1. C If the “overhaul” will “ameliorate” the situation in the English department,
then the English department’s current state must be negative. Prediction: worsening. The choice that best matches worsening is deterioration.
2. A The word in the blank describes what is necessary for “successful expansion
of a business.” The phrase after the colon provides the clue for the blank. The phrase indicates that a concrete plan is necessary. Thus a good prediction would be a word that deals with developing a plan: planning. The word that best matches planning is foresight.
3. C The word in the blank describes the people reacting to the economist’s plan.
The contextual clue “despite” indicates that the plan’s reception was in contrast to what would be expected from a plan with “flaws.” A good prediction would be supporters. The word that best matches supporters is proponents.
4. A The word in the blank describes David Foster Wallace’s novels. The word
“apparent” indicates that the many “guides and supplements” is a clue to the description of his novels. If his novels have given rise to guides and supplements, then they must be difficult. The word in the choices that most closely matches difficult is density.
5. B The word in the blank describes the novelist’s tone. Since this tone
“puzzled” readers of his previous works, it must be different from the tone of his previous works. If his previous works were “straightforward and terse,” then his new work must be the opposite of “straightforward and terse.” A good prediction is long-winded. The word among the choices that most closely matches long-winded is meandering.
6. C The word in the blank describes what can happen to athletes after they
sign “lucrative contracts.” This belief explains why the commissioner
“institute[d] a mandatory financial-planning course.” The most likely reason the commissioner instituted such a course is that the athletes are financially irresponsible with their money. The word in the choices that best matches irresponsible is reckless.
7. A The discovery in the first part of the sentence is in contrast to “previous
beliefs” about the brain. Prediction: What did this discovery do to previous beliefs? A good word is overthrew. The word in the choices that best matches overthrew is undermined.
8. A and E Since the politician’s current behavior “surprises” colleagues, the
word in the first blank and second blanks should convey opposing attitudes toward “underrepresented groups.”
9. A and D The easier blank to address in this sentence is the first. “In lieu of”
indicates contrast, so the author’s tone is in contrast to “moderate.” A good prediction is extreme. Of the choices in Column 1, the word closest in meaning to extreme is incendiary. Now, substitute incendiary into the first blank and solve for the second blank. The argument’s content is in contrast to “sound reasoning.” Thus it must be without substance. A good prediction is style. The word in the choices that best matches style is rhetoric.
10. B and F The first blank is simpler, so start there. The first blank describes
a false view of “Greene’s discussion of the nuances of particle physics.” The discussion “served a purpose,” so since the word in the blank comes after “though,” it should convey a meaning opposite of serving a purpose. A good prediction is irrelevant. In Column 1, the closest word to irrelevant is
tangential. The second blank describes why a reader needs this information.
Since the information “served a purpose,” the reader must need it to understand the evidence. In Column 2, the closest word to understand is
appreciate.
Text Completion Set 2
11. E The word in the blank describes what the weather does. The idiom “so . . .
that . . .” implies that the feeling of “experiencing winter and summer in the same day” is because of what the weather does. Prediction: if it feels like you’re experiencing different times of year on the same day, then the weather varies. The choice closest in meaning to varies is fluctuates.
12. A and E There are more clues for the second blank, so start there. The word
in the blank describes what the scientists will do once certain conditions about the theory are met. Since gaps must be addressed, once these gaps are addressed, scientists will most likely consider the theory’s plausibility. The choice closest in meaning to consider is entertain. Now look at the first blank. If there are so many gaps that scientists have yet to entertain the theory’s plausibility, then the claim must be far from supported. The choice closest in meaning to supported is substantiated.
13. A and F Start with the second blank. The convict’s external appearance does
not imply a lack of remorse. What kind of appearance would seem to imply a lack of remorse? An emotionless one. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to emotionless is stoicism. Now look at the first blank: if his stoicism does not imply remorse, then the axiom finds validation. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to validation is credence.
14. A and F Start with the first blank. If there was “persistent concern about
attaining new clients,” then the stresses must have been unrelenting. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to unrelenting is unmitigated. Now look at the second blank. The word in the second blank describes a positive skill that the employees obtained in response to the economic downturn. The only positive word in the second column is resourcefulness. Since there are more clues for the second blank, start there.
15. A, E, and I There are the most clues for the third blank, so start there.
The word in the blank describes a concern that cultural critics have about technology. Thus the word in the blank must be negative. Of the choices, the word with the most clearly negative connotation is alienating. Now look at the second blank. The contextual clue “and even” indicates that the word in the blank is a milder form of “beneficial.” A good prediction is acceptable. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to acceptable is tolerable. Finally, look at the first blank. What about technology most alarms cultural critics? Its ubiquity alarms most. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to ubiquitous is insidious.
16. C and D There are more clues for the second word, so start there. The
contextual clue “but” indicates that the effect of the first blank on his finances is opposite of the effect on “his personal development.” If it is “beneficial” to his finances, then it is harmful to “his personal development.” Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to harmful is deleterious. Now, look at the first blank: If he never gave himself time to pursue hobbies, then how did he feel about leisure? A good prediction is opposition to. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to opposition to is aversion to.
17. B and D There are more clues for the word in the first blank, so start there.
Critics’ beliefs about his work are based on the social context of his novels. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to context is milieu. Now, look at the second blank. The word “however” indicates that Kundera believes his works touch on all aspects of human living. A good prediction is represent. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to represent is reflect.
18. B and F There are more clues for the first blank, so start there. The word
in the blank describes an element of Beethoven’s compositions. In the next sentence, the phrase “emotional undercurrents” provides a clue for this
element. If there were “emotional undercurrents” in his compositions, then the compositions must have been emotional. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to emotional is passion. Now look at the second blank. The word in the blank describes Beethoven’s music. Since Beethoven was “unlike” previous composers, his approach must have been unusual. Among the choices, the word that best matches unusual is unconventionality.
19. C and E There are more clues for the first blank, so start there. The contextual
clue “but” indicates that Garcia Marquez’s approach differs from that of his contemporaries. If the contemporaries approach is characterized as “heavy- handed,” then Marquez’s approach must be the opposite of “heavy-handed.” A good prediction is natural. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to natural is organic. Now look at the second blank. If Garcia Marquez can organically use supernatural elements, then he does not strain our belief. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to belief is credulity.
20. B and D There are more clues for the word in the first blank, so start
there. The word in the blank describes the competitor’s characterization of the politician. In the second sentence, we are told that this was a
“misrepresentation.” Thus the characterization must have been false. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to false is libelous. Now look at the second blank. The word in the blank describes the competitor’s tactics. Since the competitor made libelous characterizations, his tactics were dishonest. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to dishonest is unscrupulous.
Text Completion Set 3
21. C and D Start with the first blank. If the salesman is “coaxing” people, then
he is using a dishonest tactic. The word in the blank should be anything that implies dishonesty. Of the choices, the best word is blandishments. Now solve for the second blank. People are detecting the salesman’s tactic, and his tactic is characterized by dishonesty. A good word for the blank would be dishonesty. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to dishonesty is disingenuousness.
22. A and F There are more clues for the first blank, so start there. The word
in the first blank indicates the approach that the scientist did not take. The contextual clue “instead of” indicates that the scientist did not simply observe and characterize what he saw. If he did not simply observe and characterize, then what did he lack? A good prediction would be objectivity. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to objectivity is disinterest. Now look at the second blank. The word in the second blank tells us what the scientist did “instead of simply observing and characterizing the phenomena.” A good prediction is manipulated. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to manipulated is distorted.
23. A and E Start with the first blank. If the distinction is between the blank and
“obsession,” Emerson must view moderate amounts of the blank favorably. The second sentence says that Emerson believed “the scholarly life afforded its adherents a fresh perspective,” so he must have a favorable view of
scholarliness. Of the choices, the word that most closely matches scholarliness is erudition. Now look at the second blank. If Emerson “emphasized the distinction between erudition and obsession,” then he warned against becoming obsessed with the pursuit. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to obsessed with is consumed with.
24. C and F There are more clues for the second blank, so start there. The word
in the second blank describes Barry’s approach. You are told in the second sentence that Barry’s shooting strategy is “unconventional.” Thus a good prediction for the second blank is unconventional. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to unconventional is unorthodox. Now look at the first blank: if Barry continued using the strategy, then how did he feel about “his contemporaries’ dismissal”? A good prediction would be unconcerned with. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to unconcerned with is
nonplussed by.
25. C The phrase “far more difficult” indicates that the word in the blank will
be the opposite of where “beauty” normally comes from. If it is usually found in “novelty,” then the word in the blank should be the opposite of “novelty.” A good prediction would be mundane. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to mundane is prosaic.
26. A, D, and H The easiest blank to start with is the first. If “no one made
explicit mention of” the leadership hierarchy, then the agreement must have been unspoken. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to unspoken is
tacit. The next easiest blank is the third blank. If Johnson “was best-suited
to head the numbers-based project,” then he must have been adept at math. A good prediction would be aptitude. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to aptitude is acumen. Finally, go to the second blank. If the
agreement was tacit, then the employees recognized it without stating it. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to recognized is acknowledged.
27. A and F Start with the second blank. The contextual clue “in favor of”
indicates that Poincaré preferred “the precision of mathematical concepts” to “ human engagement.” A good prediction for the second blank is: bypassed. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to bypassed is forsook. Now look at the first blank. If he forsook human engagement, then what kind of existence
did he lead? A good prediction would be solitary. The word in the choices that best matches solitary is hermetic.
28. A The word in the blank characterizes the public figures. The contextual
clue (;) indicates that what comes after the semicolon will clarify this description. The clause after the semicolon states that “we also become increasingly wary” of politicians’ motives. If we are becoming wary, then we are becoming disenchanted. Among the choices, the word closest in meaning to disenchanted is disillusioning.
29. A and E Start with the first blank. Since the clique of politicians is “stubborn,”
it is most likely unswayed by Congress’ pleas. The closest match to unswayed by is unamenable to. Now look at the second blank. The contextual clue “thereby” indicates that the effect that the politicians’ actions had on the “patience” of their allies is a result of their prevention of the bill. Since the bill is “well-regarded,” their allies were most likely unhappy with the actions. The word that best conveys this meaning is taxing.
30. C The word in the blank describes the medical treatment. The clue is provided
at the end of the sentence: “inducing an unshakable sense of lethargy.” If something induces lethargy, then it is sapping. The word closest in meaning to sapping is enervating.