Verbal 6
Cryptozoology is predicated on a notion that is every bit as ___________ as the very quarry it aims to study: one cannot disprove the existence of that which does not exist. mysterious irrefutable cautious elusive fundamental
Answer: (D) The concept here is there exists a field that tries to prove the existence of something that does not exist. Just as difficult as trying to catch an animal (notice the 'zoology' in cryptozoology) difficult feat. 'Elusive' works well. It means hard to pin down, something that is always beyond one's grasp. (A) superficially makes sense. Yet it is too vague. (B) is a very tempting answer. That said, you can refute the existence of an animal, but you can't refute the animal itself ("irrefutable...very quarry it aims....", does not make any sense).
In a freshman biochemistry class at Newton University, the teacher assigns the class only 'A's, 'B's' or 'C's. The average on the semester final for the class of 2012 was five points lower than that of the class of 2011. Therefore, the percent of students who received 'C's was greater in 2012 than in 2011.
Which of the following, if true, suggests the conclusion above is not necessarily valid? - There was a greater number of students in the 2011 class than in the 2012 class. - The percent of students who received 'A's in 2011 was less than in 2012. - Five more students received 'A's in 2012 than in 2011. - The same number of students received 'B's in 2011 as in 2012. - The percent of students who received 'B's was greater in 2012 than in 2011.
Whether bottled water is healthier than non-bottled water is moot from an ecological standpoint - the hazard discarded plastic bottles pose to the environment clearly suggests we should be less ________ about our unbridled consumption. overtblasécavaliermilitantdisingenuousvigilant
(B) blasé and (C) cavalier are the correct answers. The clues are "Hazard bottles pose...we should be less... unbridled consumption." Because drinking bottled water is harmful to the environment (we must ultimately dispose of those bottles), people should be more concerned about our constant consumption. Therefore people should be less unconcerned. (B) and (C) both mean unconcerned.
At one time versatile, responding to the community's needs in very little time, the environmental management bureau has long since become ________ and largely unresponsive to even its own internal needs. antedatedpilloriedscleroticinvigoratedcompromisedossified
(C) sclerotic and (F) ossified are the correct answers. The clues are "At one time versatile...largely unresponsive". "At one time" signifies a shift in time. The bureau is now the opposite of versatile and is largely unresponsive. The two synonyms in this case are (C) sclerotic and (F) ossified.
There are few ____________ thrills to be gleaned from Kafka's writing, for his characters, which typically embody ideas, are not fleshed out enough for the reader to become fully immersed in their plights. novel vicarious tangential precarious substantive
Answer: (B) On the surface this seems like a pretty straightforward question. But there are some sneaky traps. First off, (A) novel, which means new, is a trap because it is similar to the content of the sentence—Kafka is an author. It is also too general. The sentence is focusing more on the thrills we get from reading a book and being able to put ourselves in the shoes of the hero or heroine. There is a specific word that means that—and it is not (E) substantive, which suffers the same fate as (A): it is too general. In other words, Kafka's writing can offer substantive thrills; these thrills just won't relate to losing yourself in a character. (B) vicarious is a word that means to experience something secondhand, i.e., through somebody else.
Movie marketing works in a highly predictable, and obnoxious, fashion: the more we are assaulted with images of intergalactic battles, or a pouty heroine hoping to regain her lost love, the greater likelihood that the movie is one best ______________. patronizedavoidedcovetedsteered clear ofmulled overcelebrated
Answers: (B), (D) 'Obnoxious' shows us that the sentence has a negative perception of the type of movies elaborated upon after the colon. Thus, the sentence is advising people to avoid such movies. (D) is an idiomatic phrase that means to avoid.
FAQ: I don't understand this sentence. Can you explain it in more detail? A: No problem. Let's break it down into manageable parts: "Some note that the increase in the Native American powwow..." Some people say that the increase in the Native American powwow... "...powwow--an intertribal affair of song, dance, and storytelling, all intrinsic aspects of Native American culture—..." A powwow is something that brings tribes together and involves song, dance, and storytelling, which are fundamental parts of of Native American culture... "...serves to (i) ______________ the very culture it presumably aims to (ii) ______________" ...serves to do something that is the opposite of what it claims to do... They argue an overarching cultural narrative emerges, one that (iii)______________ the narrative of any one tribe. People say that a big story comes from this increase in the powwow and does something to the individual stories from different tribes.
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The problem: hikers go off the trail and kill growth along the steep parts of the trail. The lack of growth causes these areas to become prone to erosion. Solution: Rangers have put up yellow tape along the trail in those areas that are currently suffering the worst erosion. Prediction: The erosion isn't going to become any worse. Assumptions: 1. The tape is going to have the intended effect 2. Something else, besides hikers going off the trail, causes the erosion The first assumption is a little too obvious, though (D) tries to ensnare the test taker by playing off this relevancy. The second assumption is not mentioned at all, though it somewhat comes up in (C), another trap answer. The reason I wrote these two assumptions is that a fair number of students would be able to anticipate them after a little reflection. Thinking about assumptions or flaws in the argument, before going to the answers, can be very helpful. However, you do not want to spend too much time thinking of assumptions, and you should also not assume that when you do come up with the assumption that that is the assumption that is going to come up in the correct answer choice. In this case, the answer is (E). It plays to the assumption that the areas that didn't qualify as "yellow tape zones" are not going to become, over the long haul, more eroded than those areas that are protected by the yellow tape. So even if the yellow tape does work, the assumption still remains that no other parts of the trail can become more eroded than the part of the trail that is currently most eroded. (A) only says that erosion is more likely to occur along certain parts of the trails. But we already know this. That's why these eroded parts are going to be covered up with tape. (B) Even if weekday hikers are better behaved, this fact doesn't relate to the plan to stop the erosion and the prediction of the effect of this plan. (C) This answer is very tempting. It, however, weakens the prompt. It is not an assumption the argument makes. Had (C) been, "the only causes of erosion along the trail is that caused by hikers trampling growth underfoot", then we would have had a winner. (D) is tricky because it relates to the yellow tape. But what is (D) actually saying? That all of the tape is going to fall apart at the same time. But what if the tape at higher altitudes really falls apart faster? Will that mean that parts of the trail at higher elevations are going to be more eroded? Can we even assume that the tape is going to decay to the point that it no longer serves its purpose? All (D) says is the tape is going to break down faster; we don't know to what extent it will actually break. (E) The answer.
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The waters off the coast of Iceland are filled with pods of killer whales, which migrate there during the summer. Wildlife parks that rely on the killer whales for entertainment hunt the killer whale almost exclusively in the water of Iceland, because strict sanctions forbid them from doing so off the coast of North America, an area also abundant in killer whales. Since Iceland recently gave into pressure from international groups opposed to the hunting of killer whales, it too will forbid the hunting of killer whales off its coast. Therefore, all wildlife parks will be forced to end their shows featuring killer whales once their current killer whales are unable to perform.
All of the following cast doubt on the conclusion of the argument EXCEPT? - The recent ban only extends to within one hundred miles of Iceland, though killer whales are plentiful along the shores of Greenland, which fall outside this range. - The incoming prime minister of Canada, who is more conservative, is planning on lifting the ban on hunting killer whales off the coast of Canada. - In-park killer whale births have become increasingly common, especially in those wildlife parks that harbor a large number of killer whales. - Some wildlife parks are involved in the illegal trade of killer whales. - It is nearly impossible to catch killer whales in deep waters, so hunters typically rely on luring killer whales into coves.
State park officials recently released a report urging hikers in Rockridge Mountain Park to exercise caution during the months of April and May. According to the report, the number of mountain lion sightings in the park reaches its peak in the months of April and May.
All of the following could account for the increased number of mountain lion sightings EXCEPT - During April and May, which feature the best hiking weather of the year, more people visit the park than during any other time of year. - Throughout the year, local newspapers report any mountain lion sightings, and most reports come during the months of April and May. - The red-tailed deer, the mountain lion's primary food source, is most abundant during these months and tends to favor hiking trails. - In spring, the trail conditions are best for mountain bikers, who, because they make less noise than hikers, are more likely to startle mountain lions. - Creek beds high in the mountains tend to dry up in spring, so mountain lions often descend into the lower elevations, where hikers are more common.
Regarding Demotic Greek, all of the following can be supported by the passage EXCEPT? - Demotic Greek contains elements of Katharevousa. - Modern Greek employs linguistic elements that fall outside the domain of Demotic Greek. - Colloquial forms of Greek often make their way into Demotic Greek. - Demotic Greek is not responsible with infusing Modern Greek with "educated" elements. - Katharevousa and Demotic Greek were typically employed in disparate social contexts.
Answer: (A) The passage says that Modern Greek is a fusion of demotic Greek, which has evolved naturally, and Katharevousa, which is an artificial construction. Therefore, Demotic Greek and Katharevousa, are distinct and not, as (A) implies, overlapping. Had (A) replaced Demotic Greek with Modern Greek, then the passage would back it up. (B) clearly states that Modern Greek, which contains Katharevousa, is comprised of more than just Demotic Greek. Since it is in the passage, (B) is not the answer. (C) is backed up by "modern vernacular", which appears in the first paragraph. (D) is supported by "can be viewed as a variety of Demotic which has been enriched by "educated" elements". (E) is supported by "the existence of two forms of a language (usually a "high" and a "low") employed by the same speaker depending on the social context". Disparate means separate/distinct.
The passage supports which of the following regarding Demotic Greek? - It shares many common features with Katharevousa - It can be traced back to ancient Greek - It does not represent an example of diglossia - It does not relate to the social context - It is synonymous with modern Greek
Answer: (B) (A) is incorrect because Katharevousa refers to an artificial construction, whereas Demotic Greek refers to the colloquial form of the language. Nowhere does it say that the two overlap significantly. As such, the passage cannot support this idea . Demotic Greek "refers to the form...evolved naturally from ancient Greek." Therefore, we can conclude that it can be traced back to ancient Greek and select answer (B). (C) is refuted in the first paragraph, which tells us Demotic and Katharevousa are "a typical example of diglossia." (D) is wrong because the passage mentions that the use of Demotic Greek depends "on the social context." (E) is wrong because Modern Greek is a combination of Demotic Greek and Katharevousa; Demotic Greek and Modern Greek are not the same thing.
The primary purpose of the passage is to - discredit the findings of a study due to flaws in the design of the study - point out a factor that may modify the extent of certain findings - show how results in a finding were unintentionally fabricated - bolster an argument concerning the interaction of learning and caffeine intake - expand on several oversights of a noteworthy study
Answer: (B) The point of the passage is to mention that the study failed to take into account those who have adverse reactions to caffeine. As a result the findings in the study are likely to change. This matches up best with (B). (A) is tempting, but remember, the passage is not discrediting the findings. (C) is wrong, but nowhere does it say that researchers fabricated or made up data. (D) is wrong since it contradicts the overall tone and direction of the passage. The second paragraph raises doubts about the connection between learning and coffee consumption. (D) does not include these doubts, and so, needs to be eliminated. (E) is incorrect because of the words "several oversights." The passage mentions only one oversight. FAQ: The passage mentions many problems of caffeine such as headaches, sleepiness etc. The video explanation, however, concentrates only on the head aches. Shouldn't it be (E) then? A: Great question! In his explanation, Chris does only mention headaches, however he is using headaches as an example of the ONE oversight--that the study failed to take in to account those who have adverse reactions to caffeine. While he does only underline headaches in the video, note that he says "headaches, ETC." The passage only mentions one oversight, but it lists several EXAMPLES of this oversight -- headaches, sleeplessness, etc. This is why (E) is incorrect, and (B) is the best answer choice.
In regards to the polarity of the nation's political biases, the media peddles the same tired ____________ , hoping that the repetition of a conventional idea will lead people to passively accept it. auguries epiphanies tropes anodynes deceptions
Answer: (C) ' ...the repetition of a conventional idea' matches up with the blank.' (A) auguries are omens (B) epiphanies are sudden revelations (C) tropes are conventional ideas—themes that have been repeated many times (there are other definitions, but this is what's meant in the sentence given) (D) anodynes soothe (E) deceptions does not fit the context
Regarding coffee's effectiveness on memory amongst those who do not display "sensitivities to caffeine," the author assumes that - more rigorous analysis in the form of follow up studies must be conducted - the researchers must be more forthcoming in their findings - this group displayed a uniform tendency - any positive effects will be negated by the effects exhibited by those with sensitivities to caffeine - this effectiveness was fleeting, and tended to all but disappear within a week of the study
Answer: (C) (C) is the best answer because the author assumes that those who did not display sensitivities to caffeine all had improvements in memory. That is, the passage implies that only those had adverse reactions to caffeine intake did not exhibit the improvements noted in the study. (A) is supported by the passage but does not answer the question. (B) is also supported but does not answer the question. (D) is incorrect, because the author implies the opposite: that the positive effects will be more pronounced. (E) is not supported by the passage.
Many are quick to contend—albeit falsely—that the personal essay, given the few slim anthologies released last year, is a(n) ____________ genre: historically, the form has always played second fiddle to the more brash acts, such as the novel or long-form journalism. eminent limited moribund fleeting provocative
Answer: (C) The author of the sentence does not agree that the blank accurately describes the essay genre. The reason is provided after the blank: the essay has never been that popular, so the slim volume does not tell us anything about the essay we didn't already know. This is a difficult sentence and it makes sense to plug in the answer choices if you are struggling to come up with a word. (A) means respected. It doesn't make sense that the "many" would think the personal essay is an eminent genre based on the fact that there aren't that many such essays. (B) isn't the answer because what "many" and the author thinks have to match up. "Limited" could describe what the "many" think, but it does not explain the second part of the sentence. (C) means in the process of dying or fading away. This word matches up with what the "many" think (the "slim anthologies"); it also matches up with the second part of the sentence. That is, it is wrong for many to believe that the essay is a dying genre, because the essay has always not been that popular of a genre. (D) is tempting. The latter part of the sentence, in which it mentions "historically" shows that the essay has been around for a long time, so the author would disagree that it is fleeting. However, the last part of the sentence ("played second fiddle") doesn't match up with fleeting. Had fleeting been the answer, the author would more likely say the essay has been around a long time. Period. Instead, there is more to the clue. (E) means causing a strong reaction. The context does not support this.
Vascoux, in not exclusively ______________ the tenets of modern jazz, imbues his trumpet playing with a pathos reminiscent of the Romantic composers. catering to undermining debunking hewing to validating
Answer: (D) Vascoux not only sticks to modern jazz but injects ("imbues") his playing with a sentiment similar to other music ("Romantic composers"). (D) means sticking to and works best in the blank. (A) is tempting, but it does not work stylistically. One caters to a person or aspects of that person, e.g. whims. (B) and (C) create a meaning opposite of the intended meaning. (E) does not work in context.
Thumbing his nose with equal derision at Mozart as he did at Monet, Thomas was an avowed ____________, treating all arts with contempt. aesthete secularist chauvinist inquisitor philistine
Answer: (E) '...treating all arts with contempt...' are keywords that define the blank. (A) an aesthete is one who values beauty in art (B) a secularist is one who focuses on affairs not relating to the spiritual world (C) a chauvinist is an elitist (D) an inquisitor aggressively asks questions (E) a philistine is one who treats arts derisively
The author's tone towards Guy's biography of Becket can best be described as apologeticneutralambivalentsardonicappreciative
Answer: (E) The author describes Guy's work as "darkly comic and deeply tragic." "Convincing human portrayal" also suggests that the author is appreciative of Guy's biography. Answer (E). He is not apologizing for the work, so (A) is out. (C) suggests that the author has negative emotions of Guy's biography
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? - Certain elements of modern Greek are artificially constructed. - A diglossia is comprised of both modern and ancient forms of a language. - Some modern Greek can be traced to ancient colloquial forms.
Answers: (A) and (C) (A) can be inferred because modern Greek contains elements of Katharevousa, an artificially archaic language. (B) is not the answer because we only have one example of diglossia. We can not infer that all examples of diglossia contain modern and ancient forms. (C) can be inferred because Modern Greek is based on Demotic Greek, which can be traced back to ancient Greek.
To most, the word 'architecture' connotes a grandeur typically associated with the Old World--flying buttresses, Doric columns, baroque flourishes, byzantine arabesques--and thus many of the more ___________ structures, especially those not obviously inspired by neoclassicalism, are often thought to be cobbled together haphazardly instead of following some prescribed architectural idiom. modestsecularunassumingdilapidatedramshacklesedate
Answers: (A), (C) The trap here is to contrast grandeur with the blank. If you do so, you will end up with (D) and (E). The contrast, however, is not between grandeur and dilapidation. Rather, between what constitutes architecture and what does not. Therefore, (A) and (C) fit this context much better. The contrast is between everyday buildings and the grand structures of the Old World.
The exuberance of Karevolotski's narrator breaks the mold in Russian literature, which heretofore has featured a(n) ______________ protagonist, who, grumbling about myriad perceived injustices, braces himself against an oppressive world. gloomyebullientrebellioussaturninesanguineunruly
Answers: (A), (D) It is tempting to choose (C) or (F). Remember though, that the narrator is "grumbling..." as he "braces himself..." This implies inaction on his part. He is preparing himself for a tough, world, not reacting against hit. (A) and (D) fit the context nicely. 'Saturnine' means morose and gloomy. Again, there is ample context to support this reaction ("perceived injustices...").
Some note that the increase in the Native American powwow--an intertribal affair of song, dance, and storytelling, all intrinsic aspects of Native American culture--serves to (i) ______________ the very culture it presumably aims to (ii) ______________. They argue an overarching cultural narrative emerges, one that (iii)______________ the narrative of any one tribe. Blank (i) erode distill empower Blank (ii) foster undermine question Blank (iii) subsumes elaborates upon overcomes
Answers: (A), (D), (G) From the context we can gather that an intertribal affair is one that brings tribes together and thus helps aim to foster culture. That of course is the opposite of what is actually happening. Therefore, the first blank is (A), and the second, which is the opposite of the first blank, is (D). As far as any one tribe is concerned, an overarching narrative emerges, which swallows, or (G), the narrative of any one tribe. FAQ: Why is blank 1 and blank 2 opposite? What is our clue? A: Let's just look at part of the sentence: The Native American powwow serves to (i) ______________ the very culture it presumably aims to (ii) ______________. There's a link between two verbs—"serves to" and "aims to." These powwows have a goal, but we are considering their effect separate from that goal. With the word "presumably," we also know that it is not achieving its goal. We can only presume that their intention is to (ii) __________. We don't know that's the intention. Meanwhile, the effect, what it "serves to" do, is different. So the intention is a good thing—the powwow should be a constructive practice. Meanwhile, the reality is something deconstructive; thus "erode" fits that meaning.
Journalists writing under oppressive regimes face a challenging dilemma: uncovering incriminating facts is rarely ____ from the standpoint of self-preservation, but ignoring the dictates of conscience compromises the ideals of objective reporting. informedprudentliberatingpoliticunwiseprofitable
Answers: (B), (D) 'Dilemma' implies a difficult choice. The journalist is dealing with 'oppressive regimes.' Therefore, if he/she uncovers incriminating facts, he/she will risk the wrath of the government. Therefore, uncovering incriminating facts could be dangerous and is rarely wise. (A) informed means possessing knowledge. This is not the same as being wise (B) prudent is wise (C) liberating does not match the context (D) politic means wise, prudent (E) unwise is the opposite (F) profitable does not quite fit stylistically and contextually. Nowhere is there any mention of money
For an obscure poet to have penned such a refined, poignant sonnet is not at all ____________. The sonnet, after all, has been a favored form for hundreds of years amongst the amateur and lionized alike. I would be ____________, on the other hand, had not one, out of the sheer number produced during this time, surpassed Shakespeare on a bad day. Blank (i) rare puzzling conceivable Blank (ii) confounded vindicated hard-pressed
Answers: (B), (D) Many have been writing sonnets 'for hundreds of years' so it is not at all surprising for an obscure poet to write a great sonnet. The author of the paragraph would therefore be very confused if nobody had ever written a great sonnet. (D) confounded, to be completely confused, works for the second blank. For the first blank, we need a word that contrasts nicely with 'confounded" when paired with "not at all." (B) puzzling captures this contrast nicely: It is "not at all puzzling" for an obscure poet to have written a single fantastic sonnet, but it would be very puzzling had not one poet written a great sonnet. While tempting (A) rare is not supported as much by the context and does not contrast with (D) confounded. FAQ: Why doesn't "rare" work? The sentence directly following the first blank ("The sonnet, after all, has been a favored form for hundreds of years, amongst the amateur and the lionized alike") does not support the choice of "rare" for the first blank. If the question wanted to emphasize that the scenario was not at all rare, then the sentence should mention something about the quantity of similar cases, in which great poems were written by obscure poets. However, it doesn't-- it simply further elaborates upon the popularity of the sonnet form. Just sonnets in general, not "refined, poignant" ones, which is what we need more mentions of in order to judge the case presented as "not at all rare". So, though we do get the variety of poets ("amateur and lionized") we don't have any mention of the right kind of high-quality poems. As for "sheer number" mentioned in the last sentence, that also doesn't provide enough evidence for judging rarity (or lack thereof), because "sheer number" references the number of general poets-- again, not the specific case we're looking for, which is obscure poets who produce amazing poems.
There is a rising consensus amongst immunologists that the observed rise in allergies in the general population can be attributed to (i) ____________ exposure to everyday germs. Known as the hygiene hypothesis, this counterintuitive idea could have far reaching implications—for one, we may now have to be more (ii)____________ those paternal prescriptions to scrub our children's hands at every opportunity. Blank (i) frequent decreased heightened Blank (ii) wary of cognizant of indifferent to
Answers: (B), (D) The "counterintuitive idea" indicates that the first blank is the opposite of what we would expect: a rise in allergies has resulted from a decreased exposure to germs (we would think that an increase, not a decrease, in germs leads to something bad). Therefore, when it comes to getting rid of germs ("scrub our children's hands"), we have to be more on guard (D) wary of. To say that you are more aware of something doesn't imply that you are more or less likely to do it. Therefore, (E) is wrong.
Fenton's motives were clearly ____________ , yet Fenton tried, in the most ingratiating way, to ____________ his innocence. Blank (i) aboveboard base overt Blank (ii) maintain dismiss hide
Answers: (B), (D) The word 'ingratiating' implies that Fenton is trying to win others over. From this behavior, we can conclude that his motives were some negative word. 'Base' means despicable and works well. Therefore, he would want to assert or (D) maintain his innocence.
Mulcahy, in averring that most literary criticism has become so filled with abstruse jargon as to be practically indecipherable to anyone save its practitioners, is himself (i) ___________: his main point will be discernible only to the very community he seeks to (ii) ___________. Blank (i) uncertain complicit enlightened Blank (ii) defend impugn inform
Answers: (B), (E) The word (B) complicit means guilty. Mulcahy is guilty of using too many big words in trying to tell us that literary criticism uses too many big words. Of course, the only ones who will be able to understand all these big words are the literary critics themselves—the very group Mulcahy seeks to criticize, or (E) impugn. More specifically, (E) means to call into question.
With which of the following would the author of the passage agree? - The prevalence of scholarship on Hemingway is commensurate with his renown as a writer. - The latest Hemingway biographies consciously intended to show Hemingway's vulnerabilities. - Until recently, Hemingway biographies had shown a similar trend.
Answers: (C) only (A) is wrong because the first sentence clearly states the opposite: for someone of Hemingway's stature, few biographies have resulted. (B) is wrong because the passage says, "perhaps unwittingly", meaning the biographies did not consciously set out to depict Hemingway's vulnerabilities. (C) is clearly supported in the passage: "What little scholarship...bravura."
In his critique of the student's ____________ essay, the writing instructor mostly focused on ____________ details, leading many in the class to believe he was either oblivious to the subtleties of the piece or simply envious of the student. Blank (i) meandering polemical probing Blank (ii) trifling nuanced significant
Answers: (C), (D) 'subtleties of the piece', 'envious of student' suggest that the essay needs to be modified by a positive word. (C) probing means thoughtful, uncovering, digging deep, etc. (B) polemical means controversial, and does not fit with the context. The instructor, out of possible envy, focused on (D) trifling details. Trifling details are insignificant ones. FAQ: How can the professor be both "focused on the trifling details" and "oblivious to the subtleties"? These two statements might seem antithetical, but we can't change them--they're already in the sentence, not in the blanks. We have to assume that these details he's focusing on are not the same as the "subtleties" of the piece. So what kinds of details is he focusing on? First, let's look again at that last clause, "leading many in the class to believe he was either oblivious to the subtleties of the piece or simply envious of the student." It sounds like the professor's reaction to the piece was quite negative. Yes, the piece itself was good, but if the professor liked the piece, would he seem "oblivious to the subtleties"? Similarly, if he's envious of the student (a negative emotion), he would probably give a spiteful, negative critique. That is, he's oblivious of the good parts, and is instead focusing on some other details. We can guess those other details are unimportant, which is why "trifling" fits :-)
As we age, our political leanings tend to become less ____; the once dyed-in-wool conservative can betray liberal leanings, and the staunch progressive may suddenly embrace conservative policies.
Answers: (C), (E) The latter half of the sentences discusses how conservatives can become more liberal, and liberals more conservative. Thus political leanings become less one-sided, obvious. (A) demanding does not fit context (B) subtle is the opposite (C) pronounced means obvious (D) biased, while a possible fit, does not have a matching word, such as prejudiced. (E) conspicuous means noticeable, obvious (F) cohesive means forming together, and could arguably work. However, there is no matching word
To the senior manager, unsolicited opinions, even if the views expressed did not necessarily (i) ______________ his own views, were (ii)______________ ; thus, employees had learned to be (iii)______________ lest they no longer found themselves in his good graces. Blank (i) gel with countermand clash with Blank (ii) overt nettlesome welcome Blank (iii) reticent sycophantic elusive
Answers: (C), (E), (G) There is very little to go on in this Text Completion, so a good idea is testing the answer choices. Before you do so willy-nilly, notice the structure, "even if the views...", implies that the views (unsolicited, or unasked for opinions), were innocuous. That is they did not clash with his own views. So even innocuous views were annoying, or nettlesome. For the last blank, the focus is on speaking out ("unsolicited opinions"). The shift in the sentence occurs at "...had learned to be..." Therefore, the third blank is the opposite of speaking, or (G). Though a case can be made for (I), it does not contrast as well with the first part of the sentence. Had that part been, "the boss gets angry even if somebody is just standing there", then (I) would have made more sense.
Not merely curious, the new manager was often _______, and would only cease to needlessly interfere in employees work if one of her superiors was present. evasivegregariousintrusivemettlesomepryingobstreperous
Answers: (C), (E). 'Not merely curious...' shows that we need something more extreme than 'curious.' A further clue is 'needlessly interfere...' (A) evasive means avoiding speaking directly. (B) gregarious means sociable. (C) to be intrusive is to disturb other people aggressively. (D) 'mettlesome' should not be confused with 'meddlesome', which means to bother. Mettlesome means coping well and resilient. (E) prying means intruding in other people's affairs. (F) obstreperous means noisy and uncontrollable.
Demotic Greek (language of the people) is the modern vernacular form of the Greek language, and refers particularly to the form of the language that evolved naturally from ancient Greek, in opposition to the artificially archaic Katharevousa, which was the official standard until 1976. The two complemented each other in a typical example of diglossia, or the existence of two forms of a language (usually a "high" and a "low") employed by the same speaker depending on the social context, until the resolution of the Greek language question in favor of Demotic.
Demotic is often thought to be the same as the modern Greek language, but these two terms are not completely synonymous. While Demotic is a term applied to the naturally evolved colloquial language of the Greeks, the modern Greek language of today is more like a fusion of Demotic and Katharevousa; it can be viewed as a variety of Demotic which has been enriched by "educated" elements. Therefore, it is not wrong to call the spoken language of today Demotic, though such a terminology ignores the fact that modern Greek contains - especially in a written or official form - numerous words, grammatical forms and phonetical features that did not exist in colloquial speech and only entered the language through its archaic variety. Additionally, even the most archaic forms of Katharevousa were never thought of as ancient Greek, but were always called "modern Greek", so that the phrase "modern Greek" applies to Demotic, Standard Modern Greek and even Katharevousa.
Answer: (C) The purpose of the passage is to extol Guy's depiction of Becket, while noting that those who like idealized biographies (hagiography) will not appreciate the work. The answer that matches up best is (C). (A) sounds tempting because of the word 'contradiction'. The aim of the passage, however, is not to just focus on the contradictions but the way in which they make Guy's work interesting (at least for those who do not prefer simple, idealized treatments of historical figures). (B) is not the answer because the passage is in favor of the biography. (D) is off the mark, because the passage only mentions practices as they pertain to Becket. (E) is wrong because the goal is not to provide a balanced depiction but to assess a work that does so.
Frequently Asked Questions Where is the evidence that the passage author praises Guy's biography? The only sentence where the passage author directly describes Guy's biography of Becket is this one: Only if we prefer the black-and-white certainties of hagiography to the convincingly human portrayal of a charismatic, contradictory individual who was, as Guy puts it, "as prickly as he was smooth . . . a man with the habits of a hedgehog. The author of the passage is praising Guy for having written a biography that is "both darkly comic and deeply tragic" by contrasting Guy's biography with the "black-and-white" version of saints' lives, hagiography. The version from hagiography leaves out a lot of information and views about Becket, such as Becket's possibly insincere behavior, that Guy writes about. As a result, Guy's biography of Becket is more complete -- and better depicts the complex and human person that Becket was. I don't understand the sentence "Only if we prefer the black-and-white certainties of hagiography..." In this sentence, Guy's biography is contrasted with with the "black-and-white" version of Becket's life -- version from hagiography. This version leaves out certain information and views about Becket that Guy chooses to include in his biography, such as how at different times Becket's beliefs and behaviors were inconsistent and conflicting, or contradictory . His habit of wearing a rough hair shirt but also keeping a soft silk robe is one example. Becket could be charming and charismatic, or "smooth," but he could also be "prickly" -- easily irritated by people and difficult to get along with. Because hedgehogs are animals that can be smooth or prickle up when they are annoyed, Guy compares Becket to a hedgehog. By showing Becket's contrary characteristics, Guy shows that Becket was a complex human being, instead of the one-dimensional character that hagiography makes him out to be.
The plucky election campaign has managed to ______________ support from the most unlikely corners--even typically derelict voters are eyeing the voting booth with more than indifference. - push away - rile up - hoodwink - repel - corral - round up
Text Explanation Answers: (E), (F) "Plucky", which means not easily daunted, suggests that the campaign has done a good job of getting support. The information after the dash reinforces this interpretation. (A) and (D) are the opposite of the answers. (C) means to deceive, which does not fit the context at all. (B) may sound like it means to round up or gather. It actually means to upset. (E) means to gather up.
What little scholarship has existed on Ernest Hemingway--considering his stature--has focused on trying to unmask the man behind the bravura. Ultimately, most of these works have done little more than to show that Hemingway the myth and Hemingway the man were not too dissimilar (Hemingway lived to hunt big game so should we be surprised at his virility, not to mention that of many of the author's--chiefly male--protagonists?). In the last few years, several biographies have reversed this trend, focusing on Hemingway near the end of his life: isolated and paranoid, the author imagined the government was chasing him (he was not completely wrong on this account). Ironically, the hunter had become the hunted, and in that sense, these latest biographers have provided--perhaps unwittingly--the most human portrait of the writer yet.
It can be inferred from the passage that the author considers the latest Hemingway biographies a departure from traditional biographies in that these latest biographies - focus on a much overlooked aspect of the writer's body of work - depict Hemingway in a manner that is at odds with the myth of Hemingway - claim that Hemingway was similar to several of his chief protagonists in his books - suggest that Hemingway lacked the virility many associated with him - do not attempt to explore the link between Hemingway the man and Hemingway the myth Answer: (B) The myth of Hemingway relates to how earlier biographies tried to "unmask the man..." The new biographies show Hemingway as "the hunter...the hunted." Therefore (B). (A) is incorrect because while they explore a different side of Hemingway, they do not explore a different side of his work. (C) is the opposite of what the passage implies about the latest biographies. (D) is going a little too far in saying that Hemingway lacked the virility, or manliness. (E) is an alluring answer choice. (E) can be generally inferred from the passage. But the question pertains to why the author thinks the latest biographies are different.
For such a propitious candidate to be ________ so early in the election cycle underscores the fickle affection of the voter. lionizedslanderedoustedmarginalizedsidelinedglorified
Text Explanation (D) marginalized and (E) sidelined are the correct answers. The clues are "propitious...underscores fickle affection." The candidate was very propitious (favorable). Yet because voters are likely to change their minds so easily, even a popular candidate can become one that is either ignored or pushed out of the spotlight. (C) ousted could work but has no synonym pair. (D) marginalized, or no longer important, and (E) sidelined are the answers.
Hightrail Park, a state park popular amongst weekend hikers, is suffering erosion along its trails. The primary cause are the many hikers, who looking for a quicker route between the switchbacks, cut between trails, thereby trampling undergrowth. Without grass and weeds, the land abutting the trails is more prone to erosion. To combat this problem, state park officials have placed yellow tape on those parts of the trail where erosion is most significant. State park officials expect that the park will not witness any erosion more extreme than what the park is currently witnessing.
The argument above depends on which of the following assumptions? - Hikers who hike between trails tend to hike along a similar route, thereby making erosion more likely in certain areas along the trail. - Hikers who hike during the week are not as likely to walk on the land between the switchbacks. - Erosion in the state park can be caused by other factors such as significant rainfall. - The yellow tape at higher altitudes along the trail, where weather is more severe, will fall apart at the same rate as the yellow tape located at lower altitudes. - Those parts along the trail that do not qualify as being highly eroded will not in the next five years become more eroded than those parts along the trail that are currently the most eroded.
Select the sentence in which the author expresses an opinion towards the results of the study. Click on a sentence in the passage to make your selection While daily coffee consumption may aid in the process of forming a greater number of short-term memories, and increase the likelihood that these memories will be stored in long-term memory, the study glosses over an important fact.
The first sentence of the second paragraph, "While daily coffee...glosses over an important fact", cites the author's opinion of the study. The word "important" is worth noting. Whether or not the study is missing "important" facts is subjective. You can say objectively that the study doesn't include some information, but whether or not that's a problem is subjective. The final sentence of the passage, in contrast, serves as a conclusion (which may or may not be correct) that includes no subjective detail, and therefore is not exactly an "opinion." It is a tempting choice, because it is the author's main argument, but it is not stated subjectively; it is meant to be a fact.
Both darkly comic and deeply tragic, Guy's biography of the 12th archbishop of Canterbury Sir Thomas Becket, is a portrait of a saint with plenty of shadows. Does it diminish Becket for us to know that this future martyr in a hair shirt (clothing worn by ascetics) also made sure to keep a fine silk robe handy for his return to Canterbury, a stately progress one chronicler compared to Christ's entry into Jerusalem? That his abstemious diet was partly the result of a lifelong susceptibility to chronic, and debilitating, indigestion? That one of his oldest and closest friends would have found his canonization "utterly absurd"? Only if we prefer the black-and-white certainties of hagiography to the convincingly human portrayal of a charismatic, contradictory individual who was, as Guy puts it, "as prickly as he was smooth . . . a man with the habits of a hedgehog."
The primary purpose of this passage is to - provide insight into the contradictions of a historical figure - enumerate the shortcomings of a piece of literature - praise a work for favoring a complex portrayal over a simple one - criticize practices particular to a certain time - present a balanced depiction of a well-known historical person
Due to an easing of state sanctions against hunting, Deersdale Preserve has experienced an influx of hunters in the last several months. During this time, the silvertail fox, a popular target for hunters, has seen a marked decrease in population. Therefore, to prevent the population of silvertail fox—an important apex predator responsible for keeping the Deersdale County's rabbit population in check—from falling even lower, the state should once again place strict sanctions against hunting.
Which of the following, if true, may suggest that stricter sanctions against hunting would not have the desired effect? - The population of rabbits has surged ever since the hunting sanctions in Deersdale County were lifted. - The silvertail fox population varies greatly throughout the year, especially during winter when prey becomes scarce. - The local authorities are expecting even more hunters in the coming year to arrive to the park. - The silvertail fox had been experiencing a population surge shortly before the state sanctions against hunting were eased. - The grey wolf, a large predator that competes with the silvertail fox over Deersdale Preserve's rabbit population, has seen its numbers decrease since the arrival of the hunters.
Researchers, investigating the link between daily coffee consumption and learning, claim that subjects who consumed one cup of coffee a day for one week (the equivalent of 50 mg per day) exhibited improvements in declarative memory. Furthermore, the study revealed that such improvements were longer-lasting than those witnessed in a control group served decaffeinated coffee (decaffeinated contains negligible amounts of caffeine). After a week of learning a list of facts, the subjects who consumed one cup of coffee were able to recall these facts with significantly more accuracy.
While daily coffee consumption may aid in the process of forming a greater number of short-term memories, and increase the likelihood that these memories will be stored in long-term memory, the study glosses over an important fact. Many exhibit sensitivities to caffeine, including headaches (both migraine and non-migraine), sleeplessness, heightened anxiety and any number of factors that, when working either alone or in tandem, may actually lead to a decrease in the observed link between caffeine and learning. Nonetheless, despite the fact that the study represents a random sampling—and thus any number of subjects can exhibit any number of reactions to caffeine—if enough subjects continue to display signs of improvements in learning, then this result would not be inconsistent with the study's findings. Still, until the researchers either release more details of this study, or subsequent studies are conducted, the extent to which those with caffeine sensitivity influenced the observed link between coffee consumption and memory will not be fully known.
Answer: (E) All we know is that the class average in 2012 was lower than 2011. We do not know the distribution of grades. Therefore, the argument incorrectly assumes that 'lower average' equals a greater percent of students with 'C's.' (E) correctly exposes this mistaken assumption. If more students received 'B's in 2012 than in 2011, such an outcome could drive down the average. All we are looking for a possibility that the conclusion is not valid. (E) does not show that getting more 'B's definitely leads to a lower average. It simply offers an alternative explanation to the getting more 'C's argument. (A) is wrong because the prompt is concerned with percents, not numbers. (B) would suggest that with the average being lower in 2012, yet a greater percent of students received 'A', that most likely a greater percent of students received 'C'. This is consistent with the conclusion. (C) and (D) both fall into the same category as (A).
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_by nature, Roland could always be found amidst a group of people, laughing and smiling. - Expansive - Facetious - Colloquial - Retiring - Gregarious - Petty
nswers: (A), (E) The keywords are 'amidst a group...' and 'laughing and smiling.' (A) expansive does not mean expanding but means open around others and inclined to talking. (B) Facetious means jesting, not serious. Does not quite work in context. Also, amongst the answer choices there is no other word that means jesting (C) colloquial means relating to everyday conversation (D) retiring is the opposite of expansive. If somebody is retiring, he/she is likely to be standing in the corner of the room, arms folded (E) gregarious means sociable, outgoing (F) petty means overly concerned with insignificant matters
For all his ____________, Honore de Balzac betrayed a remarkable ____________ to the plight of 19th century women, populating his novels with characters sympathetic to women's rights. Blank (i) affability diffidence boorishness Blank (ii) contemptuousness sensitivity obliviousness
nswers: (C), (E) 'For all...' indicates the two blanks are opposite. 'Betrayed' means revealed and so the contrast is between how he was perceived, (C) boorishness, and what was revealed in his books (E) sensitivity. FAQ Doesn't betray mean "treacherously reveal"? I don't understand how it's being used here, or why "sensitivity" fits in the second blank. In this sentence, "betray" means "to reveal against one's desire or will," not "to be false or disloyal to." Generally, when "betray" is followed by "a/his/her + noun describing a person," it will have the former meaning. We cannot use the meaning "to do harm to someone" or "deliver to an enemy" for "betrayed" here. You can betray a person, or a principle, or a group, or movement, etc, but you cannot betray "a remarkable contemptuousness." So we know that we must use the meaning "to reveal." The logic of the sentence goes like this: As an individual, Balzac was for the most part boorish; however, his inclusion of characters supporting women's rights reveals, or betrays, his sensitivity regarding women. How can we tell the first blank is negative? What is the function of "for"? The first blank in this sentence should be negative because of the phrase "For all his ___________" that opens the sentence. So let's start by trying to understand the meaning of "for all..." "For" here means something like "despite," "although," or "in spite of," and indicates a shift. Here's are some examples of "for" used to indicate a similar shift/contrast: For a person who is never late to business meetings, he is strangely late to all his personal appointments. For all the problems that occurred on the trip, it was a valuable experience. We could rewrite the problem sentence as follows: "In spite of his ______, Honore de Balzac betrayed a remarkable ________ to the plight of 19th century women, populating his novels with characters sympathetic to women's rights." So, we choose "boorishness," which means "the manner of a rude or insensitive person." This is the opposite of the kind of person portrayed in the second part of the sentence -- a person who is sensitive to women's rights. So, he was sensitive to women's rights despite being a rude and insensitive person.
Answer: (E) The argument states that the only place wildlife parks can find killer whales is off the coast of Iceland, yet, with an imminent ban there, wildlife parks will be unable to replenish their respective in-park killer whale populations. Eliminate all the answer choices that call this question into conclusion. (A) provides a source of killer whales (Greenland), thereby weakening the conclusion. The argument states that North America is also abundant in killer whale. If Canada lifts its ban, then wildlife park can find killer whale there. (B) is out. (C) provides a great place to replenish the killer whale population: the park itself. Therefore, (C) directly attacks the argument that wildlife parks will run out of killer whale. (D) provides a clear means by which parks will acquire killer whales despite all the bans. (E) does not provide a new means by which parks will acquire new killer whales. It only describes how killer whales are generally caught. Therefore (E) is the answer.
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Answer: (B) The conclusion is that X caused Y. In this case, X equals no more hunting sanctions and Y equals a decrease in the fox population. Because we want to weaken the argument, we are looking for an answer choice that calls this causal relationship into question. (A) is consistent with the paragraph. Fox population falls. The fox preys on the rabbit. Rabbit population rises. No big surprise. (B) may not strike one as the correct answer, and indeed I would probably pass over it at first, looking for a better answer. On the actual test, you may find yourself doing the same thing. Therefore, if you eliminate all the answers, (as you may have done with this question), it is good to be able to come back and give each answer choice a more thorough examination. The correct answer only has to show that something else is causing Y. (B) gives us a factor: winter. During this time, the fox population drops in general. Therefore, if it was autumn when the hunting sanctions were lifted and over time, there was a drop in fox population, then one cannot safely conclude that the hunters were responsible for the drop. (C) is out of scope. We do not care about the coming year. (D) seems to strengthen the argument. (E) can be kind of tempting, and in a roundabout way, I could make an argument for it. Grey wolves are also seeing their numbers drop, and that is strange because there should theoretically be more prey—more rabbits—without as much competition from the foxes as their had been. Shouldn't the wolves' numbers also be going up? Maybe something else is killing them. So what if it is not the hunters? On paragraph arguments, you want to avoid this circuitous reasoning. The correct answer would be something more along the lines of "Recently, the grey wolf, which preys on cute little foxes, has moved into the silvertail fox's territory."
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This is an EXCEPT question. Four of the answers will clearly account for the increased number of mountain lion sightings in the Rockridge Mountain Park, and these four valid explanations will not be correct. One of the answers will either be irrelevant or even suggest that there should have been fewer sightings, and this one oddball will be the correct answer. The credited response is choice (B). The argument is not about how many sighting are reported in the paper, but simply, how many take place. The fact that a newspaper always reports these sightings doesn't cause the mountain lion to be seen. This is totally irrelevant, so it's the best answer to the EXCEPT question. If more people are in the park, that's more eyes, which increases the likelihood of seeing a mountain lion. Choice (A) is a valid explanation, so it is not a correct answer. If the red-tailed deer is on the hiking trails in these months, then the mountain lion will follow, and folks will see more of the lion. Choice (C) is a valid explanation, so it is not a correct answer. Bikers are more common in the spring, and more likely to startle lions, so the number of sighting by bike riders would increase in the spring. Choice (D) is a valid explanation, so it is not a correct answer. Spring is the time when mountain lions come down to where the hikers are, increasing the likelihood that hikers will see them. Choice (E) is a valid explanation, so it is not a correct answer.
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