with traffic cameras. - This June, compared to the last, saw more than a twofold increase in the number of traffic cameras installed along the highways of Endsville. - In the last year, there has been an influx of residents to Endsville and thus there are more vehicles on the road at any one time. - Along many of the highways installed with traffic cameras, the speed limit has been reduced, sometimes by as much as 10 miles per hour. - Since the cameras are virtually hidden, many motorists remain oblivious to the fact that the city has installed traffic cameras.

With all the trappings of a "successful" novelist, Farminghouse perhaps will most likely experience a(n) ______________ fame: posterity rarely looks kindly on those writers who bedazzle the hoi polloi. meteoric potential elusive notorious enduring

Answer: (A) A meteoric fame is one that increases very rapidly and then disappears just as quickly as it appeared. 'Posterity', or the future, will not look kindly and a writer who appeals to the masses ("bedazzle the hoi polloi"). Therefore, 'meteoric' works well. (B) is wrong because Farminghouse clearly has experienced fame. (C) is wrong for the same reason as (B). (D) is too negative, and does not quite fit the context, which is focusing on a present fame that will not last long. (E) is the opposite.

Inspiration rarely leads to great writing unless coupled with a(n) ________ regimen, one which affords writers ample opportunities to experience a flash of insight. tedious exacting unexpected inconsistent widespread

Answer: (B) A writer needs to follow a regimen in which he/she has "ample opportunities" to be inspired, or, as the second part of the sentence says, "experience a flash of insight". "Ample" means plentiful. So essentially the sentence is saying that unless a writer gets plenty of opportunities (meaning, writes a lot), he /she is not going to get many flashes of insight or inspiration.

Which of the following is best supported by the passage? - The American colonists unwittingly revealed their status by using maple syrup as a substitute for granular sugar. - The price of sugar was in some sense influenced by the perception of its origin. - Maple syrup provided American colonists an affordable means by which to produce granular sugar - The process of creating maple syrup was an act of rebellion on the part of the American colonists. - American colonists publicly conceded that maple sugar was similar to the sugar offered in the Old World.

Answer: (B) Maple syrup that did not suggest its lowly, rustic origins commanded the highest price. Therefore, the perception of syrups origins affected the price of the syrup. Thus answer (B). (C) is very deceptive answer. Notice at the very end it says "granular sugar." Maple syrup provided colonists with an affordable way to produce maple sugar, which was a substitute for granular sugar. (E) is wrong because colonist did not 'concede'. They did the opposite: "touted as the equal..."

It can be most reasonably inferred from the passage that in regard to the manner in which the Monte Verde village was preserved that - unless evidence of other pre-Clovis people was fossilized the same way it was in Monte Verde, archaeologists will be unable to determine the extent of the settlement of pre-Clovis people - major discoveries can sometimes result from random processes in the environment - plant species can offer valuable clues into the origin of other pre-Clovis settlements - sites dated from slightly after the period of the Clovis people did not offer archaeologists such a trove of information - archaeologists are unlikely to find any other significant evidence of pre-Clovis people unless they venture as much as 150 miles from the site

Answer: (B) The Monte Verde discovery, which is a major discovery, resulted from a random process: had a peat bog not engulfed a village there would be no remains at the Monte Verde site. This matches (B). (A) is incorrect because the passage does not say that the only way pre-Clovis remains will be found is if a settlement was also fossilized by a peat bog (C) is incorrect because, while the passage mentions plant species, it does not relate to way in which the Monte Verde village was preserved. There is no information in the passage to support (D). The passage only mentions plant species in the context of a trade network. That does not mean that there were no other pre-Clovis sites less than 150 miles from Monte Verde. Thus (E) is incorrect.

Consumer Advocate: Happy Smiles Daycare, a popular child-care facility in Rolling Hills, boasts an average child-to-caregiver ratio of 5:1, a number it cites as the lowest in the county. Furthermore, the daycare claims that compared to some other daycare centers in the county, it does not include helpers, or those who are involved in cleanup and diaper changing, when computing the ratio. Yet Happy Smiles Daycare's claim that parents with children aged 1-3 will find no other facility with such a low child-to-caregiver ratio is not accurate.

Answer: (B) The consumer advocate has evidence that Happy Smiles Daycare does not have the lowest child-to-caregiver ratio in the county. The answer that provides the best evidence is (B). Kenton School has a 6:1 child-to-caregiver ratio, but that ratio accounts for those students who are older than 3 as well. Happy Smiles, on the other hand, only bases its ratio on children age 1-3. Since, Kenton School has a ratio for 3-6 years olds that is more than double that of the 1-3 classes, we can conclude that the ratio in the 1-3 classes is lower than 6:1. The fact that the school has less than a 100 students means that the number of students in the 1-3 cannot be that much higher than the number in the 3-6 years old classes, which would make the ratio lower than 6, but not necessarily lower than 5. But with less than a 100 students, Kenton School has a child-to-caregiver in the 1-3 classroom that must be less than 5. (A) just confirms what the paragraph says. If anything, (C) strengthens the Happy Smiles Daycare's claim. The school is not basing its numbers on a period when it a much lower child-to-caregiver ratio than usual. (D) does not weaken the claim in the paragraph, because the paragraph specifically says that Happy Smiles Daycare does not include helpers in its child-to-caregiver ratio. (E) is irrelevant to the argument, which is based on the present.

According to the author of the passage, Temoshotka, in her estimation of Nabokov, does which of the following? - Reconcile two antagonistic tendencies that coexisted in the author. - Make a claim without providing any evidence to this claim. - Present a thesis, that while at points valid, is overly ambitious.

Answer: (C) (A) is wrong because nowhere in the passage does it say the two tendencies (Nabokov the writer and Nabokov the butterfly scientist) were antagonistic. (B) is wrong because Temoshotka does use evidence (Lolita and Speak Memory). (C) is correct, because the author mentions that she "cannot be faulted" for coming up with an interesting theory on Nabokov's creativity, but she "fails to make a convincing case." Notice too the last sentence, which implies that Temeshotka was overly ambitious in her theory.

In the context in which it appears "register" most nearly means rangerecordaccountlanguageformat

Answer: (D) This is a tough vocabulary-in-context question. Ultimately, 'register' has to be an accepted synonym with language. It is of course far down on the definition list, as it is not a typical meaning. From the context we can gather that language works well: In his letters, T.S. Eliot addressed others in courteous language.

The author, mocked by many for his simple, almost childlike prose, can at least not be begrudged the distinction of writing with _________. geniality naivety gusto anonymity lucidness

Answer: (E) The clue is "simple", "childlike". The author writes in a very straightforward manner, and, in a way, is mocked by the writer of the sentence. Yet, we are looking for a positive word, one that relates to straightforward/simple/easy to understand. This leads us to (E).

The travel writer must invite ______________ ; few, if any travelogues, have ever been inspired by a languorous afternoon poolside. travailtribulationsexcitementscandaltranquilityserenity

Answers: (A), (B) The second part of the sentence states that travelogues do not result from relaxing travel. Therefore, the first blank indicates a word that is opposite of relaxing. (A) and (B) both imply difficulty and challenge. (E), (F), while synonyms, are the opposite of the blank. (C) could work in isolation, but creates a different sentence than the one that results from (A) and (B). I suppose (D) could work in isolation, but again it creates a very different sentence than the rest of the answer choices.

Though she would ______________ at a mere peccadillo, she would, with nary more than a wagging finger, condone far more untenable behavior. bridle quibble bristle beam chortle guffaw

Answers: (A), (C) "Untenable behavior" is inexcusable behavior. Yet, the 'she' condones such behavior. Much more inoffensive behavior ('peccadillo' means a minor sin) she will find offensive. (A) and (C) both mean to express anger. (D), (E), and (F) all mean to express merriment, which is the opposite of what the context indicates. (B) means only to express a minor reservation.

Through mere ____________, Hirasaki, in her delightful vignettes of a childhood spent living in two divergent cultures, is able to communicate far more cogently about alienation and belonging than those of her contemporaries who believe verbosity is tantamount to profundity. suggestionartfulnessintimationilluminationcontrivanceabbreviation

Answers: (A), (C) Hirasaki is being compared to her contemporaries who are verbose. Therefore we want a word that is the opposite of verbose. (A) suggestion implies that Hirasaki is using few words but conveying a great amount (B) artfulness implies a craftiness that does not fit with the context (C) intimation is the act of implying or hinting at something. This is a good contrast to being verbose (D) illumination does not contrast with verbosity (E) contrivance means to pull of something in an artificial or unnatural manner. Does not match context (F) abbreviation, while apparently opposite to verbosity, does not match stylistically. Also, there is no similar word amongst the answer choices

The audience members' remarks were ______, as they added nothing to the debate and seemed generally uncalled for. unnecessarytentativegratuitoussuperciliouspragmaticunderstated

Answers: (A), (C) The keywords are 'added nothing...generally uncalled for...' 'Unnecessary' works well as our word. (A) matches our word (B) tentative means hesitant (C) gratuitous means unnecessary, uncalled for (D) supercilious means haughty and arrogant (E) pragmatic means practical (F) understated means not drawing attention

Pared down over the years to the point of ____________, Stockton's prose nevertheless preserves the writer's insights - indeed they are ____________ than ever. Blank (i) austerity abstraction artlessness Blank (ii) keener more vague more formal

Answers: (A), (D) 'Pared down...' means stripped of the extra words. (A) austerity implies that there is nothing extraneous left. Conceivably such an action may seem as though Stockton's prose has lost something. The 'nevertheless' implies that insights are preserved and that his prose his some positive word. (D) keener means more precise fits well with the overall context of the sentence.

That art wields political power is not an incontrovertible position—if it is even true at all: Picasso's Guernica, a painting capturing the wanton plundering of a Spanish village, hangs almost ______________ in the Guggenheim, framed by a soft light best befitting a seaside idyll. demurelygrotesquelyaskewself-effacinglypeacefullyfrivolously

Answers: (A), (D) The sentence is questioning whether art has any real strength. It offers up what is ostensibly a powerful portrait capturing the horrors of war. "...is not an incontrovertible...", however, suggests that Guernica is going to seem almost meek. (A) and (D) are both synonyms for meek. (E) is a great trap, especially because of "seaside idyll." But that describes the light more than the picture. Also, there is no match for (E) amongst the answer choices.

She gave him a(n) ____________ look that was not so much ____________ as it was ____________. Blank (i) knowing encouraging unequivocal Blank (ii) accusatory approbatory fastidious Blank (iii) egregious tentative admonitory

Answers: (A), (D), (I) This is clearly an example of a sentence in which you must plug in answer choices to create an entire meaning. After all, there is almost no context to go on. By plugging in 'knowing' we can see that she was aware of what he was doing. This connects nicely with 'admonitory', meaning she was giving him a little warning. An admonishment is not as extreme as an accusation. Notice the 'not so much...' suggesting related words. That is, it is one thing to admonish someone, ("you better not do that") versus accusing them ("you did so-and-so!).

As those around him soon came to learn, he was an arrant ____, prone to finding some perceived quirk or political predilection with which to use as a basis for shunning even those he had once considered part of his inner circle. chauvinistegotistlickspittlecharlatanelitistbraggadocio

Answers: (A), (E) The keywords are 'finding some...shunning.' Here we are looking for a word that means 'he' shuns someone because that person does not have the same views as the 'he.' (A) a chauvinist is one who thinks that his/her group is better than others. In this question, the 'he' shuns those who were once part of his group, as those people are no longer worthy of his cause. (B) an egotist is a person who has an inflated sense of self. 'Egotist' could work, however, it creates a different meaning than the answers (A), (E). Those two are focused on thinking one's group, not oneself, are superior (C) a lickspittle is a sycophant (D) a charlatan pretends to possess knowledge or credentials (E) an elitist thinks his/her group is superior (F) braggadocio is boastfulness

A new school of thought has it that innate talent can be conveniently ____________ a series of readily ____________ factors - Mozart's genius then is no divine blessing of the type conferred on a select few, but is simply the result of a patriarchal father who stressed, above else, thousands upon thousands of hours of grueling practice. Blank (i) reduced to misattributed to measured by Blank (ii) intrusive quantifiable pervasive

Answers: (A), (E) This sentence is difficult mainly because of the first blank. (C) measured by is a tempting answer; however, it lacks a couple of important things. The phrase "innate talent" is very important here. According to the second part of the sentence, the new school of thought tells us that talent like Mozart's is, in fact, not "innate," but instead learned. The "innate talent" described in the beginning, then, must be somehow reinterpreted as something else: those " _______ factors." If we use "measured by," it doesn't give us the shift away from "innate" that we need. There would be no reinterpretation and the talent could still be correctly considered innate, which doesn't match up with the example of Mozart. The word "conveniently" is important to notice for the tone of the passage. That word can impart two possible connotations--that something is actually useful, or that it is overly simplified. This second sense is a bit sarcastic. There's little or no indication that this school of thought is actually helpful, so with the word "simply" showing up later, we can assume the author thinks this school of thought is oversimplified. This slightly negative tone also supports "reduced" for the first blank.

History has known few as ______________ as the Irish wit Oscar Wilde: on his inaugural trip to America, when asked by customs officials if he had anything to declare, Wilde replied: "The only thing I have to declare is my genius." archnarcissisticsuccessfulmisanthropicpuckishaccomplished

Answers: (A), (E) This is a toughie. I'm not sure if you will get a SE that is this difficult. More than anything, it is to make the real test seem a little less daunting. The clues we want to pay attention to our "wit", meaning this person cracks jokes. Therefore, watch out for the traps that basically suggest Wilde is being an arrogant jerk. Out with (B) and (D). (C) and (F), while synonyms do not fit the context at all. Wilde is having fun with the play on words with 'declare' (which, for the literary inclined, is an instance of a zeugma). (A) is an unfamiliar definition of 'arch.' In this case, it means to be mischievous. Likewise, puckish means playful, mischievous.

____________, she suddenly became ____________ , even conspiratorial, as the detectives, who had been stymied and had all but given up on extracting an iota of evidence from her, took sedulous notes. Blank (i) Unbidden Aghast Surprised Blank (ii) sullen contentious forthcoming

Answers: (A), (F) The part of the sentence that says "had been stymied and had all but given up on extracting an iota of evidence from her..." gives us a subtle contrast to work with. The past perfect ("had done") shows a situation before the normal past tense. So previously, she was not giving any evidence. But then "suddenly", she became __________. (F) Forthcoming means honest, not holding back. 'Even conspiratorial' creates the sense that the she was gushing forth so much information as to seem as though she was on the same side as the interrogators. Because the detectives had "all but given up...," we know that the sudden pouring forth of information was not influenced by the detectives but was (A) unbidden, resulting not from an external stimulus but seemingly bursting out of her. (C) Surprised would work in the first blank if it referred to the detectives, but as is it modifies "she," and there's no reason she would be surprised.

Water experts predict that unless the coming year's rainfall will be significantly above average, the city's denizens, regardless of any protestations, will have to _____ their water usage. curtailintensifyadministerdenotedisseminatelimit

Answers: (A), (F) The sentence makes clear that rain is not likely. The denizens, or inhabitants, therefore have to reduce or limit their water usage. (A) curtail means to the limit (B) intensify is the opposite (C) administer does not make sense (D) denote means to make or indicated (E) disseminate means to spread or scatter (F) limit means to reduce

If it is true that a trade network between pre-Clovis people had been established, then which of the following could be expected to be found at settlements near Monte Verde? - Other villages that have been preserved in a peat bog - Plants species similar to those uncovered at Monte Verde - The same number of wooden stakes for supporting dwellings

Answers: (B) only (A) is not supported because there is nothing in the passage suggesting that other villages were also submerged in a peat bog. (B) can reasonably be inferred because the passage mentions that similar plant species were found as far as 150 miles away. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that, if there was a trade network, such a plant species would be found in other settlements. (C) is not supported by the passage.

Couching her response in legal-ese, the judge, in reaching a decision, would typically lose her audience, who would only regain focus once she had ______________ delivered the verdict. irrevocablyunequivocallycrypticallycategoricallytentativelymagisterially

Answers: (B), (D) 'Couching her...' implies the judge is using inscrutable language, and thus the audience is unable to comprehend her. Only when she clearly/unambiguously delivers the verdict (guilty or not guilty) do they pay attention. (A) irrevocably could work as a possible answer choice. However, it does not match the idea that the audience was lost in her legal-ese and only when she used clear language did they start paying attention again. More importantly, it lack a synonym pair the way we have in (B), (D) (B) unequivocally means very clearly, with no room for doubt (C) if words are cryptic they tend to confuse the audience. This meaning is the opposite of the blank (D) categorically means very clear and direct/explicit (E) tentatively means hesitantly (F) magisterially means done in a commanding, domineering manner. While one can argue 'magisterially' works in context, it does create a synonymous sentence with any of the other words

The contention that Hopkin's extensive anthropological fieldwork led to a unified theory is ____________ - close scrutiny reveals a ____________ of observations that, at times, even prove ____________ one another. Blank (i) redoubtable specious unbiased Blank (ii) mere hodgepodge coherent system meticulous scaffolding Blank (iii) inimical to convergent with susceptible to

Answers: (B), (D), (G) '...close scrutiny...' implies that that the 'contention' was misleading. Instead of presenting a unified theory, Hopkin's fieldwork does the opposite: it is a 'hodgepodge' of observations. The 'even' suggests an apposition, and thus the word in the third blank is more extreme. 'Inimical' implies that the observations are incompatible and at odds with one another.

To think that Socrates' original words have remained free of ______ is strikingly naïve: the only extant words we have of Socrates are not actually those of the philosopher himself, but were attributed to him by Plato, in many of the latter's writing (a transcription that itself has, in the past two millennia, undergone countless translations and revisions). biascorruptioncensorshipartificebastardizationexpression

Answers: (B), (E) '...not actually those...', '...countless translations...' show that Socrates' work has been changed over time. The first part of the sentence shows that thinking the opposite (that Socratesi original words have not changed) is naive. (A) bias, while a tempting answer, does not capture the sense of Socrates' original words becoming something different after passing through many different hands (B) corruption shows that something has changed from its original form (C) censorship is a tempting answer choice. However, there are no keywords to suggest that the revisions were occupied with removing objectionable material (D) artifice is tricky/deceit, neither of which are supported by context (E) bastardization is the corruption of something, typically language (F) expression does not match context

hat traditional forms of media—despite considerable variance in the quality of writing—tend to report on a range of issues (i) ____________ by the demands of the readership should (ii) ____________ those who believe that the demise of each media outlet signals a lamentable reduction in the scope of news reported. Blank (i) unbounded circumscribed sensationalized Blank (ii) discourage mollify rile up

Answers: (B), (E) The first clue "despite a considerable variance" implies that the "range of issues" does not actually have much variance. Limited would be a good word. (B) is a synonym for limited. The clue for the second blank is "the demise of...lamentable reduction". That is simplified to the following: some people believe that each time a newspaper shuts down it is horrible because there will be less news reported. So these people are actually going to be placated (E), or not as upset, by the fact that most news outlets tend to report on the same issues. Thus the scope of news won't be much affected if a newspaper shuts down.

While society may regard science as some ____________ activity closed off to the ____________ masses, the daily life of a scientist--driving to work each day, checking emails, meeting deadlines--can seem ____________. Blank (i) grand arcane illicit Blank (ii) disheveled benighted huddled Blank (iii) irredeemably prosaic surprisingly quotidian relentlessly hectic

Answers: (B), (E), (H) '...checking emails...' implies that the scientist's job is very ordinary. Therefore, we want a word similar to ordinary in the third blank. Quotidian, which means daily, routine, works well. "Prosaic" is definitely tempting, but "irredeemably" isn't supported by the rest of the text, whereas "surprisingly" is strongly supported. The 'while' at the beginning of the sentence indicates a shift. The first blank there has to be the opposite of the third blank. 'Arcane' suggests that science is some mysterious activity known only to scientists. The second blank relates to the 'closed off', which suggests that masses are unaware or ignorant of what scientists do. 'Benighted' means unenlightened. Neither 'huddled' or 'disheveled' capture this connotation of ignorance.

Jansen's writing strikes many as (i) ______________ : for one who is capable of enduing even the most recondite topics with a(n) (ii) ______________ tone, his prose becomes (iii) ______________ in the informal correspondences he had with his contemporaries. Blank (i) pedantic forbidding paradoxical Blank (ii) acerbic cautious breezy Blank (iii) curiously stilted fully realized somewhat unguarded

Answers: (C), (F), (G) The best way to attack this sentence is to deal with the second and third blanks first. First off, there is the "even...recondite topics", which indicates that the second blank is (F). That is, the author can make even the most obscure topics seem interesting and light. The word 'becomes' signals a shift between the second and third blank. Therefore, (G), which means awkward and unnatural, works best. Notice that once we've solved the second and third blank, we get a sentence that says that Jansen can write about the most arcane topic in a relaxed, informal way, but when he has to write informally, he is anything but relaxed. This is an example of a paradox, i.e., something that is true, but unexpected. Therefore, (C) fits in the first blank.

Anticipating a dry, hot fall, city officials are _____________ citizens to rake up any leaves on their respective property: many radio shows have slotted 15-second spots warning listeners about the heightened possibility of fire should sufficient underbrush collect in untended parts of residents' premises. remindingexhortingpetitioningenlistingcounselingenjoining

Answers: (B), (F) This is a tough question. The type of words that can fit in the blank is relatively obvious. Basically, officials are warning, urging, or recommending citizens. Now, we have to find a pair of words that create a similar meaning. (A) is a neutral word that can work for the context. However, there is no matching word. (B), which means urging, works well, but apparently there are no matching words (we'll come back to that in a moment). (C) is a word used by those not in a position of power to appeal to those in a position of power, which is the opposite of the context. (D) works well. But it creates a meaning different from any of the other words. 'Enlisting' implies that the city is rounding up a group of specific people to help rake up leaves. (E) means to recommend. This word is not quite the same as to remind. That leaves us with (F), which is a tricky word. Enjoin can mean prohibit, which is clearly wrong in this context. Enjoin can also mean to urge, which is nearly the opposite of prohibit. In this sense, (F) and (B) create similar sentences.

The city council was notorious for voting down any measure that would restrict its ability to wield power, so that it ______________ a bill aimed to narrow the ambit of its jurisdiction was surprising only to the small few who had come to believe that the council would pull an about-face. championedtook exception todiscardedwas in favor oftabledobjected to

Answers: (B), (F) This sentence is tricky. It seems as though the city council's action was surprising. But notice the 'only' after surprising. Only those who expected the council to deviate from their normal behavior were surprised. Their typical habit is "voting down any..." Therefore, (B) and (F). (E) means to put aside for later. It does not mean to consider.

The number of speeding tickets one receives is by no means a reliable measure of ____________. Some ____________ drivers, in fact, prove that in certain cases the inverse is true. That is those savvy enough to have availed themselves of the latest cellular phone applications receive up-to-the-minute information on the presence of highway patrolmen—greater excess speed, in these instances, simply implies a greater ____________. Blank (i) awareness culpability susceptibility Blank (ii) affluent intrepid resourceful Blank (iii) degree of confidence sense of vulnerability likelihood of entrapment

Answers: (B), (F), (G) The first blank is supported by the latter part of the paragraph. Drivers who flout the law often get away doing so. Therefore, those who are more culpable ('...in certain cases...'), often receive few tickets. So (B) culpability is not reflected in the number of speeding tickets. Because these speed-limit breaking drivers are 'savvy enough...' we have support for (F) resourceful. Finally, their greater speed is a result of them having more confidence. Thus (G).

However much the economist trumpeted his ____________, his accurate prediction of a major downturn was not as ____________ as he led the public to believe; for years he had been prophesying fiscal doom. Blank (i) affluence veracity prescience Blank (ii) uncanny unambiguous provident

Answers: (C), (D) 'Accurate prediction' matches the first blank. That is, the economist boasted about his (C) prescience, or foresight. The idea that he 'had been prophesying...' indicates that he was not as prescient as he would have others believe. He was always predicting the economy would do poorly, eventually his prediction would come true. Therefore the prediction was not as amazing/awe-inspiring or (D) uncanny as he wanted others to believe. (F) provident is a very tricky distractor. It means providing for the future, in terms of planning your resources/money/etc. Clearly this paragraph is about the future, but specifically it is about being able to foretell the future. Notice as well the final clue: "for years he had..." does not match up with provident either; that clue, however, does match up with (D) uncanny.

She was not so (i) ______________ as to begrudge the mathematician the fanfare he received after purportedly solving a hitherto intractable problem in number theory; nevertheless, once the furor died down she was not (ii) ______________ in pointing out what she believed to be some notable inconsistencies in his proof. Blank (i) savvy self-effacing churlish Blank (ii) loath charitable unstinting

Answers: (C), (D) The shift is one of time in the sense that it is dealing with a before and after. The idea that first she did not want to point out "some notable...", but then she did so. "Begrudge the mathematician" means deny someone of something. So the first blank is the opposite of polite/generous (notice the 'not'). (C) means rude, mean-spirited. The second blank should be that she was no longer unwilling to keep her mouth shut. 'Loath' means reluctant. It does not mean to hate.

For an artist of such circumscribed talent, Mario was given ____________ attention, many connoisseurs ____________ over works that warranted nothing more than a(n) ____________ glance. Blank (i) scant sporadic scrupulous Blank (ii) poring passing faltering Blank (iii) derisive cursory tentative

Answers: (C), (D), (H) 'For an artist...circumscribed talent' sets up a shift with the blank that comes after the first comma. If Mario is of limited talent, then connoisseurs gave him undue or unwarranted attention. (C) scrupulous implies that the connoisseurs spent a long time looking at work that deserved nothing more than a quick, or (H) cursory look. For the second blank, (D) poring works best, as it means absorbed in.

When researchers follow the scientific method, the absence of ____________ proof by no means suggests a theory lacks validity. Indeed, no theory is ____________ : each can always be subject to further testing and scrutiny, and thus, by definition, remains ____________. Blank (i) ineffable sufficient irrefutable Blank (ii) cherished porous unassailable Blank (iii) equivocal suspect provisional

Answers: (C), (F), (I) A good way to approach this text completion is working with the second blank first. A theory 'can always be...'. Thus no theory is (F) unassailable. 'Can always be subject...' also informs the third blank. Therefore, every theory is (I) provisional, meaning existing in the present but able to be changed at some point in the future. Finally, this helps with the first blank. The absence of (C) irrefutable proof, or a perfect proof, is not a problem, as a theory can always be tested further.

Amongst Irish-American playwrights of the early 20th Century, her work stood out as a(n) ____________, not so much because of its striking originality but because other contemporaneous works tended to be ____________ on most social issues. Her plays, by contrast, allowed the audience to come to its own conclusions, a technique that foreshadowed much of 20th century theatre. Blank (i) exemplar precursor anomaly Blank (ii) unyielding dogmatic reticent

Answers: (C), (E) We use "not so much because of its striking originality but because other contemporaneous works tended to be..." as our clue for the first blank is because it IMMEDIATELY modifies/describes the word in the first blank. What's most important is that her work is DIFFERENT from her contemporaries. (C) anomaly works best. (A) exemplar doesn't work because there's no clue that says other authors should imitate her work. In fact, we know that other authors didn't imitate it, because this work had "originality." (B) precursor describes something that precedes the advent of another thing. It is incorrect, because the paragraph does not mention that her work preceded that of her contemporaries, and "stand out as a precursor" is not a normal English collocation. For the second blank, we want a word that contrasts with "allowed audience...conclusions." If other plays were (E) dogmatic, or opinionated, they did not allow audiences to "come to its own conclusions." (D) Unyielding is tempting in that it shares some meaning with dogmatic, but it doesn't carry the same meaning of trying to push an opinion on others, only that you refuse to change your own opinion. Since the audience is not trying to persuade the playwright (nor be any part of the conversation), it's less likely that we would describe those plays as "unyielding." "Dogmatic" is a better fit.

As spurious sightings of imaginary creatures that have captured the popular mind (i) ______________, however (ii) ________________ a story may be, once it has been circulated enough times, it will gather a patina of (iii) ______________. Blank (i) diminish entail suggest Blank (ii) clever apocryphal captivating Blank (iii) neglect truth deceit

Answers: (C), (E), (H) This is a rare Text Completion in which an answer choice couldn't even fit into the blank based on the syntax or structure of the sentence (try plugging in (A) and reading the sentence). However, (A) is tempting because we can create a sentence that kind of makes sense: We have fewer sightings but stories keep circulating and these stories become the truth. The problem, again, is with syntax. "However" is not used as a shift word indicating opposition. "However", in this sentence, means "to whatever extent". What the sentence is saying is that bogus (spurious) sighting of a creature (C) suggest, even if a story is totally ridiculous (apocryphal, which means of dubious authenticity, works best here), the story will take on an element of (H) truth.

James Clerk Maxwell once remarked that the best scientists are, in a sense, the ____________ ones; not hemmed in by the ____________ of their respective fields, they are able to approach problems with a(n) ____________ mind, so to speak. Blank (i) adaptable revolutionary ignorant Blank (ii) myopia preconceptions inertia Blank (iii) fertile rational empty

Answers: (C), (E), (I) Here it may be tempting to read the sentence and plug in (A) or (B). Both answers make sense. In fact, you could construct a legitimate sentence using (A) and (D)/(E) or (B) and (D)/(E). However, how would you create a coherent sentence with the third blank? Neither fertile nor rational are really backed up by words in the passage. Not being limited by their field's way of thinking doesn't quite imply a fertile mind. More likely, having a mind that is not stuck in a certain way of thinking would be one that is empty. You may argue that empty mind is too negative, but notice the words 'so to speak.' This is a phrase that translates to "metaphorically." Completing the third blank with 'empty' allows us to work back through the first two blanks. We want scientists with an empty mind, thus (C) ignorant works best. To be ignorant of what is going on in a specific field is not to be hemmed in by the preconceptions. Scientists are free to approach a problem on their own terms, learning as they go.

According to Lackmuller's latest screed, published under the title, Why We Can't Win at Their Game, special interest groups not nominally tied to ecological concerns have become so (i) ___________ the process of environmental policymaking that those groups who actually aim to ensure that corporate profit does not trump environmental health have been effectively (ii) __________. Lackmuller's contention, however, is (iii) __________ in that it fails to account for the signal achievements environmental groups have effected over the last 20 years—often to the chagrin of big business. Blank (i) marginalized in indebted to influential in Blank (ii) vindicated squelched lionized Blank (iii) somewhat tentative rarely myopic highly misleading

Answers: (C), (E), (I) The best way to approach this sentence is by seeing the clue at the very end "environmental groups...effected." Therefore, we know that environmental groups are doing good and that Lackmuller is ignoring them (the "however" tips us off that the third blank represents a shift from the rest of the sentence). Lackmuller, then, believes that groups not tied to the environment have become more (C) influential than groups that are actually protecting the environment from the government (these groups, he believes, have been suppressed. (E) squelched, which means to silence, works best. That brings us back to the third blank: Muller is wrong in believing the first part of the sentence because he ignores all the great things environmental groups have done. Therefore, (I) is the best.

The recent discovery of the existence of a far greater number of planets than had previously been thought only ______________ undergirds the argument for intelligent lifeforms; such an argument depends on more than a mere tally of planets, for only those planets that can form a viable atmosphere can host the conditions necessary for life. subtlyminimallyobliquelyretroactivelydiscursivelyindirectly

Answers: (C), (F) The case for extraterrestrial life depends on more than just the number of planets ("...more than a...planets). Thus, the discovery of new planets only indirectly supports (which is the meaning of undergird) the case for intelligent life. Whether the planets have a viable atmosphere more directly relates to the question of intelligent life forms. (A) and (B) somewhat make sense. But they create slightly different sentences meaning-wise.

The theoretical physicist, despite his mathematical training, oftentimes must deal with questions that fall under the realm of the philosophical. Nonetheless, he will often marshal formulae when they serve to ____________ a theory, notwithstanding the fact that many such theories are not ____________ empirical analysis, as those theories deal with questions whose answers may ultimately be unknowable. Blank (i) undermine conflate undergird Blank (ii) unrelated to commensurate with amenable to

Answers: (C), (F) The nonetheless indicates that the physicist is still a mathematician and will 'marshal formulae...' to support or (C) undergird a theory. '...questions...unknowable' indicates that theories are not subject or (F) amenable to empirical analysis.

All too often scientists are quick to ____________ findings that ostensibly fail to mesh with their own research; nonetheless, such a response is ____________ compared to the ____________, if not downright contemptuous, attitude they take towards a theory that questions the very foundation upon which their work rests. Blank (i) discuss doubt clutch at Blank (ii) unquestionably vitriolic positively muted slightly undiplomatic Blank (iii) complacent convivial dismissive

B, E, I It's a good idea to work backwards on this one, starting with the third blank last. There is apposition in the third blank, meaning that the blank has to be a softer version of 'downright contemptuous.' ((I) dismissive works well. There is also another apposition, at the sentence level, that is at work here. The first blank is a lesser degree of the third blank. Notice 'compared to the'. Now that we know 'dismissive' fits in the last blank we can find a softer version. (B) doubt is the only answer choice that is a lesser degree of (I) dismissive. Finally, (E) positively muted because it indicates that doubt is a much lesser degree of the 'dismissive, if not downright...' response.

That we may become flaccid after our rivals have been vanquished, and we are surrounded by those friendly to our interests, is in no way a(n) ____________ observation. Still, history is rife with examples where a sense of ____________ pervades once a people has achieved victory. Yet, even were this insight more ____________, few would take notice, as human nature is wont to ignore future threats in times of prosperity. Blank (i) pithy trite astounding Blank (ii) duty camaraderie complacency Blank (iii) widely circulated clearly unassailable hastily dismissed

C), (F), (G) A good way to tackle this question is by dealing with the last blank first. Human nature tends to discount the truth embodied in the insight from the first sentence ("wont to disregard..."). Even if the observation were more (G) widely circulated, few would notice/pay heed because of human nature. Dealing with the second blank, we need a word that matches up with multiple clues in the paragraph" "flaccid", "ignore future threats", "surrounded by those...interests". Complacency, which means happy and relaxed with one's achievements without being aware of future dangers", matches up much better than (E) camaraderie, which only superficially relates to the paragraph ("friendly to our interests"), while ignoring the other two clues. The first blank is tricky, and you may find yourself struggling between (B) and (C). If (B) trite, which means overused, and which typically modifies phrases or sayings, were the answer, the sentence would be implying that it is not at all well-known that people become complacent after a victory. In that case, the meaning of this sentence would clash with the second sentence, the one beginning with "still." "Still" is a contrast word, yet there is a continuation of meaning if we assume the first blank is (B) trite : if the observation is not at all trite/common, then we would expect people to be complacent (because they weren't aware of this observation). Again, there is no need for a shift word. But there is the shift word "still". Therefore there has to be contrast between the two parts. (C) correctly captures this: the observation is actually not at all astounding (or surprising), it is actually surprising how often people fall prey to the impulse to relax once they've attained victory. Remember, that the element of surprise/running contrary to expectations is a type of shift. The final "yet" shows us that even if the observation were more common (though the observation isn't that astounding to begin with), it is human nature to ignore future threats, or become complacent. Returning to the first blank, (A) pithy just means concise and to the point. The question of whether the observation is not concise doesn't really bear on the overall meaning of the paragraph, which focuses on how common the observation is. In other words, the observation is not that uncommon, yet in history people don't heed it. But even if the observation were more common people would continue to disregard it, because it is human nature to do so.

FAQ: When the word "still" is alone at the start of a sentence, what does it mean? Is it a shifter? Could you illustrate its usage using an example? A: You're right! "Still" can be a shifter. As in this example, it means something like "even so" or "nevertheless". For example: "Many species of whale are near extinction. Still, they are hunted for various reasons." "It rained the whole weekend. Still, we had a good time." It's not that formal, really—it's more common in speech—but it certainly may show up in text. :-)

FAQ: The third sentence talks about even if the statement was widely circulated, nobody would pay heed to it. This means that the statement is not "trite," which would work well for the first blank. Right? A: Your thought process is great—looking at the entire passage is definitely important in figuring out the best choices for each of the blanks. As you said, the third sentence talks about even if the statement was widely circulated, no one would take notice anyway. However, this would imply that the statement is trite, since "trite" means "something of little importance." So if something is not trite, that would mean it is important, so people would take notice if they were aware of it. This leaves "astounding" as the best answer.

Answer: (E) With 'except' questions, it is best to go through each answer choice. In this case, we are looking for an answer choice that does NOT help explain the increase in motorists caught by traffic cameras. Initially (A) may seem irrelevant. The last part of the sentence does give helpful info: "...more highways...cameras." (B) gives us a good reason for the increase: more traffic cameras. (C) is out because more vehicles on the road means more cars to ticket. (D) describes what is known as a speed trap. If there is a sudden drop in the posted limited, motorists are more likely to get tickets. Thus (D) can account for the increase in tickets. (E) may ostensibly provide an answer for the increase: drivers do not know they are being ticketed. But wait... from the very beginning drivers did not know they were being ticketed. Nothing has therefore changed from one June to the next. Therefore, (E) does not provide any insight into the increase; it is our answer.

Frequently Asked Questions: Can you explain more why (E) is correct? Again, we're specifically looking for a reason why the cameras caught more people. The point is that last June, there were cameras that the motorists didn't know about, and this June, the situation is the same. Nothing has changed from a year ago: motorists were not aware of the cameras last June and they remain oblivious a year later. There's no change given in (E). If nothing has changed, then that cannot explain the increase in the number caught by cameras. Why isn't choice A correct? Doesn't the fact that police are pulling over fewer motorists mean that (A) does not account for the trend cited in the passage? We're not concerned with the total number of people caught, nor about the relationship between police activity and the cameras. The question specifically asks about reasons for "an increase in the number of motorists caught speeding by traffic cameras." (A) explains this trend because it includes an increase in cameras, which could logically result in an increase in people caught speeding by cameras. As long as there are more cameras being installed and more people are caught that way, it would explain the phenomenon. What the police do is basically irrelevant. Why isn't choice C correct? Firstly, let's be clear on the phrase "in the last year..." This means that since last June, the population of Endsville has increased. Therefore, there are more vehicles on the road, and this fact can help to explain why more people are getting caught speeding. We don't have to assume that all the newcomers are speeders, only that some of them will at some point in time speed and be caught by a camera. Therefore the total number of people caught by cameras will have gone up since last year. What about choice D? (D) provides a reason increase in the number of motorists caught speeding. If there is a sudden drop in the posted speed limit, it's likely that more motorists will be over the now-lower speed limit, so they are more likely to get tickets. Thus (D) can account for the increase in tickets.

The argument: only a few of a famous artist's works, according to a computer program, are forgeries; therefore, the artist's reputation will be unaffected. The correct answer will indicate that the artist's reputation actually will be compromised by the computer results. (A) points to the fact that the results of the computer tests may not be accurate. In other words, if it is likely that some of the Flemish artist's paintings identified as forgeries are not actually forgeries, then the conclusion is supported. Let's assume that (B) is correct: many of the artist's well-known works are in a private collection. Does that mean the artist's reputation will be hurt? Without knowing anything about whether the works in private collection are or are not forgeries, we do not what impact they will have on his reputation. Had (B) said that the artist's well-known works in private collections were also identified as forgeries, then it would have been the correct answer. If (C) is true, then the artist is in trouble, since the reason we consider him a great artist in the first place is because he painted these works. To give a real life example, let's say we find out the best-known works of Da Vinci (yes, that means you, Mona Lisa) were actually painted by a forger. Our perception of Da Vinci as a great painter would surely change. If we assume (D) is true, does that weaken the argument? Well, we know that some of the artist's less-known works are forgeries. That in of itself doesn't hurt his reputation, since these paintings aren't important. One could argue, "what if the better known works the museums didn't offer up are forgeries?". Well, then that would make (D) the answer. But we can't assume that is the case because it could very well be that none of the better known works are forgeries. (E) is incorrect. It is the original artist's reputation at stake; if his paintings are forgeries, it does not matter who the forger was.

Important strategy: You might have noticed that in a few of the more tempting answer choices, I assumed the wrong answer to be true, and then worked backwards. In other words, I tried to "poke holes" in the answer choice assuming that it was true. Often, we try to find ways in which an answer could be true, and therein lies some of the trouble on the more difficult questions. Notice, in (D), a common temptation is to add on to it, "If I assume that the better known paintings in the museum are also forgeries, then (D) works". Bringing in extra assumptions is what can often happen when you are trying to prove that an answer is right, instead of trying to "poke holes in it".

As to when the first people populated the American subcontinents is hotly debated. Until recently, the Clovis people, based on evidence found in New Mexico, were thought to have been the first to have arrived, some 13,000 years ago. Yet evidence gathered from other sites suggest the Americas had been settled at least 1,000 years prior to the Clovis. The "Clovis first" idea, nonetheless, was treated as gospel, backed by supporters who, at least initially, outright discounted any claims that suggested precedence by non-Clovis people. While such a stance smacked of fanaticism, proponents did have a solid claim: if the Clovis peoples crossed the Bering Strait 13,000 years ago, only after it had become ice-free, how would a people have been able to make a similar trip but over ice? A recent school of thought, backed by Weber, provides the following answer: pre-Clovis people reached the Americas by relying on a sophisticated maritime culture, which allowed them to take advantage of refugia, or small areas in which aquatic life flourished. Thus they were able to make the long journey by hugging the coast as far south as to what is today British Columbia. Additionally, they were believed to have fashioned a primitive form of crampon so that they would be able to dock in these refugia and avail themselves of the microfauna. Still, such a theory begs the question as to how such a culture developed.

In the context in which it appears, the phrase "avail themselves of" most nearly means locate exploit regard fathom distribute Answer: (B) The context is that the pre-Clovis people are able to take advantage of local microfauna, which basically means little sea creatures floating about. 'Take advantage of' matches nicely with 'exploit.' Remember, 'exploit' does not always have a negative connotation. (C) regard does not capture the positive relationship between the microfauna and the pre-Clovis people.

The American colonists were less interested in maple syrup than in granular sugar. The pure, white, crystallized product of sugar cane was still an expensive luxury, imported from plantations in the West Indies. Maple sugar offered an accessible and affordable substitute. These colonists, out on the imperial periphery, wanted to demonstrate that their fledgling society was just as sophisticated and elegant as that of England. They took the concentrated maple sap and poured it into conical molds, refining it into white sugar-loaves like those produced in Britain from cane syrup. Maple sugar, a distinctively American product, was touted as the equal of the sugar served in the most elegant Old World salons. The clearest syrups and whitest sugars, which betrayed the least hint of their rustic origins, commanded premium prices.

In the context in which it is used, 'betrayed' (in the last sentence) most nearly means deniedoffered upsuggestedacted traitorouslyleaked Answer: (C) The context is that clear syrups do not want to be associated with maple syrups, even if maple syrup is their original source. We can infer from the passage that maple sugar has rustic origins, origins the colonists want to not draw attention to (otherwise they won't be able to sell the syrup for as much). In this sense, (C) works best. After all, the colonists do not want their wonderful clear maple syrup to suggest its rustic origins. (A) is wrong because syrup cannot deny anything. People deny. (B) is tempting because "offer" is similar to "give," which makes some sense in context, but the phrasal verb "offer up" is usually used when making an offering to somebody or something higher—a religious sacrifice, for example—or in exchange for something. It implies that the person who receives the offer could turn it down. That doesn't make sense in this passage. (D), which tests the other definition of betrayed, does not fit the context at all.

Even if one subscribes to this line of reasoning, the "Clovis first" school still have an objection: proponents of a pre-Clovis people rely solely on the Monte Verde site in Chile, a site so far south that its location begs yet another question: What of the 6,000 miles of coastline between the ice corridor and Monte Verde? Besides remains found in a network of caves in Oregon, there has been scant evidence of a pre-Clovis people. Nonetheless, Meade and Pizinsky claim that a propitious geologic accident could account for this discrepancy: Monte Verde was located near a peat bog that essentially fossilized the village. Archaeologists uncovered two wooden stakes, which, at one time, were used in twelve huts. Furthermore, plant species associated with areas 150 miles away were found, suggesting a trade network. These findings indicate that the Clovis may not have been the first to people the Americas, yet more excavation, both in Monte Verde and along the coast, must be conducted in order to determine the extent of pre-Clovis settlements in the Americas.

It can be inferred from the passage that the reason the author finds the Solutrean hypothesis both startling and paradoxical is that - ancient cultures were most likely unable to develop such a sophisticated form of maritime transport that they were able to cross the Atlantic - it supports the Clovis school of thought, and posits the existence of a capacity not commonly associated with ancient people - the Clovis people had crossed from Siberia navigating across a difficult ice corridor, whereas the pre-Clovis people had sailed, with far less difficulty, across the Atlantic ocean -it suggests that the pre-Clovis people had a way to circumvent the ice-corridor, yet were unlikely to have traveled as far south as modern day Chile - it runs counter to one of the chief tenets of the "Clovis first" school of thought

Contrary to her claims of fiscal clairvoyance, she had nary a(n) ________ that the market would take such an inauspicious tumble. predilectioninklinginterestpresentimentqualmreservation

Text Explanation (B) inkling and (D) presentiment are the correct answers. The clues are "contrary...clairvoyance....nary a". Contrary signals a shift - she is not able to predict the future (clairvoyant) and hand no (nary) a "clue" that the market would suffer. Therefore we match up our own word (clue) with the two answer choices (B) and (D).

Unless the government can dispense with the heretofore ________ remedies it has used to confront the recent economic downturn, the population will continue to suffer, both physically and under the delusion that the government actually endeavored to handle the crisis in an innovative fashion. untestedspurioustransitoryfleetingprosaicpedestrian

Text Explanation (E) prosaic and (F) pedestrian are the correct answers. The clues are "dispense...heretofore...innovative fashion." The government was offering remedies that were not innovative. We need two words that are the opposite of innovative. (E) prosaic and (F) pedestrian are best, both mean lacking originality, dull, uninspired. (B) spurious doesn't work because it does not relate to the clue word nor does it have a synonym pair. (C) and (D), while synonyms, have no clues in the sentence suggesting that the remedies were short-lasting.

More capacious than ponderous, the most recent incarnation in a line of Melville biographies, Philbrick's "Moby Dick" (a barefaced titular homage to Melville's iconic novel on a white whale) has the wild and unpredictable energy of the great white whale itself, more than enough to heave its significance out of what Melville called "the universal cannibalism of the sea" and into the light. According to Philbrick, Melville, in his rightly lionized novel, "Moby Dick", challenged the form of the novel decades before James Joyce, and a century before Thomas Pynchon or David Foster Wallace. Calling for tools befitting the ambition of his task — "Give me a condor's quill! Give me Vesuvius's crater for an ink stand!" — Melville substituted dialogue and stage direction for a chapter's worth of prose. He halted the action to include a parody of the scientific classification of whales, a treatise on the whale as represented in art, a meditation on the complexity of rope, whatever snagged his attention. Reporting the exact day and time of his writing in a parenthetical aside, he "pulled back the fictive curtain and inserted a seemingly irrelevant glimpse of himself in the act of composition," the moment Philbrick identifies as his favorite in the novel. Melville may not have called this playfulness metafiction, but he defied strictures that shaped the work of his contemporaries.

Which of the following does the passage NOT suggest? - Melville was not averse to furnishing points tangential to the plot - Melville directly inspired Philbrick's approach to writing - Melville took liberties with his prose that compromised the quality of his writing Answers: (B), (C) The passage suggests (A): "he halted the action to include..." Therefore (A) is incorrect. Nowhere does it say Melville directly inspired Philbrick. Therefore the passage does not imply this, so (B) is an answer. The passage does not imply that Melville's experimentation "compromised the quality of his writing." After all, the passage describes Moby Dick as a "rightly lionized novel." Frequently Asked Questions: I'm having trouble understanding choice (A) and the sentence "He halted the action to include..." The key sentence regarding choice (A) comes at the end of the 2nd paragraph: "He halted the action to include a parody of the scientific classification of whales, a treatise on the whale as represented in art, a meditation on the complexity of rope, whatever snagged his attention." This means that Melville stopped the plot of the story to discuss information that is tangential to, or not directly related to, the story. This includes information about the scientific classification of whales, whales in art, the complexity of rope, etc. Therefore, Melville was not averse to furnishing, or providing, points tangential to the plot. The question asks us which statements are NOT supported by the passage. (A) is supported in the passage, and therefore we cannot choose it.

Which of the following can be supported by the passage? - Melville biographies are not uncommon - In terms of scope and ambition, Philbrick's work parallels Melville's "Moby Dick" - Melville self-consciously indulged in metafictional devices

The function of the lines beginning with "Melville substituted dialogue..." is to illustrate the way in which Melville - adhered to the structure of the novel prevalent during his time - used a variety of different forms in his novel - questioned a particular genre of writing - approached writing in way different from Philbrick - ineffectively subverted a conventional approach to writing Answer: (B) In these lines, the passage elaborates on the variety of devices Melville employs: treatises, parody, etc. Therefore (B) is the best answer. According to the passage, Melville definitely did not adhere to the "structure of the novel...time." So (A) is wrong. (C) is wrong because though Melville was clearly experimenting, he never questions a particular genre. While in all likelihood, Melville approached writing differently from Philbrick, the function of these lines is not to bring attention to this fact, thus (D) is incorrect. The word 'ineffectively' makes (E) incorrect.

Vladimir Nabokov, the scientist and the author have been treated as discrete manifestations of a prodigious and probing mind, until now. In her recent biography on Nabokov, Temoshotka makes the bold assertion that these two apparently disparate realms of Nabokov's polymorphous genius were not so unrelated after all. While Temoshotka cannot be faulted for the boldness of her thesis—Nabokov's hobby as a lepidopterist (a butterfly collector) and his experience as a novelist informed each other—she fails to make a convincing case. Surely, with enough ingenuity, one can find parallels, as Temoshotka does, between the creative products of Nabokov the naturalist and Nabokov the writer: the intricate butterfly wings that he pored over in his laboratory and the intricate prose that he crafted with sedulous care. But to say the prose of Lolita and Speak Memory would not have coalesced into their current incarnations had Nabokov's hobby been, say, lawn tennis is simply reaching too far.

The primary purpose of the passage is to - analyze several conflicting interpretations of an author's work - champion a specific interpretation of a writer's works - challenge a common understanding of a well-known writer - applaud an undertaking but question the validity of its claims - support a claim regarding an author's creative process, but doubt the extent of that claim Answer: (D) (D) is the best answer because the passage does commend Temoshotka on the boldness of her thesis but ultimately he questions the validity of the claim. (A) is wrong. There are no 'conflicting interpretations' involved. (B) is wrong because the author calls attention to the dubious nature of Temoshotka's claims. The passage challenges a specific interpretation of an author's work. That is not the same as (C). (E) is wrong because the text applauds/supports the cleverness and the boldness of the claim but not the claim itself.

The history of science can be viewed as the recasting of phenomena that were once thought to be accidents as phenomena that can be understood in terms of fundamental causes and principles. One can add to the list of the fully explained: the hue of the sky, the orbits of planets, the angle of the wake of a boat moving through a lake. All these phenomena and many more, once thought to have been fixed at the beginning of time or to be the result of random events thereafter, have been explained as necessary consequences of the fundamental laws of nature--laws discovered by human beings. This long and appealing trend may be coming to an end. Dramatic developments in cosmological findings and thought have led some of the world's premier physicists to propose that our universe is only one of an enormous number of universes with wildly varying properties, and that some of the most basic features of our particular universe are indeed mere accidents. In which case, there is no hope of ever explaining our universe's features in terms of fundamental causes and principles.

The way science has progressed, according to the first sentence, is ironic in that - this process could break down when we try to understand our universe - many phenomena in the universe once thought of as accidents can be explained according to fundamental laws - science has not always been able to explain phenomena by understanding their causal nature - though it originally applied to readily observable phenomena now applies to something as vast as the very universe - few had anticipated that science would evolve in such a direction Answer: (A) (A) is correct because trying to recast phenomenon as adhering to some fundamental law (the thrust of science thus far) will break down when we try to understand our universe ("...there is no hope of ever explaining...principles."). (B) describes how science has progressed. There is, however, no irony. (C) may be true but does not answer the question. (D) is wrong because there is no mention of 'readily observable phenomenon.' (E) is wrong because we do not know about the expectations of scientists, regarding the progression of science.

Was T.S. Eliot a great letter writer? Not on the evidence gathered in a recently emerged folio of letters penned during his tenure as the chief editor of Criterion, a once popular literary publication. Although we are offered a vivid picture of the single-handed daily management of a high-minded literary magazine, few of the Criterion letters are riveting or revelatory, and they are couched in a scrupulously courteous register that becomes wearisome when read in quantity. But the dazzling roster of correspondents makes even the most humdrum exchanges of interest. The big names - Wyndham Lewis, Ezra Pound, Virginia Woolf and W B Yeats - are well represented, along with an illustrious cast of literary worthies from Auden (his first appearance in the letters being a courteous rejection note) to Gertrude Stein (another rejection, rather less courteous), Robert Graves (a quarrel) and Thomas McGreevy, Criterion contributor and close friend of Samuel Beckett, whose recently published letters vie with Eliot's as essential purchases for anyone with an interest in modern writing.

What aspect of Eliot's letter writing does the author specifically address? - Their formality - Their multifacetedness - Their expansive scope - Their renown - Their superficiality Answer: (A) "Couched in a scrupulously..." indicates that the letters were bland and formal. Thus (A). The only expansive scope relates to the range of the "dazzling roster..." The letters themselves, though, were not known for their scope. Therefore (C) is wrong. (E) is incorrect because to be courteous is not the same as to be superficial.

The prevalence of a simian virus has been directly correlated with population density in gorillas. Recent fieldwork in the Republic of Dunaga, based on capturing gorillas and testing the gorillas for the virus, has shown that Morgania Plain gorillas are more than twice as likely to be infected than are the Kogula Mountain gorillas. Nevertheless, the population density of Koluga gorillas is significantly greater than that of Morgania gorillas.

Which of the following could best account for the discrepancy noted above? - During periods of little rainfall, Koluga gorillas often wander down into the plains in search of food. - Dormant strains of the simian virus are often difficult to detect. - Due to the Morgania gorilla's natural habitat and its less reclusive nature, researchers have tested a greater number of Koluga gorillas than Morgania gorillas. - Infected Koluga gorillas behave very aggressively and are more difficult to subdue for testing. - The Koluga and the Morgania both have similar markings on their backs but are classified as different subspecies

In 1883, the Indonesian island Krakatoa, home to a massive volcano, seemingly disappeared overnight as an eruption rent the entire island apart, catapulting rock and debris into the atmosphere. For the next years, as ash circled the entire globe, the average world temperature dropped by several degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, an eruption of similar power in terms of the amount of debris ejected into the atmosphere will likely cause the average temperature around the world to drop by several degrees.

Which of the following, if true, best challenges the main claim of the argument? - The eruption of the Indonesian island of Tambora was even larger than that of Krakatoa, yet the average world temperature did not drop as much as it did following the eruption of Krakatoa. - In 1883, the ocean-atmospheric phenomenon La Nina occurred, an event that is always followed by a drop of several degrees in the world's average temperature. - Due to the effects of climate change, the average world temperature has been steadily increasing over the last few decades. - According to sophisticated computer analysis, the eruption of Mt. Toba between 69,000 and 77,000 years ago, one of the most powerful ever, may have hastened an ice age. - No volcanic eruption in the 20th century was close to the magnitude of the Krakatoa eruption, yet average world temperatures dropped between 1950 and 1960.

Art Historian: Recently, computer analysis has revealed that a few of a famous Flemish artist's works are forgeries, and are actually the work of noted forger Elmyr de Hory. While such a development may emit violent reverberations through the art world, even those museums that have a wealth of the Flemish artist in their collections should not be overly concerned. Hundreds of this Flemish artist's works were tested to determine whether they were forgeries, yet only a slim few turned out to be actual forgeries. Thus, the master's reputation as one of the greatest artists humanity has ever produced will surely remain undiminished.

Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the art historian's conclusion? - The computer analysis involved is more likely to mistake an actual work as a forgery than to mistake a forgery as an actual work. - Many of the Flemish artist's well known portraits are in the collection of private owners and were therefore not subjected to computer analysis. - Some of the works upon which the Flemish artist's standing rests were identified by the computer analysis to be the work of de Hory. - Some museums, worrying that their most prized painting from the Flemish artist would be deemed forgeries, and thus lose value, only offered up the artist's lesser known works for computer analysis. - Though few in the art world dispute the outcome of the computer analysis of the Flemish artist's work, many contend that the identified forgeries are not the work of Elmyr de Hory but some other highly skilled forger.

Answer: (D) The greater the population density the greater the chance a gorilla is infected. Koluga gorillas have a greater population density than Morgania gorillas, therefore one would expect them to be more likely to have the virus. But based on captured gorillas, the Morgania gorillas are more likely to be infected. The paradox can best be resolved by (D). If scientists are far more likely to capture non-infected than infected Kogula gorillas, than that accounts for the difference in results. (A) would be correct if the passage mentioned that researchers only captured the gorillas in the plains, and uninfected Koluga gorillas are more likely to venture out of their natural habitat. (B)does not differentiate between the two gorillas so it unlikely to help resolve the discrepancy. (C) is similar but different. It is not the total number of captured Kogulas that is important. 'Twice as likely' is based on rate not total number. (E) is out of scope.

d

FAQ: In the second blank, I chose "camaraderie" because we are surrounded by our friends based on the first sentence. Why does "complacency" work? A: You're totally right that "camaraderie" would work as an answer here. However, the GRE asks for the best answer, so we need to look at the rest of the passage to figure out the best answer. From the first and last sentences, we know that people are "flaccid" after winning a war or conflict. They are surrounded by political friends and are ignoring future threats. All these indicate that the people are complacent—not worried about any future problems and satisfied with their achievements. So even though one of these clues might point to "camaraderie" as a potential answer, all three clues point to "complacency", so it is the best choice.

q

Answer: (A) The author never mentions the direction in which Neptune rotates as a factor in Galileo's oversight. It only says "apparent backward motion", which is not the same as actual rotation. Therefore (A) is correct. (B) is wrong because the author states, "...created when the orbit...past an outer planet." (C) is incorrect because the passage says, in relation to the two planets that they "appeared very close." (D) is incorrect because the passage states, "far too slight...Galileo's small telescope."

s

Answer: (B) The argument assumes that one event caused another event. In this case, the volcano eruption, and the subsequent debris pushed into the atmosphere, led to a drop in global temps. The correct answer will provide another cause to the drop in global temperatures. Only (B) does so. Note, (B) is not saying that the volcano did not cause any drop in temperature, but it attacks the part of the conclusion that states that a volcanic eruption of equal intensity will cause the same drop in temperature. If La Nina was responsible for compounding the drop in temperature, then a similar eruption, without the attendant La Nina, would not necessarily result in the same drop. (A) is really tempting. The reason it is not the answer is it does not address the conclusion as directly as (B). Though Tambora was a larger eruption, the conclusion states, "in terms of the amount of debris ejected into the atmosphere". We do not know if Tambora ejected more debris into the atmosphere than did Krakatoa. (C) states that temperatures worldwide have been increasing. That does not mean that a massive eruption could not lead to a drop in world temperatures. (D) is a general fact that does not relate to the argument. (E) is wrong because the drop in temperatures is not related to any eruption. Thus, (E) is irrelevant.

s

FAQ: Why not "intrusive?" A: I can see why "intrusive" is a tempting answer because the second part of the sentence does refer to some intrusive behavior by Mozart's father. However, the second part of the sentence gives us evidence for "quantifiable" by saying that "Mozart's genius then is no divine blessing." This represents the old way of thinking: that talent magically or divinely appeared in a person. Instead, the new school of thinking believes that his talent "is simply the result of a patriarchal father who stressed, above else, thousands upon thousands of hours of grueling practice." In other words, the new school of thought believes that there are "known" or "quantifiable" reasons that Mozart's talent came to be—not "intrusive" reasons that Mozart's talent came to be.

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