Words In Context

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SAT Reading & Writing › Words In Context

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

germane

untenable

fungible

quixotic

Explanation

Because the evidence contradicts the sweeping claim, it is 'untenable.' 'Fungible' means interchangeable, 'quixotic' means impractically idealistic, and 'germane' means relevant.

2

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

doctrinaire

tentative

ubiquitous

jubilant

Explanation

With a limited, confounded sample, conclusions are 'tentative.' 'Jubilant' is an emotion, 'ubiquitous' means widespread, and 'doctrinaire' means dogmatically inflexible.

3

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

incubate

mitigate

oscillate

exacerbate

Explanation

The goal is to reduce instability, so mitigate fits. Oscillate means to swing, exacerbate means worsen, and incubate refers to developing organisms or ideas.

4

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

vindicate

complicate

replicate

conflate

Explanation

The added nuance serves to complicate the narrative. Conflate means merge, vindicate means justify, and replicate means copy.

5

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

Didactic

Dogmatic

Pragmatic

Quixotic

Explanation

Pragmatic describes a practical, results-oriented approach, consistent with incremental, targeted measures; didactic, quixotic, and dogmatic imply instructive, impractically idealistic, and inflexibly doctrinaire attitudes, respectively.

6

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

Incipient

Ubiquitous

Decorous

Untenable

Explanation

Untenable means not defensible, aligning with scientists' rejection of the claim given fuller data; incipient means beginning, decorous means proper, and ubiquitous means widespread, none of which fit.

7

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

integral

marginal

incidental

capricious

Explanation

Integral means essential, fitting the described ecological importance. Marginal and incidental suggest unimportance, and capricious means unpredictable, which is irrelevant here.

8

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

adorned

amplified

contradicted

tempered

Explanation

Tempered means moderated, aligning with optimism balanced by caveats. Amplified would increase optimism, contradicted would negate it, and adorned suggests mere decoration.

9

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

buoyant

muted

circular

illusory

Explanation

Because hidden costs erased the apparent savings, those savings were illusory. 'Muted' means subdued, 'circular' describes a type of reasoning, and 'buoyant' describes cheerfulness or rising markets.

10

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

accelerate

interrogate

replicate

decorate

Explanation

Interrogate' precisely conveys critically examining omissions. 'Decorate' and 'accelerate' are off-topic actions, and 'replicate' would repeat the narrative rather than question it.

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