In their day to day decision making, many senior managers do not follow the apparently (i)____ model favored by orthodox management experts, but rather rely on intuitive processes that often appear (ii)____ and (iii)____.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
| conscientious | thoughtful | logical |
| normal | cerebral | iconoclastic |
| rational | capricious | deliberate |
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Solution
Correct Answer: rational, capricious, iconoclastic
Explanation:
The ‘but rather’ construction indicates an opposite. Since they do not follow a model favored by ‘orthodox’ experts, we infer that they must seem ‘unorthodox’. Since they do not follow the orthodox, they must be unorthodox (‘iconoclastic’). Since they use intuition they might be said to be ‘capricious’ (whimsical) and not ‘rational’.
Note that ‘and’ usually links words with similar values (both positive, or both negative etc.)
(cerebral = concerned with thinking; iconoclastic= opposed to orthodoxy; capricious = whimsical, fickle)
Corruption is (i)____ our society; the integrity of even senior officials is (ii)____.
| Blank (i) A. rife in B. endangered throughout C. alien to |
Blank (ii) D. suspect E. intact F. unquestioned |
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Solution
Correct Answer: A,D
Explanation:
Clue: the semicolon suggests that the second part expands upon the first part. So, if corruption is ‘rife’ (common), then we will doubt the integrity of the officials. Their integrity will be ‘suspect’ (doubtful). Note the use of ‘suspect’ as an adjective rather than as a verb or noun.
One (i)____ of the new scheme is that it might actually (ii)____ just those applicants that it was intended to encourage.
| Blank (i) A. attraction B. highlight C. drawback |
Blank (ii) D. induce E. daunt F. attract |
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Solution
Correct Answer: C,E
Explanation:
Try to understand the logic of the sentence. The new scheme might actually do something to put off (‘daunt’), the applicants that it was intended to encourage. This would be a ‘drawback’ (problem) with the scheme.
The immune system is capable of distinguishing self from other at the cellular level. After grafting, unless the immune system is effectively (i)____, there is a (ii)____ of lymphocytes in the lymph glands; the newly produced lymphocytes then move in to (iii)____ the foreign tissue.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
| primed | reduction | stimulate |
| suppressed | proliferation | stasis |
| activated | regenerate | attack |
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Solution
Correct Answer: suppressed, proliferation, attack
Explanation:
Clue: The semicolon indicates that the second part of the second sentence amplifies the first part. Also the second part states that the lymphocytes are ‘newly produced’. So, we infer that there is a production (‘proliferation’) of these cells in the glands.
Once the second blank is filled, the first becomes clearer: the lymphocytes will multiply unless the immune system is ‘suppressed’. And since the immune system recognizes what is alien, the lymphocytes will ‘attack’ the foreign tissue.
(proliferation = growing and multiplying; stasis = static situation)
Some critics maintain that Tennyson’s poetry is uneven, ranging from the (i)____ to the (ii)____.
| Blank (i) A. succinct B. trite C. sublime |
Blank (ii) D. laconic E. sonorous F. inspired |
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Solution
Correct Answer: B,F
Explanation:
Clue: ‘Ranging from something to something’, indicates that extremes are required. Also we are told that the poetry is uneven, indicating that opposites are required.
Therefore, ‘trite’ (unoriginal) is a negative word, and ‘inspired’ is a positive word.
(sublime = magnificently inspiring; succinct = short and to the point; laconic = using few words; sonorous = full of sound)
After the accident, the nerves to her arm were damaged and so the muscles ____ through disuse.
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Solution
Correct Answer: atrophied
Explanation:
Clue: The sentence states that the muscles were not used and so we would expect them to waste away. Atrophied means wasted away, or withered.
Note that dwindled means grew less but could not be used for muscles.
(invigorated = energized)
The formerly (i)____ waters of the lake have become (ii)____. So even though the waters are teeming with life, fish are no longer visible from the surface.
| Blank (i) A. murky B. stagnant C. pellucid |
Blank (ii) D. tranquil E. verdant F. turbid |
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Solution
Correct Answer: C,F
Explanation:
Clue: The word ‘formerly’ indicates that once things were different. Hence we require a pair of opposites.
Since fish cannot now be seen the waters must be ‘turbid’ (murky and muddy); formerly the waters must have been unpolluted and ‘pellucid’ (very clear).
(tranquil = peaceful; stagnant = not moving; pellucid = transparently clear; verdant = green and fertile)
The student was extremely foolhardy; he had the ____ to question the senior professor’s judgment.
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Solution
Correct Answer: temerity
Explanation:
Clue: The semicolon indicates that the second part is closely related to the first.
So, since the student was foolhardy (reckless) he was doing something unwise. It would be reckless to question the professor’s judgment, and so we can say that he had the temerity (excessive nerve, or daring) to question him.
Note that temerity has a negative connotation.
(trepidation = fear and hesitation; condescension = arrogance)
Archaeology is a poor profession; modest sums are available for excavating sites and even more (i)____ amounts for preserving the excavations. As a result many sites that are still to reveal even a fraction of their potentially vital information have been (ii)____ and left to the forces of Nature. Re-opening such sites in the future will be all but (iii)____.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
| paltry | abandoned | trivial |
| controversial | overworked | impossible |
| abundant | denuded | rewarding |
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Solution
Correct Answer: paltry, abandoned, impossible
Explanation:
The part after the semicolon expands upon the first part of the sentence.
So, since the first part tells us that there is no money in archaeology, then there will only be small (paltry) amounts for excavating and preserving.
In the last sentence the words ‘all but’ mean ‘almost’. Re-opening sites that have been left to the forces of Nature (because of lack of funds for preservation) will be difficult or almost ‘impossible’. (We could not say it would be almost trivial or almost rewarding.) The second blank is fairly obvious: if the sites have been left to the forces of Nature we could say that they have been ‘abandoned’. (Overworked or denuded (stripped) would suggest that everything possible had been got out, whereas the sentence tells us that much remains to be revealed.)
Unwilling to admit that they had been in error, the researchers tried to ____ their case with more data obtained from dubious sources.
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Solution
Correct Answer: buttress
Explanation:
Clue: The researchers were unwilling to admit that they were wrong. Therefore they would try to support (buttress) their arguments.
(ascertain = find out; refute = prove wrong; absolve = forgive)