Sentence Completions -- Weeks 1-4
19 Questions
| Attempts: 93
These questions test how well you can apply vocabulary words. For each question in this section, select the best answer from among the choices given.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
She was exhausted and gave ________, almost rude, responses to any questions asked of her.
- A.
Terse
- B.
Incoherent
- C.
Sundry
- D.
Meticulous
- E.
Spurious
Correct Answer
A. TerseExplanation
By process of elimination, we can eliminate sundry (which means various or diverse), meticulous (which means thorough and detailed, and is therefore an opposite), and spurious (which means untrue). We are then left with choices A and B. Note the modifier "almost rude". What kind of word could mean "almost rude"? Terse means abruptly concise, so that word works best -- choice A is the answer. (incoherent means unable to be understood)Rate this question:
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- 2.
The ______ horse and buggy is an _________ in twenty-first century society.
- A.
Antiquated...archipelago
- B.
Liberal...acme
- C.
Archaic...anachronism
- D.
Ethereal...attribute
- E.
Equitable...opiate
Correct Answer
C. Archaic...anachronismExplanation
The phrase "twenty-first century" indicates that our answer will have something to do with time. As such, we can eliminate choices B, D, and E ("liberal" means tolerant or generous, "acme" means the highest point, "ethereal" means heavenly or celestial, an "attribute" is a trait, "equitable" means fair, and an "opiate" is… a drug). We are left with choices A and C. Both antiquated and archaic have something to do with time. However, in choice A, the word archipelago does not: it means a group of islands. The word "anachronism" refers to something that is out of place in a particular period, so choice C is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Her orthodox response to the question was fairly _______ of such a crazy, ________ actress.
- A.
Atypical...eccentric
- B.
Venerable...doughty
- C.
Glum...misanthropic
- D.
Extemporaneous...grisly
- E.
Rhetorical...gregarious
Correct Answer
A. Atypical...eccentricExplanation
Note the contrast of the two words "orthodox" and "crazy". Based on those two words, that means that she gave an answer that we would not normally expect. The only answer choice that matches that is choice A -- "atypical" means something that we would not expect. The word "eccentric" also works because it modifies the word "crazy" (eccentric means odd or peculiar).
"Venerable" means commanding respect, "doughty" means very courageous, "glum" means sad, "misanthropic" relates to someone who hates humans, "extemporaneous" means unplanned, "grisly" means gruesome or horrible, "rhetorical" has to deal with the style of speeches, and "gregarious" means sociable.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Watching her child struggle caused her great _____.
- A.
Anguish
- B.
Joy
- C.
Jubilation
- D.
Egress
- E.
Buttress
Correct Answer
A. AnguishExplanation
Although some mothers might feel joyful when their children struggle, on this type of a question, you're just going to have to assume that the mother is a good mother. As such, eliminate choices B and C. (also, since there are two choices that are synonyms of each other, you can figure out that they both can't be the answer -- so none of them can be the answer) "Egress" refers to leaving a place, and a "buttress" is a support or prop. Choice A, therefore, is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 5.
A large media controversy sprung up within the past year over some schools' proposal to ________ some works that have offensive terms in them.
- A.
Hoot
- B.
Jinx
- C.
Entice
- D.
Cue
- E.
Bowdlerize
Correct Answer
E. BowdlerizeExplanation
The answer is choice E, "bowdlerize", which means to get rid of texts considered objectionable. Even if you don't know what bowdlerize means, however, you can eliminate the other four choices by process of elimination as they are fairly basic words. "Hoot" means to utter a cry characteristic of an owl, "jinx" means to bring bad luck to, "entice" means to lead someone to a particular choice by promising hope, and "cue" means to prompt. The only choice left is E.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Because you have such a _________ job, it might be ______ for you to get up and take a walk.
- A.
Viscous…nubile
- B.
Crucial…dialectic
- C.
Sedentary…salubrious
- D.
Nautical...audible
- E.
Communal...winsome
Correct Answer
C. Sedentary…salubriousExplanation
Looking at the words "get up and take a walk" would lead me to look at the word "sedentary", which pertains to sitting down. Since "salubrious" means healthful, that choice words perfectly -- choice C is the answer. "Viscous" means sticky and "nubile" relates to a woman suitable for marriage. "Crucial" means important, so that could work in the first blank, but "dialectic" has to do with studying language, so choice B can't work. "Nautical" relates to sailors and ships, and "audible" means being able to be heard. "Communal" means shared, and "winsome" means charming -- as such, I can get rid of all of those choices and choose choice C.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Don't tell him that -- it will only _________ his grief!
- A.
Supersede
- B.
Filch
- C.
Exacerbate
- D.
Meander
- E.
Acquit
Correct Answer
C. ExacerbateExplanation
Without looking at the choices, what word could fit into the sentence? Personally, I'd think of a word like "worsen". The only word choice that means "worsen" is "exacerbate", so choice "C" is the answer. ("Supersede" means to replace in power, authority, or the like, "filch" means to steal something of small value, "meander" means to roam around aimlessly, and "acquit" means to release someone from the charges of a crime.)Rate this question:
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- 8.
Your plan sounds _______ but it also seems like it will create an _______ task for us to complete.
- A.
Viable...arduous
- B.
Feisty...asinine
- C.
Feasible...insipid
- D.
Prim...arable
- E.
Rambunctious...oblivious
Correct Answer
A. Viable...arduousExplanation
Let's try substituting our own words into the blanks once again: which word/phrase seems like it could fit into each blank? In the first blank, I would put the phrase "like it can be done", and in the second blank I would put the word "difficult" (ignore the "an" for the purpose of substitution). How do I know that the word "difficult" goes in the second blank? I know this because of the key word "BUT". That indicates that there will be a contrast between the two words. Now, let's see which choices work: does "viable" mean "like it can be done"? Yes. Does "arduous" mean "difficult"? Yes. Choice A is the answer. "Feisty" means spirited and spunk, and "asinine" means stupid. Choice B can't work. "Feasible" does mean "like it can be done", but "insipid" does not mean "difficult" -- it means uninteresting. Choice C, therefore, can't work. "Prim" means formally precise or proper, and "arable" means suitable for farming. Choice D can't work. "Rambunctious" means noisy (like noisy and rowdy children) and "oblivious" means unaware of something. Choice E can't work -- choice A is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 9.
She was very _______ but proved to be completely ________ at handling business matters.
- A.
Contemporary...invincible
- B.
Amiable...scathing
- C.
Devious...sagacious
- D.
Affable...inept
- E.
Dogmatic...risible
Correct Answer
D. Affable...ineptExplanation
Again, notice the word "but". That indicates that this sentence contains a contrast -- the first blank will likely be either positive or negative, and the second blank will likely be whatever the first blank is not. The two words should be opposites of each other. So, choice A can't work: contemporary (which means current) is not the opposite of invincible (which means unable to be harmed). Amiable, which means friendly, is not the opposite of scathing, which means harsh criticism -- choice B is not the answer. Choice C seems like it might work, but the word "devious" is not the opposite of the word "sagacious": devious means indirect or not straightforward, and sagacious means having good practical sense. Those aren't opposites of each other, so it can't work. Choice D, on the other hand, has something that kind of is an opposite: "affable" means friendly, and "inept" means incapable. Though they really aren't complete opposites, they are opposite enough that if you plug it into the sentence, it works. Choice E is not the answer because "dogmatic" means very rigid in opinion, and "risible" means laughable. So, choice D is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 10.
He was a major ________ of the cause, and made multiple donations to organizations that worked to further the cause's research.
- A.
Mentor
- B.
Quotidian
- C.
Libertine
- D.
Amazon
- E.
Proponent
Correct Answer
E. ProponentExplanation
In this sentence, we have to use context clues: the word in the blank is defined by the fact that he "made multiple donations to organizations." Try plugging in your own word in the blank: I might use the word "supporter". Which word means "supporter"? "Mentor" might work, but a mentor isn't necessarily someone who will donate to a cause -- a mentor is a counselor or teacher. The word "quotidian" refers to something that recurs everyday. A "libertine" is someone who has no moral constraints. An "amazon" is a strong, powerful woman -- so, obviously, "proponent", which means a supporter or advocate, has to work. Choice E is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 11.
The politician called his young opponent an "inexperienced __________."
- A.
Fiasco
- B.
Nub
- C.
Neophyte
- D.
Missive
- E.
Felon
Correct Answer
C. NeophyteExplanation
The words "young" and "inexperienced" should indicate to you that the word should have something to do with age or experience. The only word in this group that does so is "neophyte", which describes someone who is a beginner a something. The other choices don't work: a "fiasco" is a disaster, a "nub" is a protuberance, a "missive" is a written letter, and a "felon" is someone who committed a crime labeled as a felony (you can't be an inexperienced felon… you're either a felon or you're not). Choice C, therefore, is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 12.
It was already a foregone conclusion that the ________, who just had to be different, would find a way to _________ the point (deemed reasonable by most observers) made by his colleague.
- A.
Demagogue...amalgamate
- B.
Maverick...disparage
- C.
Harlequin...reek
- D.
Novice...alter
- E.
Protagonist...wend
Correct Answer
B. Maverick...disparageExplanation
Always remember to look at your modifiers! In this case, our modifier is "who just had to be different". Which word closely related to "who just had to be different"? A demagogue is someone who can stir up the the emotions of a crowd, so maybe that could work, but the word "amalgamate" means blend -- you can't blend a point made by your colleague. Choice A is incorrect. How about choice B? A "maverick" is someone who tries to be different -- and that matches perfectly with the first blank. The word "disparage" means to bring discredit upon or to belittle -- that would work perfectly. Let's try the other words: a "harlequin" is a clown, and to "reek" is to smell -- that doesn't work. A "novice", just like a "neophyte", is a beginner: that doesn't have anything to do with changing anything. So, that choice can't work ("alter" means to change). A "protagonist" is the main character of a story, and to "wend" is to direct one's way. So, the only choice left is choice B, which is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 13.
She was very _______ in checking her credit card statements so that she could make sure that no one used her cards without authorization.
- A.
Itinerant
- B.
Vigilant
- C.
Flexible
- D.
Verbose
- E.
Sibilant
Correct Answer
B. VigilantExplanation
Try to plug a word into the blank: what word do you come up with? Your word should be something like "careful" or "watchful" or something like that. Which choice means "careful" or "watchful"? Itinerant doesn't -- it means traveling. Vigilant, however, does -- it refers to someone who is ever awake or watchful. "Flexible" means easily bent, and that has nothing to do with being careful or watchful. "Verbose" means very wordy -- that can't work. Finally, "sibilant" refers to something that makes a hissing sound… and just because you hiss doesn't mean you're careful. So, choice B, "vigilant", is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 14.
In the _________ author's 35-year career, she wrote 130 short stories and 27 novels.
- A.
Acrid
- B.
Prolific
- C.
Indelible
- D.
Inflated
- E.
Kinetic
Correct Answer
B. ProlificExplanation
This particular author wrote a lot: we're told that in the sentence. The only choice that means something like "writing a lot" is "prolific", or choice B. The other choices don't work: "acrid" means sharp or biting to the taste or smell, "indelible" means leaving a mark that can't be erased, "inflated" means swollen, and "kinetic" pertains to movement. Choice B is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 15.
The ________ teenager believed her friend when he claimed that he was __________: he said he had the ability to perceive all things.
- A.
Voracious...recluse
- B.
Morose...arcane
- C.
Circumspect...ignominious
- D.
Gullible...omniscient
- E.
Stoic...pugnacious
Correct Answer
D. Gullible...omniscientExplanation
Our modifier at the end of the sentence ("he said he had the ability to perceive all things") should help us figure out the meaning of the second blank -- the only choice that means "perceiving all things" is "omniscient", which lies in choice D. The word "gullible" also works, because it refers to someone who is easily deceived. If someone believes that their human friend is omniscient, they are definitely gullible (and also very stupid). The other choices don't work: "voracious" means eating a lot, a "recluse" is someone who lives in seclusion, "morose" means gloomy, the word "arcane" describes something that is understood by very few people, the word "circumspect" means watchful and cautious, "ignominious" means humiliation, a "stoic" is someone free from passion and unmoved by joy and grief, and to be "pugnacious" is to be quarrelsome. Choice D is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 16.
There was a giant ________ between the amount of money he claimed to have and the amount of money actually in his bank account.
- A.
Scion
- B.
Quietus
- C.
Denouement
- D.
Disparity
- E.
Incursion
Correct Answer
D. DisparityExplanation
Once again, let's try substituting our own words. Which word could we substitute into the blank? Well, the best word I can think of is "difference": what he said he had was, according to the sentence, not what he actually had. So, our task is to find a word that means "difference". Does "scion" mean difference? No -- it is a synonym for the word "descendant". Does "quietus" mean difference? No: it means something that ends or settles. Is a "denouement" a difference? No, that refers to the final resolution of a plot in a drama or novel. Does "disparity" mean difference? Yes! It does -- and since the word "incursion" refers to a raid, choice D, "disparity", is the correct answer.Rate this question:
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- 17.
He gave a speech full of _______ sayings and ________.
- A.
Trite...aphorisms
- B.
Banal...iconoclasts
- C.
Consonant...maladies
- D.
Facetious...anterooms
- E.
Effervescent...ruptures
Correct Answer
A. Trite...aphorismsExplanation
This question is a very difficult question because of the way that it is formed. You either know these words or you don't. Choice A is the answer, but let's figure out why: "trite" means overused and therefore ineffective -- an "aphorism" is a saying or proverb. So, if we plug those words into the sentence, it would become, "He gave a speech full of overused and ineffective sayings and proverbs." That would work, and that's why choice A is the answer. Plugging in the other choices just wouldn't make sense: we'd get sentences that look like this:
(choice b): He gave a speech full of unoriginal and overused sayings and people who attack cherished beliefs.
(choice c): He gave a speech full of agreeable sayings and bodily diseases.
(choice d): He gave a speech full of amusing and nonliteral sayings and lobbies.
(choice e): He gave a speech full of bubbling sayings and breaks.Rate this question:
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- 18.
The politician called his ascendance to the Supreme Court a "_________ occasion" for his race and for the country.
- A.
Profane
- B.
Bristling
- C.
Circuitous
- D.
Diminutive
- E.
Momentous
Correct Answer
E. MomentousExplanation
What word can we plug in here? How about a word like "great" or "remarkable"? If those words work, which word means "great" or "remarkable"? "Profane" doesn't -- it means unconsecrated or irreligious; "bristling" doesn't -- it means irritated; "circuitous" doesn't -- it means indirect or roundabout; "diminutive" doesn't -- it means small, little, or tiny; "momentous", however, does -- it means something of great or far-reaching importance or consequence. Choice E is the answer.Rate this question:
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- 19.
Girl, you are so __________ !
- A.
Ostensible
- B.
Loquacious
- C.
Insidious
- D.
Innate
- E.
Diaphanous
Correct Answer
B. LoquaciousExplanation
If you don't know this one, you obviously weren't paying attention in class. Look up the other words in the dictionary!Rate this question:
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