Our grandfather was an entertaining (i)____; he used to (ii)____ us with marvelous anecdotes that we, in our childlike simplicity, (iii)____.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
| raconteur | intimidate | accepted unquestioningly |
| rascal | regale | debated ferociously |
| curmudgeon | bore | debunked readily |
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Solution
Correct Answer: raconteur, regale, accepted unquestioningly
Explanation:
Clue: Grandfather used to tell stories (anecdotes). He was also entertaining. So, the best answer will be that he was a ‘raconteur’ (teller of stories) who ‘regaled’ (entertained) the children. In their ‘childlike simplicity’ they would have ‘accepted’ the stories; the other options for the third blank do not fit with the idea of simplicity.
(curmudgeon = grumpy person)
The pond was a place of reek and corruption, of ____ smells and of oxygen-starved fish breathing through laboring gills.
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Solution
Correct Answer: fetid
Explanation:
The words ‘reek and corruption’ tell us that the pond is full of decay. Hence, bad smelling or ‘fetid’ is the best choice.
(evocative = reminiscent; dolorous = sad; resonant = echoing)
Wilson (i)____ that human beings inherit a tendency to feel an affinity and awe for other living things, in the same way that we are (ii)____ to be inquisitive or to protect our young at all costs.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) |
| A. contends | D. predisposed |
| B. fears | E. taught |
| C. demurs | F. encouraged |
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Solution
Correct Answer: A,D
Explanation:
The words ‘in the same way’ shows that we are looking for parallel ideas. Hence, if we ‘inherit’ a certain tendency, then, in the same way, we will inherit another tendency. Hence ‘predisposed’ is the best choice for the second blank. (We would not need to be taught or encouraged if the tendency is inherited.) Since this is what Wilson argues we can choose ‘contends’ for the first blank. There is nothing to suggest he ‘fears’ this idea or ‘demurs’.
(contends = argues; demurs = hesitates and denies; predisposed = pre-programmed toward)
Before his marriage the Duke had led an austere existence and now regarded the affectionate, somewhat (i)____ behavior of his young wife as simply (ii)____ .
| Blank (i) A. restrained B. frivolous C. ungainly |
Blank (ii) D. delightful E. sublime F. puerile |
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Solution
Correct Answer: B,F
Explanation:
Clue: The behavior of the wife is described as ‘affectionate’ and so we require a word of similar weight for the first blank. Hence we eliminate ‘restrained’ and ‘ungainly’ and select ‘frivolous’. Also the Duke is described as ‘austere’ and is unlikely to approve of affectionate behavior. And so for the second blank we choose the negative word puerile.
(frivolous = non-serious; ungainly = awkward; sublime = awe-inspiring; puerile = childish)
All the truly outstanding breakthroughs in this area have come from historians who have been willing to adopt innovative techniques and pursue (i)____ lines of inquiry. Yet we should not (ii)____ the more (iii)____ research, which, after all, has given us the solid core of our knowledge of this important era.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
| conservative | decry | moribund |
| unorthodox | applaud | convergent |
| hidebound | acknowledge | mundane |
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Solution
Correct Answer: unorthodox, decry, mundane
Explanation:
The ‘and’ in the first sentence is an important clue; ‘and’ usually links similar things. Therefore, we need a word similar to ‘innovative’.’Unorthodox’ is suitable because it implies the lines of inquiry are not traditional. The word ‘yet’ indicates that the second sentence provides an opposing or qualifying view. This sentence suggests that the solid core of knowledge has come from something more routine (‘mundane’) and less innovative, and as such we should not ‘decry’ the routine work.
(decry = speak against; moribund = on the point of death; hidebound = fixed and rigid)
His musical tastes are certainly ____ ; he has recordings ranging from classical piano performances to rock concerts, jazz and even Chinese opera.
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Solution
Correct Answer: eclectic
Explanation:
Clue: The second part of the sentence explains or amplifies the part before the semicolon. Since his recordings range widely, his tastes could be described as wide-ranging, or ‘eclectic’.
(eclectic = taking things from diverse sources; antediluvian = old fashioned; sonorous = full of sound)
The (i)____ shades of meaning, and still subtler echoes of association, make language an instrument which scarcely anything short of genius can wield with (ii)____ and (iii)____ .
| Blank (i) A. eloquent B. nuanced C. stygian |
Blank (ii) D. sincerity E. certainty F. hope |
Blank (iii) G. alacrity H. precision I. disinterest |
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Solution
Correct Answer: B,E,H
Explanation:
Clue: The sentence suggests that language is something very difficult to handle; it almost requires genius to handle it with skill. Therefore, for the second and third blanks we choose two words that indicate ‘skill’ in effective use of language – ‘certainty’ and ‘precision’. (note that words like ‘sincerity’ and ‘alacrity’, though positive, do not convey the idea of ‘skill’. Next the use of the word ‘subtler’ indicates that language is not obvious, and for the first blank we need something that means ‘subtle’.
(nuanced = full of subtleties; alacrity = eagerness; eloquence = ability to speak well; stygian = very dark; disinterest = lack of bias)
The refugee’s poor grasp of English is hardly an _____ problem; she can attend classes and improve within a matter of months.
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Solution
Correct Answer: insuperable
Explanation:
Clue: Since the refugee can improve rapidly, her poor English is not a major problem. It can be overcome, and is therefore not an ‘insuperable’ problem.
(implausible = cannot be believed; insuperable = cannot be overcome; inconsequential = unimportant; evocative = drawing out ideas etc.; injudicious = unwise)
Our present accountant is most (i)____ ; unlike the previous (ii)____ incumbent, he has never made a mistake in all the years that he has worked for the firm.
| Blank (i) A. pusillanimous B. punctilious C. asinine |
Blank (ii) D. craven E. unreliable F. mercenary |
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Solution
Correct Answer: B,E
Explanation:
Clue: ‘unlike’ indicates that the two men are opposites. Since the present accountant has never made a mistake, he is careful or ‘punctilious’, whereas the previous person was ‘unreliable’.
(pusillanimous = cowardly; punctilious = painstaking, meticulous; asinine = stupid; craven = cowardly)
The cricket match seemed ____ to our guests; they were used to watching sports in which the action is over in a couple of hours at the most.
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Solution
Correct Answer: interminable
Explanation:
Clue: The part after the semicolon gives the clue. It states that they were used to watching things that get over fast, and therefore the cricket match seemed ‘interminable’ (never ending). None of the other words is about the time factor except ‘evanescent’ which means short-lived and would not fit the sense.
(inconsequential = unimportant; implausible = cannot be believed)
Stephen was always (i)____ ; in fact, his own father described him as having a(n) (ii)____ vacillation.
| Blank (i) A. indecisive B. earnest C. volatile |
Blank (ii) D. concern for E. propensity for F. aversion to |
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Solution
Correct Answer: A,E
Explanation:
The ‘in fact’ suggests that the second part of the sentence reinforces the first. The correct answer tells us that he had a ‘propensity for’ vacillation, which means he tended to waver, and therefore we can describe him as always ‘indecisive’. The key to this sentence is knowing that ‘vacillation’ means wavering. If we took the second part as having an ‘aversion to’ wavering, then Stephen would have to be decisive, and none of the choices convey that idea. Also note that turning the sentence round often helps you to see the connection.
(volatile = changeable; propensity = tendency; aversion = dislike)