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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The boys were _____________ by the deluge of rain above, so they ____________ towards their car as fast as they could to stay dry.
"Inundated" works as the answer because it refers to getting soaked by the rain; "sprinted" works as the noun because it suggests the action to take in response to the rain. The other answer choices don't refer to the rain, nor to an appropriate response to take in reaction to rain.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the mischievous student could not __________ from clowning around in class, he did attempt to __________ the teacher by giving her an apple.
"Mitigate" means to lessen damage, while "impute" means to attribute or ascribe. Only "abstain" means to stop from doing something bad. In the second blank, the student is trying to undo the damage, so "horrify" does not make sense, and "recuperate" means to recover. Only "placate" means to lessen damage.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Authoritarian regimes often lead to a __________ in civic spirit. Although they often begin by __________ the people to high-spirited patriotism, they often end by creating wholly cynical citizens.
The key phrase is "although . . ." and the sense of the juxtaposition is completed by "they often end by creating wholly cynical citizens." The sense is that the regimes begin by making the citizens very engaged, but they end in destroying this civic involvement; therefore, we can immediately eliminate "increase . . . inviting", "coup . . . deceiving," "waxing . . . leading", and "waning . . . discouraging." The best fit is "decline . . . inciting" because it captures the sense of the loss of spirit as well as its initial inspiration (even if through incitement).
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Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
Paschal was not known to __________ when discussing difficult topics; he did not fear __________ his friends by directly addressing difficult issues.
The key points to heed are that the topics are "difficult" and that Paschal did not fear directly addressing issues. Really, the easiest way to begin with this is to see that "circumlocute" particularly fits the bill for the first blank and to note that "disconcerting" likewise works well. Circumlocute comes from the Latin for to talk ("locute") and around ("circum"). The other options are tempting, but none of them catch the sense in such a manner that so directly matches Paschal's desire to directly address issues.
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Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
After __________ the mined copper and tin to rid the metals of impurities, the refinery __________ the two elements in a single sand mold to create bronze.
For the first blank, we are looking for a word which means to rid of impurities, so we should focus on "rarefying," which means just that, and "homogenizing," which means to make uniform. For the second blank, we need a word that means to combine, since the metals are being poured into one mold. Since "amalgamates" means combines different things into one, the correct answer is "rarefying . . . amalgamates."
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Medieval medicine was notoriously risky; most treatments were as likely to __________ symptoms as they were to __________ them.
Because medieval treatments were risky, we know that they were as likely to hurt patients as they were to help them. So, because the missing words both refer to symptoms, we’re looking for a synonym of cause or increase for the first blank, and a synonym for lessen for the second blank. We can eliminate the answer choices that include “hamper,” “nullify,” and “abrogate” as options for the first blank, leaving us with “exacerbate . . . allay” and “engender . . . worsen.” Since we’re looking for a word for the second blank that means lessen, we can eliminate “engender . . . worsen,” since “worsen” means the opposite of “lessen.” So, the correct answer is “exacerbate . . . allay.”
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The popular newspaper attempted to __________ the reporter who exposed the corruption of which they were part by writing articles __________ her and telling the most outrageous lies about her life that were intended to damage her reputation.
For the first blank, we can infer that we need to pick out a verb that means something like "ruin the reputation of," because we know that the reporter exposed the newspaper's corruption. Either "demonize" ("portray as wicked and threatening") or "vilify" ("speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "write things intended to damage one's reputation," so either "slandering" ("making false and damaging statements about (someone)") or "disparaging" ("regarding or representing as being of little worth") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "vilify" and "slandering" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "vilify . . . slandering."
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The once-trendy restaurant's popularity had __________ to the point that we were able to __________ a reservation for that very night.
If this restaurant's popularity has increased, we would expect it to be difficult to reserve a table for the same night; conversely, if its popularity has declined, it would be relatively easy to get a same-day reservation. The end of the sentence ("we were able to") tells us that the latter scenario (diminished popularity/ better odds of getting a reservation) is the case here. For the first blank, either "waned" or "ebbed" would fit, as these are synonyms meaning decreased. "Secure" and "procure" in the second blank would both mean that you were able to obtain a reservation. "Proffer" (offer) would not make sense. Thus, the pairing of waned/secure is the correct answer.
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When the emperor declared that the monasteries would be closed, the monks __________ from all around the countryside and __________ upon the imperial capital as a group to protest this action.
The best clue in this sentence is the word "upon," which indicates that the monks apparently came to the city in protest. Likewise, it is important to notice that they came as a "group." Thus, we should say that they gathered together, not that they fled together. The general idea is that they gathered and then all "stormed" the city in protest. The word "congregate" means come together in a crowd. A church "congregation" is called such because it is a gathering of people. Based upon its Latin roots, it is literally a "flocking together." The monks gathered and then all together "swarmed"—i.e. moved as one large group—upon the capital city in protest as a swarming group. Swarming insects are so called because they act as a group made up of many individuals.
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Leonardo da Vinci was thought to have __________ the existence of several modern inventions, such as the helicopter; however, he is most well known for his works of art, which is highly __________, even in modern times, with thousands traveling to see even the tiny Mona Lisa every year.
Sentence completion questions sometimes count on students studying roots, then throw in answers that seem like they could be the right answer based on the roots, but do not actually have the appropriate definition, as a way of separating the wheat from the chaff. This is one such question.
The best strategy for a compound sentence such as this, which doesn't have clear indications of meaning from conjunctions, is to use the text's logic to reach your answers. This means when you read along, it can be helpful to "fill in the blank," i.e. guess what kind of word would be in the blank before looking at the answer choices, so you can choose the best answer upon seeing it.
For the first blank, you need to look at the first half of this sentence. It relates da Vinci to the helicopter, which is a twentieth-century invention; thus, it would make sense for da Vinci to have "foreseen" the existence of modern inventions. "Forecasted" (predicted) makes sense in this context, but "precasted" (cast something in a different location than where it will be installed) does not.
For the second blank, the same trick works. Reading this half of the sentence again, the art, which is described by the word that will go in the second blank, is seen by thousands of people every year. Thus, it must be well-known or well-liked, which "esteemed" (admired) accurately conveys, while "estimated" (roughly judged the value or total of something) does not.
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Heather could not believe that the smell of the gas had __________ through the whole house; the small inlet pipe seemed capable of __________ only the tiniest quantity of vapor.
The best clue for starting this question is "only the tiniest quantity of vapor." It seemed that the inlet for the pipe could allow in only a small quantity of gas. However, it seems that more had happened—for Heather was surprised at something. The general idea is that gas had spread throughout the house. Hence, "diffused" is an excellent first choice, and "emitting" well describes the general act of allowing a substance to "go forth" (as would happen with the gas coming out of the pipe). ("Emit" comes from Latin roots literally meaning to send forth. To "trans-mit" means to send ("-mit") across ("trans-").)
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Although his brother argued that the meal would be large enough for both of the men, Benjamin __________ that it would hardly __________ one of them.
Clearly, the first blank has to be something describing the act of stating an opinion and (likely) defending it. Many of the choices provided would fit that role; therefore, the best thing to look at in a case like this is the second blank and the options provided for it. Almost all of the wrong answers have something to do with pleasing or displeasing. This is not the point of disagreement between the two brothers. They disagree as to whether or not the meal will be filling. Therefore, the best option for the second blank is "satiate," meaning to satisfy or fill.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although he did not __________ the president's actions, Ralph was able to understand the motivations that may have __________ him to make the decision.
The key word in this selection is the concessive "although." Ralph at least understands the motivations that could have led the president to take the course of action in question. The word "induce" literally means to lead into. Here, it takes on the meaning to bring about. "Condone" means accept in this sentence (though it can also mean permit). Though Ralph did not think the action to be acceptable, he did at least understand its motivating causes.
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Aryeh believed that children become immature when they are treated too mildly, for when he was a child, his parents __________ him without hesitation; he believed that such scolding helped to __________ him from developing the bad habits he saw in today's youth.
Two of the wrong options tempt you to find a harsh form of scolding to contrast to the "mild treatment" that Aryeh believes that he sees. We are clearly looking for scolding, as is indicated in the last sentence. The best option is the pair that has "objurgate," for this word means to scold harshly. The word "inhibit" likewise works well for the second blank, for it means hinder or restrain. It is close enough to "prevent," which is the general sense of this blank.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After hours of testimony, the facts did not __________ Peter, even though the glowering faces of the jury __________ him that a guilty verdict would be reached.
The general idea of this sentence is that the facts did not condemn Peter, even though the jury seemed certain to reach a guilty verdict. The word "inculpate" is quite rare, but it fits rather well. It means to make to be guilty. When someone is "culpable," he or she is guilty, and a "culprit" is a guilty party. Thus, the facts failed to make him appear to be guilty, though he thought he would be judged to be so.
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As he drove down the highway, Raphael blithely __________ the trash through the window, __________ the lives of the driver behind him, whose windshield was hit and obscured by the large, slimy object.
The word "blithely" means done in a casually cheerful manner. For this reason, it is unlikely that Raphael merely "slipped" the item out the window. (A blithe person would likely throw it without much care at all.) Also, do not be tricked by the word "tousled"—which is not "tossed"! To "tousle" someone's hair is to make it messy. By so obscuring the windshield of the driver behind him, he thus endangered the other driver's life. That is, he put him or her into peril—"imperiled" them!
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The man spoke out against the war crimes being __________ by the national army and urged his brother to ____________ the throne.
Since “castigated” and “venerated” do not fit after “war crimes,” we can assume the answer to the first blank is somewhere along the lines of “committed.” Since the man is speaking out against the war crimes, the only plausible argument would be to give up the throne. “Committed . . . abdicate” is the only answer that fits.
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The president’s plan was applauded by some and ____________ by others, who believed that the such atrocious acts would only serve to further ___________ the two countries.
There is a sentence shift in the first part of the sentence. We know that the first blank must have a definition very different from “applauded.” Due to “atrocious acts,” we can further deduce that the verb is along the lines of regarding with extreme aversion. Since these “atrocious acts” could in no way unify the two countries, “abhorred . . . estrange “ is the correct answer.
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When the drink-driving limit is high, people tend to overestimate how much alcohol can be consumed. Most drivers would __________ if the drink-driving limit was __________.
The first sentence gives us some context, but it is not absolutely necessary to determine the correct answers. If we plug in the answer choices, we find that only one of the choices make logical sense. When the drink-driving limit is low, most drivers abstain from drinking just to be on the safe side. “Abstain . . . reduced” is the correct answer.
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In massive disaster scenarios, it is quite difficult to __________ how we should ___________ the resources that should be given to various groups and individuals in our societies.
A number of these options might be tempting if they are taken in the abstract away from the actual textual clues offered for the sentences in question. Notice, however, the straight-forward clues. The sentence is basically stating that it is difficult to "figure out" how we should "divide up" the resources to be distributed. This means that it is difficult to "ascertain" the way to "allocate" our resources. None of the other options address this direct meaning of the sentence. While it is may be necessary to scavenge, steward, regulate, or organize resources in a disaster, none of these really deal with how we "divide up" or "give out" resources.
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