24
17-8 The experts could not believe that a beginner had created such an accomplished work: they found the idea _____. A. capricious B. implausible C. coincidental D. arbitrary E. circumstantial F. incredible
BF
15-30 The new composite material exhibits an extraordinary degree of ____, which enables it to be molded into almost any shape. A. plasticity B. resonance C. malleability D. buoyancy E. impermeability F. empathy
AC
15-33 Zoologists hope to learn whether minor variations in the migration routes of certain animals are intentional or merely ____. A. fortuitous B. legendary C. accidental D. deliberate E. accomplished F. willful
AC
16-26 Years of neglect had left the inside of the building in ____ condition: workstations were filthy and furnishings were dilapidated. A. a squalid B. a volatile C. a sordid D. a rudimentary E. a cataclysmic F. a catastrophic
AC
16-27 The Wild Parrots of Telegraphy Hill is only ____ about birds; despite its title, the documentary actually examines human relationships. A. ostensibly B. distinctively C. seemingly D. saliently E. noticeably F. intelligibly
AC
17-22 Certain museum antiquities are of questionable legal status, tainted by histories of bribery, thievery, and other ____ activities. A. illicit B. provincial C. illegitimate D. provocative E. sovereign F. piquing
AC
18-34 The biographer now displays greater ____ in her work: she explores the feelings and motives of her subjects with deeper insight than she once did. A. transference B. bewilderment C. empathy D. perplexity E. suspense F. impatience
AC
11-1 Extensive travel afforded Langston Hughes a_____ perspective, but it was Harlem that served as the creative _____ for his writing. A. worldly D. inspiration B. stunted E. defense C. parochial F. obligation
AD
11-10 Popular interest in music performed by folk singer Jean Ritchie acted as a _____ because it _____ a wider interest in the music of Ritchie`s native Kentucky. A. catalyst D. stirred B. panacea E. overcame C. barrier F. mitigated
AD
11-6 Far from being _____, bears in some national parks are surprisingly _____ when approached by humans; still, visitors must exercise caution. A. aggressive D. placid B. benign E. frisky C. reticent F. cantankerous
AD
12-23 The author`s love of harmonious and pleasing sounds was reflected in the ______ phrases of her fiction. A. mellifluous B. perfidious C. bellicose D. euphonious E. sympathetic F. commiserative
AD
13-16 Patricia Roberts Harris is considered a _____, having been the first African American woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. A. pioneer B. visionary C. pundit D. groundbreaker E. bureaucrat F. polymath
AD
13-4 Commentators suggested that many students of the 1950s were _____ radical politics because they saw nothing in American life against which they should revolt. A. apathetic to B. susceptible to C. implicated in D. indifferent to E. discreet about F. prudent in
AD
14-20 Rebecca knew that to finish her project she must overcome her tendency toward ____ and learn to make up her mind. A. indecision B. independence C. buoyancy D. irresolution E. expertise F. autonomy
AD
14-35 Eager to maintain the party`s lighthearted atmosphere, the host skillfully averted ____ between two of his guests with ____ change of subject. A. a quarrel D. a diplomatic B. a friendship E. an ineffectual C. an respite F. an irritating
AD
14-38 On Gold Mountain is both ____ and ____; by recounting her Chinese American relatives` lives, Lisa See also illuminates the larger story of the immigrant experience in the United States. A. particular D. universal B. conspicuous E. ornate C. austere F. exclusive
AD
16-10 The delegates` behavior at the convention was utterly disgraceful and fully deserving of the ____ it provoked. A. rancor B. lethargy C. commiseration D. animosity E. compunction F. misgiving
AD
16-18 Some environmentalists fear that the practices contributing to global warming are so ____ in industrialized nations that there are no simple ways to ____ their effects. A. established D. alleviate B. latent E. enhance C. ephemeral F. disregard
AD
16-20 Unsuccessful in her first campaigns, Barbara Jordan ____, eventually becoming the first Black woman elected to the Texas State Senate. A. persisted B. gloated C. retired D. persevered E. terminated F. despaired
AD
17-28 lms and paintings ____ a similar challenge: to ____ the viewer`s eye that a two-dimensional surface actually has depth. A. share D. persuade B. overlook E. warn C. disprove F. question
AD
18-19 Because these speeding particles` compositions were quite different from those of other low-energy cosmic rays, scientists dubbed them ____ cosmic rays. A. abnormal B. transitory C. resilient D. anomalous E. ephemeral F. intermittent
AD
11-29 As the name suggests, a geochronologist is a scientist who _____ terrestrial materials in order to _____ them. A. analyzes D. display B. combines E. date C. disregards F. excavate
AE
11-37 Critics characterized the memoir as _____ because of the author`s excessively sentimental description of her childhood. A. maudlin B. candid C. motley D. enigmatic E. lachrymose F. eclectic
AE
12-11 The critic noted that the ______ tone that characterizes much of the writer`s work stands in stark contrast to his gentle dispositions. A. strident B. somber C. stoic D. gracious E. grating F. benign
AE
12-13 Peter was_____ without being______: he held fast to his beliefs but avoided arguing about them with others. A. resolute D. acquiescent B. haphazard E. polemical C. sentimental F. philanthropic
AE
12-3 The attempts of epidemiologists to______ the infectious disease ultimately proved futile: as soon as they managed to _____it in one community, it would emerge somewhere else. A. contain D. extend B. replicate E. check C. defend F. unleash
AE
12-5 The award-winning novel is such ______ tale that its very intricacy has a daunting effect on readers. A. a convoluted B. a culpable C. a succinct D. an enthralling E. an involved F. a gripping
AE
12-8 Selecting not to stay in subordinate positions in large firms, some attorneys ______, seeking more______ and independence elsewhere. A. resign D. conformity B. persevere E. autonomy C. acquiesce F. banality
AE
13-23 His book on the history of science is admittedly conventional, perhaps even ______; nevertheless it is ______ work that covers a formidable amount of ground. A. pedestrian D. a superficial B. inscrutable E. an edifying C. audacious F. a contentious
AE
13-9 Anishinabe activist Winona LaDuke has worked to _____ many parcels of tribal land that, over decades, have been lost through sales or foreclosures. A. retrieve B. publicize C. repress D. subdue E. recover F. abolish
AE
14-23 Jason`s gullibility was remarkable: he ____ the most outrageous assertions and was therefore much too easily _____. A. trusted D. apprehended B. proposed E. deluded C. repeated F. imitated
AE
15-22 Metis, the innermost ____ of Jupiter, completes a full revolution around this giant planet every seven hours. A. moon B. constellation C. core D. midpoint E. satellite F. atmosphere
AE
15-23 Civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer's statement ''I`m sick and tired of being sick and tired" was an intentional ____ that illustrated Hamer's _____ about the plight of African Americans in the 1960s. A. redundancy D. insouciance B. euphemism E. frustration C. paradox F. exultation
AE
17-17 The scientists hypothesized that the newly discovered virus multiplies by _____ living cells, where the viral genetic material uses the cellular materials of the host to _____ new viruses. A. invading D. extinguish B. shunning E. manufacture C. purifying F. restore
AE
18-24 The mayor`s reelection by an overwhelming majority was not so much an endorsement of his administration`s ____ as it was a ____ of his opponent`s extreme views. A. policies D. vindication B. adversities E. repudiation C. indifference F. dissemination
AE
18-31 Unlike her predecessor`s rambling prose, Susan Hubel's reports were both ____ and comprehensive. A. laconic B. complete C. intractable D. banal E. succinct F. exhaustive
AE
11-32 The company manager was known for both his _____ and his _____: he lied frequently, but did so with amazing flair. A. duplicity D. corruption B. brashness E. extravagance C. evasiveness F. panache
AF
11-38 Ernest Gaines`s A Lesson Before Dying is _____ of rural Louisiana: the writing is so evocative that the Southern atmosphere seems almost to _____ from the book`s pages. A. redolent D. ebb B. dismissive E. veer C. critical F. waft
AF
12-1 Momentum gathered for a new property tax, but the ______ from home owners was so great that this proposal had to be ______. A. backlash D. endorsed B. publicity E. revealed C. penalty F. abandoned
AF
12-17 Some readers find the crime fiction for Patricia Highsmith to be______ because her protagonists are not always punished for their ______. A. immoral D. altruism B. ethical E. temperance C. redemptive F. transgressions
AF
12-18 People did not suddenly learn to use fire, but did so slowly over time with countless advances offset by ______ period. A. recessive B. fertile C. accumulated D. contemplative E. explosive F. regressive
AF
12-20 Because her new job required daily attendance, Joan was obliged to ______ her formerly ______ lifestyle as a traveling musician. A. relinquish D. sedentary B. perpetuate E. lavish C. glorify F. itinerant
AF
12-25 The speaker announced that her primary focus would be on broad global concerns rather than on ______ issues. A. parochial B. substantive C. disputatious D. contentious E. contemporary F. insular
AF
18-6 Ellen respects Gary`s qualities of broad-mindedness and humanism;she cannot, however, ____ them with his ____ support of a political creed that seems to oppose precisely those qualities. A. repudiate D. dogmatic B. reconcile E. wavering C. undermine F. jingoistic
BD
11-15 Despite his brilliant career, Gerald was plagued by doubts and could not _____ his feeling of ____. A. fathom D. superiority B. embrace E. levity C. dispel F. inferiority
BE
12-29 His goal was to ______ the committee`s deliberations, and a measure of his success was the ease with which a decision was reached. A. perplex B. accelerate C. facilitate D. debilitate E. exacerbate F. obfuscate
BC
13-15 Marine biologists consider sea otters _____ eaters because otters select only two or three kinds of prey out of thirty potential food sources. A. irregular B. discriminating C. finicky D. carnivorous E. temperate F. abstemious
BC
14-25 The editorial charged that some contemporary music ____ fundamental social values by glamorizing what is essentially an outlaw lifestyle. A. enjoins B. erodes C. debauches D. spawns E. escalates F. augments
BC
15-15 Because only a few speakers of northern Australia`s Gagadju language remain, the deaths of these tribal elders may mean the _____ of their mostly oral traditions. A. dissemination B. extinction C. annihilation D. vindication E. diffusion F. interpretation
BC
15-18 Although many swimmers fear encountering jellyfish in the ocean, most species are actually _____ and do no harm to humans. A. amorphous B. innocuous C. benign D. perplexing E. perilous F. jeopardizing
BC
15-37 What had begun as good-natured teasing quickly gave way to ____ as the lost hikers blamed one another for their predicament. A. supplications B. recriminations C. censure D. permutations E. entreaties F. musings
BC
16-31 NASA engineer Gloria Yamauchi uses ____ approach to research, in that it draws on physics, aerodynamics, mathematics, and other fields. A. a self-evident B. an interdisciplinary C. an eclectic D. an economical E. an impractical F. an unfeasible
BC
17-12 Climbing the steep mountainside could make even experienced climbers _____; not surprisingly, June, a novice, felt dizzy while still at the bottom. A. indefatigable B. vertiginous C. woozy D. pugnacious E. ambiguous F. equivocal
BC
17-14 When acid rain attacks stone, it does not remain confined to the surface; instead, it _____ the stone. A. displaces B. pierce C. penetrates D. illuminates E. distill F. purifies
BC
17-2 Judy Dater`s photographs depict everyday reality while also evoking qualities so _____ that few photographers can capture them. A. unwavering B. ephemeral C. fleeting D. immovable E. dreary F. steadfast
BC
17-3 The visually striking movie was diminished by its _____ content: its characters were inane, and its story was unintelligent. A. dire B. vacuous C. vacant D. exorbitant E. extravagant F. maudlin
BC
18-22 For centuries, Mars has been called the "Red Planet," but the designation is ____, because Mars is not precisely red. A. a technicality B. a misnomer C. an inaccuracy D. an understatement E. an aphorism F. an epigram
BC
18-27 To call Carlos ____ would be to mistake his natural self-confidence and youthful high spirits for willful defiance. A. crooked B. contumacious C. obstreperous D. duplicitous E. incredulous F. voracious
BC
11-16 Jane was both _____ and ____: she was blatantly proud and offensively bold. A. irresolute D. impudent B. haughty E. articulate C. reverential F. loquacious
BD
11-24 Although strangers compliment the comedian on her work repeatedly, almost _____, she is always moved by such enthusiastic encouragement. A. tenuously B. unintermittently C. steadfastly D. incessantly E. inimitably F. staunchly
BD
11-25 In contrast to the _____ maneuvers of his colleagues, Roberto`s business relations were always open and aboveboard. A. convivial B. clandestine C. steadfast D. surreptitious E. frank F. straightforward
BD
11-3 Despairing that the performance of the chief executive would ever improve, the corporation`s board of directors took decisive action and _____ him. A. coddled B. banished C. teased D. ousted E. chided F. taunted
BD
12-14 African American poet Lucille Clifton writes in a notably ______ style, achieving great impact in a few unadorned works. A. incantatory B. economical C. disaffected D. unembellished E. munificent F. unstinting
BD
12-21 As scientist at the Smithsonian have observed, the institution`s range of scientific inquiry may be ______, but its financial resources are far less ______. A. predictable D. extensive B. vast E. stable C. admirable F. limited
BD
12-22 As advocates of free speech confront those who would regulate entertainment strictly, the debate over shocking content in movies will likely ______. A. abate B. escalate C. mediate D. wax E. decline F. conclude
BD
12-26 The scientist warned that global warming might ______ a dangerous ______ of some mosquito-borne disease, resulting in an increasing number of epidemics around the world. A. precede D. resurgence B. stimulate E. decline C. eliminate F. quarantine
BD
12-27 The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were the era when Pueblo pottery was least likely to be ______ and from which consequently, the fewest authentic examples ______. A. discovered D. survive B. preserved E. disappear C. promoted F. originate
BD
12-36 To keep their negotiations ______, the leaders of rival groups in the country arranged meetings that were ______. A. relaxed D. clandestine B. secret E. illicit C. productive F. prestigious
BD
12-39 The musical Scrambled Feir______ the ______ of the theatrical world, poking fun at actors, directors, play wrights, and audiences alike. A. glorifies D. denizens B. spoofs E. pitfalls C. avoids F. genres
BD
12-6 Women in the United States gained ______ long after Black American men did, but Black citizens had greater difficulty exercising their new voting rights. A. restitution B. suffrage C. solace D. franchise E. initiatives F. indemnification
BD
13-18 The foundation has been appropriately labeled _____ of the arts, as many painters and artists have received its financial support. A. a connoisseur B. a friend C. a virtuoso D. a patron E. an executor F. a beneficiary
BD
13-22 Gwendolyn Brooks was ______ writer: she wrote more than twenty books of poetry as well as numerous essays and reviews. A. an eloquent B. productive C. an idiosyncratic D. a prolific E. a fluent F. a subversive
BD
13-32 The singer displays her sensitivity to delicate shades of meaning and feeling in the recording: her performance is a model of ______. A. craftiness B. gradation C. denotation D. nuance E. parody F. artifice
BD
13-33 More concerned with contributing to science than with earning public acclaim, nineteenth-century astronomer Caroline Herschel ______ the ______ she received for her achievements. A. relished D. recognition B. resisted E. seclusion C. demanded F. subordination
BD
14-12 Chairperson and CEO Andrea Jung has revitalized her company, considered ____ in recent years, to one whose products now attract millions of consumers worldwide. A. avant-grade B. moribund C. auspicious D. dying E. propitious F. spurious
BD
14-17 Although many of the students had found the assignment _____, Harrison completed it with ease. A. frivolous B. laborious C. gratifying D. arduous E. agreeable F. timely
BD
14-24 Because curiosity is deemed the ____ of the scientific temperament, theoretical physicist Richard Feynman, renowned for his ceaseless questioning, was regarded by some as an ____ of the scientific spirit. A. bane D. incarnation B. essence E. adversary C. inverse F. inception
BD
14-33 While the official`s actions were widely denounced, they nonetheless ____, fully within the boundaries of recognized laws. A. profitable B. legal C. advantageous D. licit E. disturbing F. unforgivable were
BD
14-7 The two astronomers who simultaneously discovered Comet Hale-Bopp were ____: individuals pursuing astronomy as an interest, not as a profession. A. researchers B. amateurs C. skeptics D. dilettantes E. pioneers F. experimenters
BD
15-11 When evidence is _____, reasonable people may demur, but when firm scientific proof has been supplied, they should _____ their opposition. A. rational D. reconsider B. conjectural E. express C. tangible F. augment
BD
15-26 Readers who delight in rarefied words cannot help but be ____ by the esoteric ____ Annie Dillard expertly wields in her novel The Maytrees. A. incensed D. diction B. embroiled E. portent C. extolled F. syllogism
BD
15-28 The widely documented ____ between these two diseases has prompted scientists to undertake studies to determine if treating one can ____ the other. A. disconnect D. ward off B. correlation E. bring about C. incoherency F. duplicate
BD
15-4 Despite the _____ of popular interest in rain forests and medicinal plants, there is a _____ easy-to-use field guides. A .abatement D. paucity of B. burgeoning E. marked for C. flurry F. wealth of
BD
16-12 Because of their space, white appearance, ancient Greek statues in modern museums are often considered ____; yet newly unearthed antiquities showing traces of bright pigment are not so ____. A. elaborate D. unadorned B. austere E. vivid C. ostentatious F. unattainable
BD
16-17 Elephants have a sense of smell that is remarkably ____: they can reportedly smell water up to several miles away. A. tacit B. acute C. aromatic D. keen E. ubiquitous F. universal
BD
16-30 The experiment did not yield the decisive ____ that the scientist had hoped for: instead, the findings were only of ____ significance. A. sources D. nominal B. outcome E. influential C. risks F. astronomical
BD
17-15 By citing data from nations where female scientists earn less than equivalent male counterparts, the author attempted to _____ the claim that _____ still lingers in the scientific workplace A. winnow D. discrimination B. substantiate E. opportunity C. undermine F. opposition
BD
17-18 The success of the space program came as a pleasant surprise to a nation that had been _____ by political turmoil and social unrest. A. exonerated B. beleaguered C. eulogized D. besieged E. absolved F. homogenized
BD
17-20 No space was ____ inside the spaceship: there was nothing in it that did not serve an important function. A. occupied B. wasted C. modern D. lavished E. taken up F. unfamiliar
BD
17-24 With his unlaundered shirt and his wrinkled suit, Ted appeared _____. A. belligerent B. slovenly C. casual D. untidy E. informal F. gracious
BD
17-29 There was so much ____ in the recent senatorial campaign that voters tuned out, disguised with the barrage of malicious accusations. A. incompetence B. vilification C. obstinacy D. mudslinging E. grandstanding F. showmanship
BD
17-37 Displaying a heightened sense of ____, many of author Maria Cristina Mena`s characters exemplify a dignified and polite society. A. eminence B. decorum C. ebullience D. decency E. dissipation F. noteworthiness
BD
18-12 Native American potters often ____ the shortcuts offered by modern technology (such as the use of commercial clay, pigments, or kiln firing), instead ____ the traditional methods of their ancestors. A. flout D. cleaving to B. eschew E. relinquishing C. propound F. renouncing
BD
18-29 Although pre-Columbian jewelry often incorporated complex religious symbolism, its function was generally more ____ than ____. A. ritualistic D. devotional B. decorative E. utilitarian C. theological F. conspicuous
BD
18-33 Honey, which has antibacterial properties, is commonly used in traditional medicine as a balm to ____ painful wounds. A. bolster B. ease C. fortify D. soothe E. induce F. clarify
BD
11-20 The engineers heard the claims about the new software with _____, but the demonstration of the software was so _____ that it won them over. A. enthusiasm D. routine B. skepticism E. convincing C. apathy F. inconclusive
BE
11-23 Although Virginia Woolf was a central figure in London`s established literary scene, she nevertheless perceived herself as being _____. A. renowned B. peripheral C. rational D. salutary E. marginal F. celebrated
BE
18-16 Although certainly talented, the child could not really be called ____: there was nothing particularly ____ about his achievements. A. a virtuoso D. affected B. a prodigy E. fanatical C. an upstart F. exceptional
BF
18-30 Mayor Hardy remains ____ in her ____, refusing to adopt an expedient silence on controversial issues of social importance. A. circumspect D. equanimity B. firm E. capriciousness C. neutral F. outspokenness
BF
18-4 Naturally, ____ facilitates friendships: the people we live near or interact with frequently are more likely to become our friends. A. enmity B. proximity C. generosity D. partisanship E. magnanimity F. vicinity
BF
14-27 Nothing in the essay is ____: every sentence contributes in an essential way to the overall meaning. A. paramount B. querulous C. redundant D. mandatory E. superfluous F. consummate
CE
14-28 Unlike the wild turkey, which can successfully fly for short distances, the domesticated turkey is completely ____ flight. A. subject to B. bend to C. inept at D. captivated by E. incapable of F. worthy of
CE
14-34 While tributyltin (TBT) is generally not as ____ as certain other toxic substances, studies of damaging effects on marine life show it is _____ to mollusk fisheries. A. neutral D. essential B. controversial E. devastating C. dangerous F. attracted
CE
14-4 Writing in a straightforward as opposed to ______ style, the author produced _______ argument that shed new light on a controversial topic. A. a candid D. a nonsensical B. a austere E. a lucid C. a convoluted F. a poignant
CE
15-14 Maxwell Perkins is considered a particularly _____ editor because he was among the first to _____ the extraordinary literary talent of Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Wolfe. A. easygoing D. question B. inefficient E. recognize C. insightful F. inflate
CE
13-14 Many people mistakenly imagine that life in space is full of _____; in reality, an astronaut`s day includes many tasks so _____ as to be boring. A. tedium D. sporadic B. difficulty E. leisurely C. excitement F. routine
CF
12-34 Certain clear patterns in the metamorphosis of a butterfly indicate that the process is ______. A. systematic B. methodical C. spontaneous D. experimental E. unwilling F. involuntary
AB
12-9 The kiwi bird`s wings are _____: that is, they are rudiments of wings and serve no function. A. degenerated B. vestigial C. decorative D. invasive E. kinetic F. ostentatious
AB
15-27 Media reports alleged that the candidate`s campaign strategy was designed to ____ her opponent`s chances for election by defaming his reputation. A. hobble B. hamper C. expedite D. decode E. augment F. accelerate
AB
15-9 Because the editors refused to take a stand on controversial subjects, their magazine acquired a reputation for intellectual _____. A. cowardice B. timidity C. solemnity D. graveness E. favoritism F. precision
AB
18-11 Doctors initially feared that antibiotics would have ____ effect, destroying healthy tissue as well as harmful bacteria. A. a deleterious B. a pernicious C. a salutary D. an antiquated E. an infinitesimal F. a minuscule
AB
18-20 Tania excels at dancing the meringue, having ____ the steps during her childhood years in the Dominican Republic. A. grasped B. mastered C. ignored D. confused E. amused F. diverted
AB
18-3 The bee hummingbird has an average length of only two inches, making it the most ____ of all hummingbird species. A. miniature B. diminutive C. capricious D. superfluous E. redundant F. prodigal
AB
11-13 Rose smiled approving but gave neither written nor spoken permission to proceed with the project: her consent, in short, was _____. A. tacit B. acquiescent C. ardent D. impetuous E. conditional F. fervent
AC
11-14 Paradoxically, during the French Revolution, the very leaders who proclaimed _____ philosophies sometimes also engaged in ____ practices. A. regal D. imperial B. liberating E. compromised C. totalitarian F. repressive
AC
11-19 The sound produced by the youth orchestra was so _____ that even its least experienced members were abashed. A. cacophonous B. euphonious C. discordant D. collaborative E. mellifluous F. harmonic
AC
13-12 Many animals are able to _____ the harmful effects of cold weather by means of feathers, fur or blubber. A. palliate B. decry C. mitigate D. predict E. simulate F. imitate
AC
13-27 Because Alex was a very ______ person, he found satisfaction only in work that involved intellectual stimulation. A. intellectual B. peripheral C. cerebral D. self-satisfied E. complacent F. superficial
AC
14-11 The passengers experienced an intimacy not uncommon among vacationers spending days together, an intimacy more often due to _____ than to any community of taste. A. proximity B. compatibility C. vicinity D. profusion E. recalcitrance F. affluence
AC
14-32 Sally, thoroughly convinced of her own importance, often acts without ____: she feels no guilt, for example, about appropriating her brother`s possessions. A. compunction B. assurance C. misgiving D. indignation E. inducement F. aplomb
AC
14-9 The two friends occasionally indulged in ____, as they both enjoyed a bout of good-natured teasing. A. banter B. grandiloquence C. badinage D. controversy E. blather F. bombast
AC
15-1 Costa Rican-born artist Jimenez Deredia works on a _____ scale: the sculptures he creates are truly immense. A. monumental B. prolific C. colossal D. polemical E. lush F. holistic
AC
15-13 In the early twentieth century, a _____ decimated American chestnut tree populations; relatively few of these stately trees now remain. A. wilt B. resilience C. blight D. stagnation E. quarantine F. isolation
AC
12-31 Celia Tomlinson personifies ______: she overcame poverty, language barriers, and discriminations to found, own, and operate her own engineering company. A. indomitableness B. nonchalance C. circumspection D. expediency E. prudence F. tenacity
AF
12-32 The crude animated effects ______ projected images from seventeenthcentury lantern slides have now been recognized as______ of modern film animation. A. afforded by D. derivatives B. forestalled by E. replicas C. complemented by F. forerunners
AF
12-4 The accused affected a______ air during the interview; he made no vehement protestation of innocence, just a______ denial of guilt. A. nonchalant D. loquacious B. bombastic E. scathing C. pugnacious F. perfunctory
AF
13-35 A researcher who described a peaceful reunion between normally adversarial chimpanzees as a ______ was criticized for inferring human motives. A. truce B. competition C. mischance D. coincidence E. mishap F. armistice
AF
13-38 Nineteenth-century Plains Indians valued ______ quite highly and expected their elites to be the most giving of all. A. generosity B. intrepidity C. ingenuousness D. candor E. jocularity F. munificence
AF
13-5 Through his term, Governor Clayton was considered _____ and _____: he said little and did even less. A. laconic D. productive B. supercilious E. energetic C. loquacious F. ineffectual
AF
13-6 The movie star`s often infuriating behavior on the set had few lasting effects: he was so adept at _____ his colleagues` irritation with a joke that he easily restored their _____. A. defusing D. despondency B. prolonging E. aloofness C. conceding F. equanimity
AF
13-7 The archaeologist`s examination of the evidence was remarkably careful and thorough: indeed, it was nothing short of _____. A. exhaustive B. nominal C. trifling D. combative E. vicarious F. thorough
AF
14-10 Never an ____, but tending instead to see both sides of an issue, the senator was considered ____ by those who did not know her well. A. absolutist D. arrogant B. ideologue E. adamant C. elitist F. indecisive
AF
14-19 The new governor attempted to win the public`s sympathy by ____ himself as the ____ inheritor of his predecessor`s fiscal mismanagement. A. casting D. grateful B. applauding E. complicit C. commending F. hapless
AF
14-2 Some actors have complained that the director, rather than treating them as his ______, dominated them and expected them to be ______. A. equals D. recalcitrant B. rivals E. remorseful C. Protégé F. subservient
AF
14-31 The corporation`s code of ethics is ludicrous; its principles are either ____, offering clichés in lieu of guidance, or so unspecific as to make any behavior ____. A. platitudinous D. unlikely B. anonymous E. portentous C. instructive F. permissible
AF
14-6 In retrospect, the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower is perceived as _____ period because it was relatively free of domestic turmoil. A. a tranquil B. an intractable C. a dire D. an intimidating E. a vanquished F. a serene
AF
15-19 If Williams had a fault, it was an almost complete _____ others, a proclivity bordering on _____. A. trust in D. greed B. condescension toward E. reciprocity C. sympathy for F. naïveté
AF
15-36 In the zany comedy series I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball`s exaggerated, clumsy antics displayed the comedian`s famous talent for _____. A. farce B. celebration C. dexterity D. misery E. tact F. slapstick
AF
15-6 Magician Harry Houdini performed spectacular feats of escape so astounding that they became _____; even now, his name has a _____ aura for generations who never saw him perform. A. legendary D. tarnished B. fraudulent E. crude C. dangerous F. mythic
AF
16-22 Newspaper advertisers feel their messages are more believable and ____ when they are printed next to news reports: hence, advertising charges are higher for such ____. A. persuasive D. investigation B. irrelevant E. thoroughness C. vague F. positioning
AF
16-4 Her actions did nothing but good, but since she performed them out of self-interest, they could not be called ____. A. altruistic B. egotistic C. benign D. fortuitous E. self-centered F. self-sacrificing
AF
17-13 Compelled by powerful impulses to _____ her energies on myriad unworthy projects, Emilia nonetheless dazzled observes with the sheer magnitude of that _____. A. squander D. malevolence B. distill E. discernment C. economize F. profligacy
AF
17-5 The _____ has proved to be _____: as a result, negotiations have been suspended indefinitely. A. impasse D. infelicitous B. reconciliation E. exhilarating C. conjecture F. insurmountable
AF
17-9 The magazine article discussing the governor`s financial dealings contained _____ statements, but it stopped short of being _____. A. exaggerated D. decorous B. documented E. laudatory C. pretentious F. libelous
AF
18-7 The paucity of autobiographical documents left by the royal attendants has compelled historian Raul Salazar to ____ the motives of these courtiers from their ____ rather than from any diaries or correspondence. A. surmise D. missives B. elicit E. journals C. stipulate F. deeds
AF
18-8 The painter lamented the evanescence of beauty, even though she seemed in several of her work to have ____ it as it passed and so ____ it for posterity. A. arrested D. absolved B. dispelled E. diminished C. vanquished F. preserved
AF
11-28 Once thought to be _____, the dawn redwood was rediscovered in the 1940`s, at which time its continued survival seemed _____; today, however, it is commonly cultivated. A. immense D. natural B. extinct E. precarious C. adaptable F. inevitable
BE
11-34 The university`s aggressive transformation from a teaching-centered college to a major research institution has brought _____ that teaching is now being _____. A. recommendations D. praised B. accusations E. neglected C. acclaims F. discussed
BE
12-15 Unlike some entertainers whose performances rarely vary, jazz great Louis Armstrong frequently ______ during his performances, spontaneously ______ new phrasing in existing songs. A. vocalized D. bungling B. improvised E. introducing C. deliberated F. rehearsing
BE
13-1 The field of cinematography of is evolving so rapidly that cinematographers must constantly _____ their skills to keep pace with the craft. A. harvest B. advance C. rehash D. dislodge E. update F. garner
BE
13-17 In an effort to _____ her writing, Lauren attempted to eliminate the _____ and make only points that were truly necessary. A. disguise D. usefulness B. streamline E. verbosity C. complicate F. terseness
BE
13-21 Though the work of celebrated artist Eugene Delacroix ______ accolades from both art critics and the public, he remain ______, someone shrouded in mystery. A. distributed D. a paradox B. garnered E. an enigma C. excluded F. a revelation
BE
13-26 In the United States, social activists who strongly ______ a particular law can attempt to obtain a constitutional amendment to ______it. A. cope with D. ignore B. object to E. repeal C. interact with F. support
BE
13-34 The art professor was never one to _____: she always stuck closely to the subject of every lecture. A. carp B. deviate C. abbreviate D. retaliate E. digress F. truncate
BE
14-18 Juan is ____ examining his own feelings and motives:he cannot tolerate _____. A. accustomed to D. adulation B. averse to E. introspection C. mindful of D. spontaneity
BE
14-8 The dictator ____ democracy as the _____ of ordinary citizens in government affairs. A. lauded D. absence B. scorned E. meddling C. endorsed F. duty
BE
15-3 Around strangers, Ravi appeared _____; but once he was with his friends, his self-confidence returned, and he became more _____. A. unfaltering D. taciturn B. diffident E. assertive C. assured F. skittish
BE
15-34 The country`s ____ political freedom had been long and arduous, but eventually the ____ government was replaced by a true democracy. A. rejection of D. egalitarian B. struggle for E. tyrannical C. depletion of F. disposable
BE
15-35 In winning the Man Booker Prize, novelist Kiran Desai ____ an honor that had ____ her mother, Anita Desai, who was a runner-up three times but never won. A. coveted D. distinguished B. achieved E. eluded C. avoided F. overwhelmed
BE
15-5 While the manager clearly sought to _____ the optimism of the marketing team, she stopped short of pronouncing their plan unfeasible. A. sustain B. temper C. emulate D. rejuvenate E. moderate F. rekindle
BE
16-34 John wished to become an ____ because he was interested in learning about ancient cultures. A. charlatan B. archaeologist C. apologist D. illusionist E. impostor F. historian
BE
16-35 Although children's books about animals and plants are often ____ rather than accurate in their descriptions, a skillful elementary-school teacher can still ____ such texts for meaningful scientific learning. A. factual D. confuse B. fanciful E. exploit C. creative F. ignore
BE
16-36 Because she was a successful entrepreneur who donated large amounts of money to charitable causes, Madame C. J. Walker is remembered today as both a ____ and a ____. A. protégé D. dilettante B. tycoon E. philanthropist C. sojourner F. prevaricator
BE
16-7 The gifted child-poet Minou Drouet, hailed in the 1950s, as an artistic ____, now lives in relative ____, enjoying a privacy unavailable to her as a child. A. dilettante D. opulence B. prodigy E. anonymity C. charlatan F. passivity
BE
17-19 Cottontail rabbits are known for being remarkably _____, some individual females producing up to 35 offspring a year. A. innocuous B. prolific C. symbiotic D. reclusive E. fecund F. inoffensive
BE
17-33 Because Isaac found the language of advertising both ____ and insulting, he ____ watching commercials on television. A. amusing D. enjoyed B. offensive E. avoided C. complicated F. discussed
BE
18-2 Flannery O`Connor was ____ as a writer of ____ talent early in her career, receiving high praise for her short stories while she was still a student. A. criticized D. little B. celebrated E. considerable C. challenged F. shallow
BE
18-37 Astronomer Heidi Hammel, a proponent of science education, conveys a passion for planetary science that her enraptured audiences find ____. A. duplicitous B. infectious C. timorous D. equivocal E. contagious F. trepid
BE
11-17 New Zealand and Spain can accurately be described as _____ because they are diametrically opposite one another on the globe. A. satellites B. antipodes C. reversals D. bifurcations E. dichotomies F. symmetrical
BF
11-18 Ken took his _____ obligations seriously, patiently caring for his mother throughout her long recuperation. A. filial B. symbiotic C. obedient D. convivial E. funerary F. euphoric
BF
11-21 Because the candidate had switched his party allegiance immediately before the campaign, his former associates called him a _____, and even his new allies considered him an _____. A. strategist D. interloper B. deserter E. imbecile C. prophet F. opportunist
BF
11-27 Alexis complained that Jim _____ too quickly when their parents imposed a curfew: instead of negotiating, he complied without protest. A. remonstrated B. capitulated C. compromised D. interceded E. denounced F. surrendered
BF
11-30 Contemporary Inuit sculpture merges traditional carving techniques with current subject matter; thus, it _____ an Inuit practice while _____ a modern cultural identity. A. disregards D. dissolving B. reaffirms E. negating C. supersedes F. fashioning
BF
11-9. Although the archaeologist _____ the symbols on the cave wall, she was unable to _____ them because they were too faint. A. recollected D. ignore B. scrutinized E. conceal C. obliterated F. decipher
BF
12-30 The Classical Age of Greece, 500 B.C. to 323 B.C., was characterized by contradictious: it was a mix of superstition and ______, of ______ concepts and centuries-old traditions. A. intuition D. reputable B. rationality E. established C. revelation F. revolutionary
BF
12-33 The ______ of impact craters on Venus suggests that erosion may have smoothed its surface over the past billion years. A. magnitude B. pittance C. spate D. ruggedness E. panoply F. paucity
BF
12-7 Marketing firms rely heavily on ______ information: statistical data about the size, growth, and distribution of human populations. A. classified B. demographic C. conjectural D. qualitative E. speculative F. sampling
BF
13-2 True vertigo is not mere dizziness but _____ motion: an involuntary, erroneous perception that one is moving. A. a precursor to B. an illusion of C. an effect of D. a suspicion of E. a consequence of F. a delusion of
BF
13-30 Such was Norton`s generosity that he was at times criticized for being ______ to a fault. A. nonchalant B. magnanimous C. scrupulous D. perfunctory E. substantial F. liberal
BF
14-26 Some people believe a parrot can comprehend the words it utters, but most biologists believe parrots lack such ____ ability. A. auditory B. cognitive C. emulative D. mimetic E. prophetic F. epistemic
BF
14-29 Morale among the staff scientists ____ when the director dolefully announced that chances of the projects' receiving additional funding were ____. A. soared D. overwhelming B. plummeted E. calculable C. splintered F. infinitesimal
BF
14-30 The slogan "What goes up must come down" was so universally accepted by economists that it was considered _____. A. a conjecture B. an axiom C. a fad D. a testimonial E. a speculation F. a maxim
BF
14-37 The editor removed large portions of the manuscript, ____ entire paragraphs that she considered either erroneous or ____. A. fabricating D. simplistic B. expurgating E. decorous C. salvaging F. offensive
BF
15-12 Though usually _____ in her praise, the teacher was _____ in acknowledging Chandra`s achievements: she could not say enough positive things. A. strident D. pedantic B. sparing E. derisive C. irrepressible F. effusive
BF
15-24 It was not until Dr. Anna Reinstein ____ the results of her several different research projects that the findings ____ into a single, definitive patterns. A. compromised D. degenerated B. synthesized E. regressed C. repudiated F. crystallized
BF
16-13 Former news anchor Dan Rather had ____ for colorful ____: for example, he once described a political race as "Spandex tight." A. a distaste D. epistles B. a penchant E. paradigms C. an antipathy F. locutions
BF
16-2 The teacher unabashedly used ____, flattering his students in an attempt to coax them to ____ research projects for extra credit. A. coercion D. suppress B. cajolery E. glorify C. innuendo F. undertake
BF
16-25 The new human resources director is both ____ and ____ about being able to improve employment opportunities for women at the executive level: she has great resolve but harbors no illusions. A. cynical D. irrational B. determined E. deceptive C. uncooperative F. realistic
BF
16-37 The ____ of the scientist`s rebuttal of the hypothesis was startling even in the notoriously ____ world of nineteenth-century geology. A. arrogance D. narrow-minded B. ferocity E. inexact C. accuracy F. contentious
BF
16-5 Max Roach is regarded as a ____ of modern jazz drumming because he was one of the first artists to ____ the melodic, rather than merely rhythmic, possibilities of his instrument. A. diehard D. jettison B. progenitor E. repudiate C. chronicler F. exploit
BF
16-6 Since codfish are ____ part of the marine ecosystem, their ____ would adversely affect the animals who depend on them as a source of food. A. a negligible D. existence B. an integral E. proximity C. an inexplicable F. extinction
BF
17-10 The deterioration of the ozone layer is _____, with the loss of penguin habitats being just one of the _____ results. A. dormant D. salutary B. pernicious E. deficient C. protracted F. deleterious
BF
17-11 Literally meaning "without care", a _____ is a job that requires little work yet provides an income. A. culmination B. sinecure C. vocation D. occupation E. sanctum F. featherbedding
BF
17-30 Recent advances indicate that cures for some seemingly intractable diseases are now within reach, but scientists are being ____ in their public statements, mindful of past claims that proved ____. A. nonchalant D. unambiguous B. circumspect E. unimpeachable C. adamant F. apocalyptic
BF
17-32 Harper Lee cannot be called ____ writer as she has published only one major work;however, her writing in that novel is so ____, so sharply perceptive, that it has earned her enduring popularity. A. an astute D. convoluted B. a prolific E. timorous C. an erudite F. trenchant
BF
17-34 In the red Namibian desert of Demarala, about 100 black rhinos still manage to ____ even though the terrain is extraordinarily ____. A. explore D. spacious B. thrive E. abundant C. migrate F. hostile
BF
17-36 For thousands of years, nomads, conquerors, traders, and pilgrims have ____ the region, contributing to its multicultural heritage and its ____ of artifacts. A. circumvented D. dearth B. traversed E. uniformity C. canvassed F. wealth
BF
11-22 All copies of Verna Hart`s poster commemorating the 1992 Charlotte Jazz Festival were sold in a few hours, an unmistakable _____ of the _____ of this artist`s work. A. duplication D. appeal B. investigation E. mediocrity C. indication F. durability
CD
11-26 The medical study shuns _____ in describing the drug`s dangers; the appeal is to rational evaluation rather than to fear. A. obfuscation B. credible C. sensationalism D. grandstanding E. plausibility F. assurance
CD
11-31 Although many novelists write for artistic reasons, others are lured by the money, because popular success in writing can be so _____. A. acquisitive B. aesthetic C. remunerative D. lucrative E. entertaining F. diverting
CD
12-2 Most of the students found the lecturer`s speech ______;in fact, it was so dull that some even nodded off. A. illuminating B. cryptic C. tedious D. stodgy E. disjointed F. occult
CD
12-38 Detractors attacked the study`s ______, claiming that researchers used lax procedures to gather and analyze data. A. hypothesis B. predictability C. methodology D. procedure E. inflexibility F. assumption
CD
13-29 Place-names can be strikingly ______: there is, for example, nothing particularly ______ about the town of Peculiar, Missouri. A. inapt D. odd B. descriptive E. controversial C. inimitable F. congruous
CD
13-36 Because insect communities serve as a sort of barometer, ______ conditions in their______, an entomologist`s analysis of the insect species in a handful of soil can reveal much about the ecosystem. A. preserving D. environment B. stabilizing E. range C. registering F. destination
CD
14-15 Believing that the problem could be solved if enough information were garnered, the scientist vowed to ____ her research as long as some ____ of obtaining additional data existed. A. dispense with D. likelihood B. terminate E. doubtfulness C. persevere in F. pretext
CD
14-16 Once the animal`s usual sources of nourishment have been exhausted, acorns are its only means of ____. A. resuscitation B. distraction C. subsistence D. survival E. resurgence F. camouflage
CD
14-3 The Prime Minster handled the crisis calmly and dispassionately, thereby enhancing his reputation for being ______. A. conciliatory B. prejudiced C. composed D. imperturbable E. cynical F. partisan
CD
14-5 The scientist ____ the value of an interdisciplinary approach to environment studies, arguing such an approach was of paramount importance in promoting environmental literacy among students. A. ignored B. disparaged C. touted D. extolled E. perturbed F. imploded
CD
15-17 Frances Keller`s 1904 expose of abuses of immigrants by employers _____ a political reaction: in inspired the Progressive Party to work toward legislation to _____ the situation. A. delineated D. redress B. forestalled E. perpetuate C. spurred F. bungle
CD
15-20 Although the hardy emperor penguin survives in Antarctica in great numbers, the region`s harsh climate is ____ to many species. A. indispensable B. necessary C. inhospitable D. inclement E. predictable F. sustaining
CD
15-21 The defendant`s ____ demeanor on the witness stand tended to ____ the jury`s impression that he had little respect for the law. A. remorseful D. reinforce B. deferential E. palter C. defiant F. discompose
CD
15-31 The forest ranger cautioned the hikers that their proposed route might prove dangerous, but they ignored her ____. A. vacillation B. indiscretion C. admonition D. counsel E. prohibition F. proscription
CD
14-21 Jane Eyre is among the most ____ of feminist novels: it is still widely _____ more than 150 years after its publication. A. confusing D. mimicked B. provocative E. read C. enduring F. overlooked
CE
15-38 Although some critics maintain that his latest book can be situated in a ____ genre, it draws liberally on several different genres and so can rightly be termed ____. A. discrete D. eclectic B. venerable E. anachronistic C. unambiguous F. iconoclastic
CD
15-7 This new report focuses on how seemingly _____ technological design features, often cosmetic in nature, can actually _____ consumer`s decisions in profound ways. A. innovative D. influence B. ingenious E. neutralize C. insignificant F. criticize
CD
16-28 Heckling during a political rally is so ____ that it surprises no one;the same behavior, however is ____ when it is exhibited at a scientific conference. A. revolting D. startling B. comical E. meaningless C. commonplace F. bearable
CD
16-33 In dire need of ____, the travelers fortified themselves with food and drink in order to complete their journey. A. patronage B. sponsorship C. sustenance D. nourishment E. sentiment F. persecution
CD
16-8 The legislator is known on Capitol Hill for his oratorical spontaneity, his ability to deliver ____ speech. A. an enigmatic B. a conscientious C. an impromptu D. an extemporaneous E. a lackluster F. a meticulous
CD
17-6 To study predators one must adopt the role of _____, that is, refrain from interfering with an animal`s natural behavior. A. vigilante B. arbiter C. observer D. spectator E. specialist F. judge
CD
18-17 The tranquil story recounted by Ezra Jack Keats in The Snowy Day ____ the calm presence of the book`s illustrations: both ____ the silence of a snow-covered landscape. A. undercuts D. evoke B. violates E. repel C. mirrors F. disrupt
CD
18-23 In his essay, writer Rudolfo Anaya strives to ____ his sometimes incongruous Mexican and American identities by combining ____ worldviews to create one unique vision. A. distinguish D. divergent B. reinforce E. simultaneous C. synthesize F. redundant
CD
18-26 City leaders practiced ____ out of respect for taxpayers, ____ the number of new public projects. A. profligacy D. curtailing B. mendacity E. extolling C. austerity F. augmenting
CD
18-28 According to his supervisor, Kenji was an inveterate ____: he habitually put off doing his work until the last minute. A. iconoclast B. connoisseur C. procrastinator D. postponer E. misanthrope F. virtuoso
CD
18-36 Citing irrefutable evidence of corruption, the investigating committee ____ the senator for his ____. A. eulogized D. misconduct B. exonerated E. propriety C. castigated F. veracity
CD
18-5 Able to survive subzero temperatures, long periods of darkness, and days without food, the Arctic wolf is clearly a very ____ animal. A. greedy B. social C. tough D. hardy E. aggressive F. gregarious
CD
18-9 Excelling in her academic studies, Yuki earned a number of ____ and awards. A. vindications B. proposals C. glories D. honors E. pointers F. contingencies
CD
11-11 Oceanographers have identified more than 50 "dead zones" around the world: areas of sea that various forms of pollution have rendered _____ life. A. conducive to B. invaluable to C. bereaved of D. expedient to E. bereft of F. imperative to
CE
11-12 The few female physicians practicing at the end of the nineteenth century might be considered _____ because they constituted a very small percentage of all physicians. A. miscreants B. villains C. anomalies D. pacifists E. outliers F. extremists
CE
11-2 One requirement of timeless art is that it deepen and _____ our awareness, not that it merely confirm what we already know. A. hinder B. reconcile C. broaden D. soothe E. extend F. impede
CE
11-33 Crucial to the expedition`s _____ will be accurate assumptions about the weather: without them, the safety of the mountain climbers may be _____. A. futility D. demonstrated B. plausibility E. jeopardized C. success F. enhanced
CE
11-4 The discovery of the fossil was _____ and _____, surprising scientists and undermining accepted theories about plant distribution. A. exhilarating D. prophetic B. unanticipated E. revolutionary C. archetypical F. banal
CE
11-5 Citing the _____ of the Asian American community, the scholar argued that Asian Americans constituted the region`s fastest-growing minority population. A. digression B. proximity C. expansion D. stabilization E. boost F. steadiness
CE
12-10 Because all members of this organization are idealists, they ______any assertion that political enterprises should be purely ______. A. ignore D. indulgent B. condone E. pragmatic C. condemn F. universal
CE
12-24 The respect accorded choreographer Martha Graham by her students and colleagues alike was so great that it amounted to ______. A. exasperation B. commiseration C. reverence D. compassion E. veneration F. consternation
CE
12-37 Darren`s sensitivity to his celebrity clients is nothing short of ______: he is able to ______ their needs before they themselves are fully aware of them. A. superfluous D. forestall B. interminable E. anticipate C. preternatural F. minimize
CE
13-10 The route was not _____: it was mazelike, confusing, and difficult to follow. A. imperceptible B. impalpable C. unambiguous D. substantial E. straightforward F. ascendant
CE
13-31 Identifying Lusia Capetillo only with the early labor union movement in Puerto Rico _____ the ______ nature of her career: she also worked in Florida, New York, and Cuba. A. impugns D. contentious B. condones E. cosmopolitan C. disregards F. innovative
CE
13-37 In stark contrast to the vague and often rambling comments of other students, Jessica`s remarks were refreshingly ______. A. ambiguous B. verbose C. perspicuous D. convoluted E. lucid F. equivocal
CE
14-1 The works of Paraguayan artist Carlos Colombino are ______: they include sculpture, painting, printmaking, and architecture. A. distorted B. whimsical C. eclectic D. instructive E. varied F. capricious
CE
15-25 Benjamin Franklin was renowned for being a ____, having delved deeply into fields as diverse as politics, business, diplomacy, statecraft, science, and publishing. A. sycophant B. pedant C. erudite D. nemesis E. polymath F. opponent
CE
15-32 Eager to improve upon their journalistic skills, Ines and Juanita were disappointed in their editor for criticisms that were often more ____ than ____. A. constructive D. extemporaneous B. perceptive E. edifying C. captious F. inapt
CE
16-14 Lan Cao describes her novel Monkey Bridge as autobiographical "in mood rather than fact," claiming it depicts ____, not ____, truth. A. poetic D. romanticized B. objective E. literal C. emotional F. personal
CE
16-16 In a grievous example of ____ behavior, the consultants repeatedly managed to dupe the team of scientists by presenting fabricated data. A. incompetent B. contentious C. deceptive D. abstruse E. fraudulent F. arcane
CE
16-19 The testimony of the witness, meant to ____ the defense of the man accused of theft, actually strengthened the case of his accusers. A. appease B. deprecate C. buttress D. initiate E. bolster F. mitigate
CE
16-21 Some scientists speculate that children who wash frequently are more likely to become asthmatic than those who wash infrequently: that ____, not the lack of it, is the problem. A. pollution B. dirtiness C. scour D. misbehavior E. cleanliness F. nutrition
CE
16-24 Ralph Ellison learned the hard way about the ____ of a written manuscript: he suffered the ____ of the only draft of a work in progress in a household fire. A. magnitude D. preservation B. proliferation E. destruction C. vulnerability F. isolation
CE
16-3 No ____ the case exists: in reaching a decision, the court is bound to break new legal ground. A. interest in B. demand for C. precedent for D. authentication of E. antecedent of F. requisite for
CE
16-38 Like cartoonists, some painters seek to communicate character ____, but this economy of means is not artistic shallowness. A. serpentinely B. ludicrously C. tersely D. mercilessly E. succinctly F. sinuously
CE
17-1 Manuel was so _____ that he would gladly spend months without more than perfunctory contact with other people. A. affable B. spurious C. reclusive D. exacting E. solitary F. demanding
CE
17-26 Ramona practiced ceaselessly, but even such ____ efforts could not compensate for the poor performance of her teammates. A. precocious B. dilatory C. incessant D. insouciant E. unremitting F. perfunctory
CE
17-27 Although ____, nearly self-effacing, in her personal affairs, the journalist displays in her articles and columns an overriding ____ publicity and controversy. A. charismatic D. disdain for B. monotonous E. penchant for C. retiring F. unbiased toward
CE
17-4 Diego Velazquez, Francisco de Goya, and El Greco, three of the most distinctive and influential artists in Spain`s history, together form the great _____ of Spanish painting. A. triage B. sojourn C. triumvirate D. convocation E. trinity F. assembly
CE
17-7 Most human behaviors is _____: that is, it tends to _____ a norm. A. topsy-turvy D. vary from B. regressive F. deviate from C. conventional E. conform to
CE
18-1 Abida quickly realized that the director was extremely ____: she and the other cast members could never anticipate how he would respond. A. negative B. audacious C. unpredictable D. humorous E. erratic F. courageous
CE
18-10 The newspapers` editorial section regularly publishes the ____ of those readers who are knowledgeable enough about an issue to ____ their points powerfully and articulately. A. rambling D. dismiss B. retractions E. argue C. opinions F. subvert
CE
18-14 During the Han dynasty, trade expansion to distant Persia allowed the Chinese to ____ their ____ of other cultures. A. deny D. dismantling B. discourage E. awareness C. increase F. avoidance
CE
18-15 The ambitious politician promoted the tax cuts not so much for the citizens` ____ as for his own ____. A. treachery D. downfall B. disbelief E. reputation C. welfare F. persistence
CE
18-35 The ability to cram computer circuitry onto silicon chips faces fundamental limitations: it is possible to make the innards of a circuit so ____ that they no longer _____. A. flexible D. bend B. successful E. function C. small F. break
CE
18-38 Joe claimed always to be ____ in a crisis, but Kameko insisted that he was, on the contrary, easily ____. A. overwrought D. undone B. flustered E. ruffled C. imperturbable F. consoled
CE
11-36 Wanting desperately to be perceived as learned and authoritative, Johnson affected a _____ tone when speaking in public. A. licentious B. nihilistic C. magisterial D. propitiatory E. epicurean F. imposing
CF
11-8 The judges for the chili competition were _____, noting subtle differences between dishes that most people would not detect. A. obscure B. ruthless C. discriminating D. sanctimonious E. unrelenting F. screening
CF
12-16 Not wanting to speak ______, Julia ______ the urge to announce her scientific finding until she had double-checked the data. A. harshly D. defined B. enthusiastically E. indulged C. prematurely F. suppressed
CF
12-28 Some psychologists argue that a ______ of choices can be paralyzing, since too many options can impede meaningful selection. A. nip B. manifestation C. plethora D. modicum E. misapplication F. surfeit
CF
12-35 The book`s final chapter on Mildred Imach Cleghorn suffers from an obvious _____: it fails to cover Cleghorn`s years as an Apache tribal leader. A. extravagance B. inconsistency C. omission D. misconception E. incoherence F. lapse
CF
13-11 Even imperiously demanded that he be awarded a much-needed raise or be dismissed, _____ that _____ when he was summarily terminated. A. an innuendo D. lingered B. an entreaty E. sufficed C. an ultimatum F. backfired
CF
13-19 The senator never formally declared her opposition to the proposed legislation; instead, she engineered a series of _____ actions that ultimately _____ passage of the bill. A. expeditious D. facilitated B. proverbial E. disconcerted C. dilatory F. forestalled
CF
13-20 That Carl Stokes, former mayor of Cleveland, was truly ______ is evident from the significant impact he had in many different arenas. A. humble B. unassuming C. influential D. reflective E. aloof F. weighty
CF
13-28 Readers of history often marvel that ______ events were triggered by actions that seemed ______ at the time. A. inconsequential D. unconscionable B. arbitrary E. capricious C. momentous F. trivial
CF
13-3 While serving as editor of the Anchorage Daily News, Katherine Fanning significantly increased the news-paper`s _____, making it Alaska`s _____ paper. A. integrity D. underground B. liability E. oldest C. readership F. favorite
CF
14-14 In Dorothy West`s novel The Living Is Easy, the main character feels ____ by her father`s authority, resenting his attempts to check her ____. A. favored D. anger B. revived E. patience C. limited F. independence
CF
14-36 Although normally cheerful and energetic, Nathan was noticeably ____ during the week preceding the announcement of the pending job transfers. A. coherent B. discreet C. subdued D. prudent E. methodical F. repressed
CF
15-10 She vowed to proclaim her innocence until she was _____, cleared from blame for any involvement in the conspiracy. A. compensated B. indemnified C. exonerated D. importuned E. consecrated F. exculpate
CF
15-2 Gertrude Stein`s life demonstrates her _____, her refusal ever to give up without having achieved her goal. A. largesse B. sedateness C. indomitability D. originality E. munificence F. persistence
CF
16-1 Deer overbrowsing has dramatically reduced plant ____ in many eastern United States forests; the few surviving plant species are that regrow quickly or that deer find _____. A. mortality D. edible B. disease E. nutritious C. diversity F. unpalatable
CF
16-11 Gwen`s ambitious desert hike was impeded by the heat that sapped her strength and resolve, leaving her ____ and ____. A. feverish D. unerring B. dexterous E. resilient C. debilitated F. disheartened
CF
16-23 Despite accusations to the contrary, it is unlikely that he intended to ____ the articles, since he cited them in his bibliography. A. enlighten B. illuminate C. plagiarize D. acknowledge E. contradict F. steal
CF
16-32 Less confident employees tend to be ____ about asking for a pay increase, preferring to wait for their supervisors to raise the issue. A. voluble B. presumptuous C. reticent D. talkative E. tenacious F. reserved
CF
16-9 Ms. Nunez was ____, remaining assured and self-controlled even in the most volatile of situations. A. ungainly B. autocratic C. unflappable D. effusive E. demonstrative F. imperturbable
CF
17-16 Wanting to appear both _____ and _____, the official tried to cultivate an authoritative yet solicitous public image. A. credible D. disingenuous B. charismatic E. resilient C. commanding F. compassionate
CF
17-23 The shrewd dictator publicized the prosperity of one small village in order to ____ the ____ of the economic hardships that plagued most of his country. A. announce D. retrospect B. expedite E. instability C. downplay F. magnitude
CF
17-25 The estranged friends attempted ____, but their deep-seated ____ made the resumption of cordial relations impossible. A. a reallocation D. reciprocity B. a disputation E. veracity C. a reconciliation F. enmity
CF
17-38 Dr. Yuan headed a medical team that was highly ____, in that it represented multifarious specialties and varied experiences. A. refractory B. assiduous C. eclectic D. remunerative E. industrious F. heterogeneous
CF
18-18 Jean-Michel Basquiat`s ascendancy was truly ____: his provocative art suddenly propelled him from New York street artist to international celebrity. A. piecemeal B. digressive C. meteoric D. integral E. holistic F. swift
CF
13-24 The executive was faulted for acting ______, for implementing sweeping changes without fully considering what the consequence might be. A. regretfully B. remorsefully C. disingenuously D. precipitately E. headlong F. belligerently
DE
13-25 The discoveries made by Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Barbara McClintock considered to be among the major ______ of twentieth-century biological science. A. deliberations B. regulations C. suggestions D. accomplishments E. achievements F. proposals
DE
13-8 Carla draws _____ responses, reactions characterized by verbal abuse, from those disagree with her most strongly. A. languorous B. adulatory C. amicable D. opprobrious E. vituperative F. sycophantic
DE
15-8 Some medieval European painters saw iniquity all around them: they felt that the visible world was _____ sin. A. conscious of B. repulsed by C. mystified by D. suffused with E. immersed in F. cognizant of
DE
16-15 Because Alejandra and Raina have never allowed their differences of opinion to come between them, their friendship remains ____. A. conditional B. exciting C. distant D. staunch E. steadfast F. remote
DE
17-35 The term "dry cleaning "is something of a ____ since this process generally involves application of perchloroethylene, a liquid chemical. A. stereotype B. memento C. proverb D. misnomer E. misnaming F. banal
DE
18-32 The sentimentality of Tom`s screenplay was so extreme that it bordered on ____. A. rectitude B. opulence C. abundance D. mawkishness E. mushiness F. serendipity
DE
11-35 Certain plant seeds are able to remain _____ for years, appearing lifeless when in fact they are merely inactive. A. conspicuous B. verdant C. pliant D. dormant E. thriving F. quiescent
DF
11-7 Before becoming a stockbroker, Victoria Woodhull had a career as a _____, someone believed to have insights about events beyond ordinary human perception. A. mentor B. profiteer C. counterfeiter D. clairvoyant E. forger F. penetrator
DF
15-16 As a college professor, Woodrow Wilson was _____ in all things: he brought the same exacting attention to detail to preparing his lectures and arranging his office furniture. A. erudite B. scholarly C. eloquent D. meticulous E. archaic F. scrupulous
DF
15-29 Essentially a blues artist, Robert Cray plays music influenced by progressive rock, yet he remains ____ the blues tradition. A. disparate to B. hampered by C. distinct from D. grounded in E. ambivalent toward F. founded on
DF
17-31 Nuclear engineer Meena Mutyala argues that nuclear power is an environmentally ____ technology, operating with essentially no emissions. A. hostile B. culpable C. inimical D. benign E. capricious F. innocuous
DF
18-21 The artist, often so ____ as to seem unapproachable tended to be more relaxed and easygoing when among friends. A. generous B. creative C. sympathetic D. reserved E. commiserative F. uncommunicative
DF
18-25 Lina Wertmuller`s film Love and Anarchy is a ____ contemplating the two concepts without taking a position on them. A. demolition of B. devastation of C. commemoration of D. meditation on E. diatribe against F. rumination on its title,
DF
12-19 Hoping to preserve natural habitats, conservationists lobbies for legislation that would ______ commercial development in these areas. A. skimp B. accommodate C. economize D. diversity E. arrest F. forestall
EF
13-13 To students accustomed to using calculators, the textbook`s suggestion that computations be made by hand was _____. A. scholarly B. prescient C. erudite D. unequivocal E. anachronistic F. outdated
EF
14-13 Jessica was ____ by Jon`s angry outburst: she literally did not know what to say, think, or do. A. disenchanted B. mollified C. assuaged D. beguiled E. nonplussed F. confounded
EF
14-22 Led by Massasoit and William Bradford, the Wampanoag communities and Plymouth Colony created a military and economic ____, drawing upon one another`s resources for decades. A. combat B. stalemate C. dilemma D. rivalry E. alliance F. ally
EF
16-29 Steve was ____ by the intricacy of the ice crystals forming on his windowpane: he couldn`t take his eyes off them. A. edified B. troubled C. enlighten D. emboldened E. captivated F. enchanted
EF
17-21 Long after the day`s catch had been brought ashore, the smell of fish still ____ the air. A. rarified B. purified C. illuminated D. thinned E. permeated F. suffuse
EF
18-13 Tchaikovsky`s Nutcracker leaves an ____ impression on audiences: children especially remember the dazzling costumes and stirring music. A. amorphous B. inscrutable C. ineffable D. cryptic E. indelible F. memorable
EF