- Complete the sentence: The documentary's tone was _____; it showed the factory's collapse without blame or sentiment, letting the footage speak for itself.
Answer: dispassionate
Showing events 'without blame or sentiment' describes an impartial, unemotional tone: dispassionate. Elegiac is tempting because a collapse invites mourning, but the sentence explicitly excludes sentiment.
- For each blank, choose the word or phrase that best contributes to a clear, logical sentence. Choose one answer for each blank: the choices for the first blank are labeled A–C; the choices for the second blank are labeled D–F.
The startup's founders were (i)_____ about projected revenues, publicly forecasting profits within a year, yet privately they remained (ii)_____ enough to keep six months of payroll in reserve, just in case the optimistic timeline proved wrong.
Answer: (ii) prudent
Publicly 'forecasting profits within a year' shows optimism, so blank (i) is sanguine. The word 'yet' signals a shift to private caution, and keeping payroll 'in reserve, just in case' shows careful planning, so blank (ii) is prudent. (i) skeptical and (i) reticent both contradict publicly forecasting profits, since skeptical or reticent founders would not confidently announce optimistic projections. (ii) reckless contradicts the cautious act of maintaining a financial reserve. (ii) indifferent doesn't explain why they specifically kept a reserve 'just in case.' Only sanguine + prudent captures the concession between public optimism and private caution.
- Select the best completion: Because the treaty's wording was deliberately _____, both nations could claim it supported their opposing positions.
Answer: equivocal
Opposing sides could each claim support only if the text allowed multiple readings, so equivocal fits. Verbose is tempting because wordy text can feel murky, but length alone does not make meaning open to conflicting interpretations.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence.
The CEO presented the layoffs as a temporary measure; nevertheless, internal memos describing long-term restructuring made her assurances seem _____.
Answer: disingenuous
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion by revealing a contradiction between public statements and private plans. The key logical relationship is the contrast marker "nevertheless" connecting the CEO's public assurance of "temporary" layoffs with internal memos describing "long-term restructuring." The correct answer "disingenuous" (not candid or sincere) satisfies this logic because presenting layoffs as temporary while planning permanent restructuring shows deliberate insincerity. The word "disingenuous" captures how the CEO's assurances were misleading given her knowledge of long-term plans. Choice A "credible" fails due to polarity mismatch—assurances contradicted by internal documents lose believability rather than gain it.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. The lab's new protocol reduced contamination, but it also made each run slower; thus, the overall throughput was ______ rather than improved.
Answer: stabilized
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion through a cause-and-effect relationship with mixed outcomes. The sentence presents two effects of the new protocol: reduced contamination (positive) but slower runs (negative), connected by 'but' and 'thus' to show the net impact on throughput. The correct answer 'stabilized' (B) indicates that throughput remained roughly the same rather than improved—the gains from reduced contamination were offset by slower processing. This satisfies the logic of balanced trade-offs resulting in no net change. 'Enhanced' (A) or 'maximized' (C) would incorrectly suggest improvement, contradicting the stated drawback of slower runs.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. Because the survey sampled only frequent customers, its conclusions about overall satisfaction are necessarily ______, even if the reported numbers are accurate for that subgroup.
Answer: biased
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion by examining sampling methodology and its implications. The key logical relationship is that surveying only frequent customers creates a limitation in the conclusions about overall satisfaction. The Correct answer 'biased' (C) accurately captures how a non-representative sample leads to skewed conclusions. This word satisfies the logic by indicating that the results favor one group's perspective over the whole population. 'Representative' (A) might seem plausible but has the wrong polarity—it would suggest the sample reflects the whole, contradicting the stated limitation of sampling only frequent customers.
- Select the best completion: Far from being _____, the senator's remarks had been rehearsed for days, each pause timed for effect.
Answer: extemporaneous
'Far from' signals a contrast with remarks rehearsed for days, so the blank needs 'unrehearsed': extemporaneous. Calculated is tempting because it matches 'rehearsed,' but the sentence is denying that quality, not affirming it.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. The speaker's apology sounded ______, not because it was emotional, but because it carefully avoided acknowledging any specific mistake that would warrant remorse.
Answer: perfunctory
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion through the relationship between form and substance in communication. The sentence explains that the apology sounded [blank] specifically because it avoided acknowledging specific mistakes despite being emotional. The correct answer 'perfunctory' (E) means carried out with minimum effort or merely as a duty, which perfectly captures an apology that goes through the motions without genuine acknowledgment. This word satisfies the logic by indicating superficiality despite emotional delivery. 'Sincere' (D) or 'contrite' (A) would have the wrong polarity—they suggest genuine remorse, contradicting the avoidance of acknowledging mistakes.
- Complete the sentence: Though critics called her obstinate, colleagues saw the same trait as _____: a refusal to drop a sound idea under pressure.
Answer: steadfastness
'Though' contrasts the critics' negative label with a positive view of the same trait, and 'sound idea' confirms approval: steadfastness. Intransigence is tempting as a near-synonym, but it is as negative as obstinate.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence.
The lab's initial results seemed to confirm the hypothesis; however, once the equipment was recalibrated, the effect largely _____, suggesting it had been an artifact of measurement.
Answer: vanished
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion by examining a contrast between initial and subsequent findings. The key logical relationship is established by "however" and the explanation that the effect was "an artifact of measurement"—meaning it wasn't real but caused by equipment error. The correct answer "vanished" (disappeared completely) satisfies this logic because if the effect was merely a measurement error, it would disappear when the equipment was properly calibrated. The word "vanished" aligns perfectly with something being revealed as an artifact rather than a genuine phenomenon. Choice A "intensified" represents the opposite of what would happen to a measurement artifact, failing because proper calibration would eliminate, not strengthen, a false effect.
- Complete the sentence: Far from being terse, the senator was notoriously _____, often speaking for an hour when five minutes would have done.
Answer: garrulous
'Far from being terse' signals the opposite of brevity, and the hour-long speeches confirm it: garrulous means excessively talkative. Eloquent is tempting, but it describes skill in speaking, not excessive length.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. The historian's account seems ______ not because it lacks detail, but because it omits the one event that would explain the sudden policy reversal described elsewhere in the archive.
Answer: incomplete
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion through a complex causal relationship. The sentence establishes that the account seems [blank] specifically because it omits a crucial event that would explain a policy reversal. The correct answer 'incomplete' (B) logically follows from this omission—missing a key explanatory event makes an account incomplete by definition. This satisfies the cause-and-effect logic: omission leads to incompleteness. 'Comprehensive' (A) and 'exhaustive' (E) are tempting but have the wrong polarity—they suggest completeness, which contradicts the stated omission of important information.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. Although the first draft was _____, the editor's cuts left a lean, focused essay.
Answer: rambling
'Although' sets up a contrast with 'lean, focused,' and the editor's cuts imply excess. 'Rambling' supplies both ideas. 'Concise' is tempting because it fits the word 'essay,' but it repeats 'lean' rather than contrasting with it.
- For each blank, choose the word or phrase that best contributes to a clear, logical sentence. Choose one answer for each blank: the choices for the first blank are labeled A–C; the choices for the second blank are labeled D–F.
Historians have long debated whether the emperor's clemency toward defeated rebels was genuinely (i)_____ or merely a calculated maneuver, since the same ruler who spared his enemies' lives also (ii)_____ their descendants from ever holding public office.
Answer: (ii) barred
The debate is framed as 'genuinely ___ or merely a calculated maneuver,' and since the ruler 'spared his enemies' lives,' the genuine version of his motive would be generosity, so blank (i) is magnanimous. The evidence offered for calculation is that he simultaneously restricted the rebels' descendants from office, so blank (ii) must be barred, supporting the suspicion of calculation despite apparent mercy. (i) vindictive contradicts sparing enemies' lives, and (i) impulsive addresses spontaneity, not generosity, missing the genuine-versus-calculated question. (ii) welcomed and (ii) reinstated would support genuine magnanimity rather than suggest calculation, undermining the debate the sentence sets up. Only magnanimous + barred sustains the historians' tension between apparent mercy and underlying calculation.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence.
Although the committee praised the proposal's ambition, it rejected the timeline as _____, noting that the required permits typically take longer than the plan allowed.
Answer: untenable
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion by requiring you to identify a word that captures why the committee rejected the timeline. The key logical relationship is established by the contrast marker "Although" and the causal phrase "noting that the required permits typically take longer than the plan allowed." The correct answer "untenable" (impossible to defend or maintain) perfectly satisfies this logic because a timeline that doesn't account for permit processing time cannot be sustained or defended. The word "untenable" aligns with the rejection and the specific reason given—the timeline is unrealistic given permit requirements. Choice C "premature" might seem tempting as it relates to timing, but it fails because the issue isn't that the timeline is too early but rather that it's impossible to achieve given the constraints.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. Since the software update fixed the security flaw that had enabled unauthorized access, the risk of data leakage was ______ in subsequent audits.
Answer: mitigated
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion by examining cause and effect in cybersecurity. The logical relationship shows that fixing a security flaw (cause) should reduce the associated risk (effect) in subsequent audits. The correct answer 'mitigated' (C) means reduced or lessened, which logically follows from fixing the vulnerability that enabled unauthorized access. This word satisfies the cause-and-effect logic perfectly. 'Amplified' (A) has the wrong polarity—it would suggest the risk increased after fixing the flaw, which contradicts basic security logic and the positive framing of the fix.
- For each blank, choose the word or phrase that best contributes to a clear, logical sentence. Choose one answer for each blank: the choices for the first blank are labeled A–C; the choices for the second blank are labeled D–F.
The novelist's prose, often praised for its (i)_____ clarity, can in fact be (ii)_____ upon closer inspection, riddled with dangling modifiers and shifting tenses that betray hurried composition.
Answer: (ii) slipshod
The phrase 'praised for its ___ clarity' requires an adjective consistent with clarity, so blank (i) is crystalline. The phrase 'can in fact be' signals a reversal of that praise, and the following clause about dangling modifiers and shifting tenses confirms the prose is actually flawed, so blank (ii) is slipshod. (i) turbid means murky, which contradicts pairing with 'clarity.' (i) ornate describes decorative style, not clarity, so it's the wrong dimension. (ii) impeccable and (ii) lucid both describe flawless writing, which contradicts 'riddled with dangling modifiers.' Only crystalline + slipshod captures the reversal signaled by 'in fact.'
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence.
Even though the dataset was unusually large, the analyst's conclusions remained _____, because the sampling method systematically excluded rural participants.
Answer: biased
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion through a concession-contrast structure. The key logical relationship is established by "Even though" (suggesting the large dataset should strengthen conclusions) contrasted with "because the sampling method systematically excluded rural participants" (indicating a fundamental flaw). The Correct answer "biased" (showing unfair prejudice or systematic error) satisfies this logic because systematic exclusion of a population segment creates conclusions that unfairly represent only part of the whole. The word "biased" directly aligns with the methodological flaw of excluding rural participants. Choice A "robust" fails because systematic exclusion weakens rather than strengthens conclusions, creating the opposite of robust (strong and reliable) findings.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. Even though the author cites dozens of studies, the argument remains ______ because none of the citations directly addresses the central claim being defended.
Answer: unsubstantiated
This question tests logical fit in Text Completion by examining the relationship between evidence and argumentation. The key logical relationship is established by 'Even though' (concession) followed by 'because'—despite numerous citations, the argument has a fundamental flaw. The correct answer 'unsubstantiated' (A) precisely captures an argument that lacks proper support because none of the citations address the central claim. This word satisfies the logic by indicating the core thesis remains unsupported despite apparent scholarly apparatus. 'Conclusive' (C) has the wrong polarity—it would suggest the argument succeeds, contradicting the stated failure of citations to support the main claim.
- For each blank, choose the word or phrase that best contributes to a clear, logical sentence. Choose one answer for each blank: the choices for the first blank are labeled A–C; the choices for the second blank are labeled D–F.
Environmental regulators noted that the factory's emissions, once (i)_____ to a level considered safe, had begun to climb again after inspectors' visits grew less frequent, a pattern that (ii)_____ suspicions that compliance had been merely performative.
Answer: (ii) confirmed
Blank (i) describes emissions that reached 'a level considered safe,' meaning they were reduced, so curtailed fits. The climb after inspections lapsed, described as evidence of only 'performative' compliance, means the pattern strengthens rather than removes suspicion, so blank (ii) is confirmed. (i) monitored doesn't imply the emissions were actually lowered, only observed. (i) amplified means increased, contradicting 'safe level.' (ii) dispelled and (ii) allayed both mean suspicions were reduced, which contradicts the idea that renewed pollution exposes fake compliance. Only curtailed + confirmed matches the logic of the sentence.
