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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Ruth asked Jorge to help her solve a particularly __________ problem.
If Ruth is asking for help, the problem must be difficult. "Knotty" means difficult, when applied to a problem or task.
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Many museum visitors prefer realistic works of art that clearly depict recognizable figures and objects to works comprised of __________ streaks of paint and abstract lines.
We can infer from the sentence's context that we need to pick out a word for the first blank that means something like "not realistic," because the type of art that the blank describes is being contrasted against "art which clearly depicts recognizable figures and objects." Given that, the best answer choice is "amorphous," an adjective that means "without a clearly defined shape or form."
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The storm was picking up around them and the people onboard were very fearful that the ship would __________.
In a storm it is logical that people onboard a boat would be worried about the boat turning over in the water and possibly sinking. The correct answer then is "capsize" which means (of a ship) to turn over in the water. To provide further help, "smitten" means in love with; "economize" means make a decision that will save money; "aggrandize" means increase power, wealth, or status; "elevate" means rise up.
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She was suffering dramatically in the __________ heat.
You are told that the subject of this sentence was "suffering dramatically" in the heat. The correct answer must therefore reflect that intensity. "Sweltering" means extremely and uncomfortably hot. To provide further help, "obdurate" means stubborn; "frivolous" means pointless; "nimble" means agile, flexible and capable of quick movement; "ambidextrous" means equally skilled at using either the right or left hand.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The newspaper's __________ was unusually critical and scathing of the President.
The use of the words "critical" and "scathing" (harsh, critical, attacking) provide you with the necessary information to solve this problem. Newspaper articles usually should contain no bias or strong judgment, except in "editorials" in which a newspaper's editor is free to express subjectivity and opinion. If the article was "critical" and "scathing" it must have been an editorial.
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She turned heads in her new summer dress and people kept coming up to her to tell her how __________ she looked.
If the girl kept "turning heads" it makes sense that she looked beautiful, attractive, or "gorgeous." To provide further help, "chivalrous" means noble, honorable; "frantic" means rushed, stressed; "vengeful" means seeking revenge for some wrong done to you; "grumpy" means in a bad mood, moody.
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The __________ quality of the cell membrane allows water, ions, and small molecules to pass through it.
Since the membrane allows liquids and molcules to pass through it, the membrane must have gaps and therefore be porous.
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Thankfully the poison proved not to be __________ and the girl made a complete recovery.
If the author is "thankful" and the girl made a "complete recovery" then the poison must not have been deadly, likely to cause death, or "lethal." To provide further help, "superb" means excellent; "paltry" means small, an insufficiently little amount of something; "hilarious" means very funny; "muddled" means confused.
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Sentence Completions: choose the word that best completes the sentence.
After days of transferring hundreds of handwritten invoices to a spreadsheet, the intern became bored with the __________ task.
"Tedious" means dull or monotonous. The intern was bored by working on this one task for days, so the best answer choice is "tedious."
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The magician amazed the spectators by making the rabbit disappear, although it was merely __________ under the table.
In order to appear to have disappared, the rabbit must be hidden from sight under the table. The correct answer is "concealed," which is a synonym of "hidden." None of the other answer choices make sense in the sentence's context: "discovered," when used as an adjective, is an antonym of "concealed" and means revealed or exposed; "compiled" means put together; "drenched" means soaked; and "visible" is another antonym of "concealed," and means able to be seen.
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Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
The book, despite rejection from some critics, met almost universal __________ when it was first published.
Since the book received something that is the opposite of rejection from some critics, the correct choice is "acclaim", which means praise. None of the other answer choices have anything to do with the sentence's context: "frenzy" means panic, "parapet" refers to a short wall that encloses a raised part of a building, "lull" means pause or respite, and "criticism" means censure or denunciation.
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Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
The king showed no compassion to the treasonous prisoners; then again, he was always known for his ___________ side.
From the context of the sentence, you know that the blank word must describe the king’s lack of mercy and compassion. The correct answer is therefore “ruthless," which means showing no mercy or violent. To help you, "benevolent" means good-natured, "supple" means flexible, "intelligent" means smart, and "gregarious" means sociable.
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Sentence completions: Fill in the gap(s) in this sentence.
It is late at night and I am walking alone; as a result, I feel __________ and keep checking the sidewalk behind me.
The sentence suggests that the author is feeling nervous walking home alone at night. The answer choice that most closely resembles nervous is “wary,” which means nervous and cautious. To further help you, "enamored" means in love with; "passive" means restrained or not aggressive; "rage" means anger; "effusive" means demonstrative.
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It was far from a(n) __________ situation; we were surrounded by enemies on all sides and running low on food and water.
The situation described in the second clause is very negative, which means the blank word must mean something opposite to the negative situation. The correct answer is "ideal,” which means perfect. To further help you, "fruitful" and "abundant" are two words that both describe something there is plenty of.
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In contrast to the unmethodical approach of his peers, Albert was a scientist well known for his __________ work.
Clearly, this sentence is contrasting Albert's method of working with the unmethodological approach taken by his peers. When someone works "with a method" (or "methodologically"), he or she works with a plan and procedure. The so-called scientific method has its name because it describes a procedure for arriving at scientific truths. If Albert's peers are "unmethodical," he must be "methodical." This means that he works "systematically" or according to a plan.
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Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
In contrast with Geneva’s cheery attitude, Donald had a rather __________ temperament.
A "cheery" attitude is one that is very happy and often "optimistic" (seeing the best in everything). If someone has the opposite of such an attitude, such a person is depressing, "dark," and unhappy. Since Donald is being contrasted with Geneva, this is the case for him. It is not proper to say that he has an "angry" attitude (or any of the options related to that). Likewise, "chipper" is really a synonym of "cheery"; we need an antonym. "Dreary" works best, as it means bleak or depressing.
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Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.
Despite Austin's best efforts to stay up late during the camping trip, he was overcome by __________ and fell asleep before the sun went down.
This sentence contains several context clues. First, the key word "despite" tells us that Austin's attempts to stay awake were unsuccessful. If that information weren't enough, the second part of the sentence outrightly states that Austin fell asleep. So, the feeling that overcame him must have been one of exhaustion. The only word that fits this sentence is "fatigue," which is the great tiredness that generally follows activities that require great effort.
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In the United States, people are given a choice about whether they want to vote or not, but in some other countries, that choice is taken away and voting is __________.
When you are not given a choice about something or are forced to do something, that thing is considered “obligatory.” Because people in some democracies are forced to vote, the correct answer is that in these situations, voting is “obligatory.” “Prohibited” means against the rules; "encouraged" means supported and promoted; “permitted” means allowed; and “inhabited” means lived in.
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The stocks of water bottles were severely __________ in local supermarkets when people rushed to buy them during the heat wave.
Because people rushed to buy the water bottles, it stands to reasons that the supply of them would be diminished or exhausted, both of which are meanings of “depleted.” “Enhanced” means improved; "decorated" means adorned or honored; "misplaced" means lost; and "expedited" means hastened.
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He won a large fortune on the lottery, but he soon __________ it and was reduced to poverty.
Because the subject of this sentence had a large amount of money (“a fortune”) but was later reduced to poverty, it can be determined that he must have wasted, or “squandered,” his fortune. “Invested” means spend money with the expectation of making more money back; “throttled” means strangled; “uttered” means spoke; and “adorned” means decorated with.
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