Modesty, while usually befitting, is not immune to excess; a surfeit of self-effacement can well be considered___________.
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Solution
(A. conceit, D. haughtiness) If modesty is not immune to excess, then it is vulnerable to being overdone. The semicolon indicates a continuation of the sentence’s theme since there are no shifting words, so a surfeit (overabundance) of self-ef acement (modesty) could be called words like conceit (an excessively favorable opinion of oneself) or haughtiness (pridefulness), both of which are nearopposites of modesty.
Chastised for the___________manner by which he conducted his research, Kopitsky was repeatedly warned by his professor that, if the delays continued, the funding for the study might be withdrawn.
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Solution
(C. dilatory, E. tardy)
Kopitsky’s manner is being criticized, since his professor is chastising (criticizing) him and warning him about the consequences of continued delays. Both dilatory (tending to delay) and tardy (tending toward lateness) would thus describe Kopitsky’s research.
The difficulty inherent in witnessing one’s thoughts lies in their___________nature; but although most thoughts are fleeting, the care necessary to observe them can be worthwhile.
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Solution
(B. ephemeral, C. evanescent)
A clue for the blank is given by the description of thoughts’ fleeting (short-lived) nature; therefore, both evanescent (short-lived) and ephemeral (short-lived) would also aptly describe the thoughts.
Notwithstanding his___________talents, after walking out onto the expansive stage and feeling the expectant hush of the arena, the young virtuoso felt quite incapable of performing the piece he had so mellifluously played in practice.
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Solution
(A. prodigious, F. extraordinary)
The word notwithstanding (in spite of) creates a shift, so since the virtuoso (master musician) feels as though he cannot play, if his talents are prodigious (impressive) or extraordinary, then there is a surprising outcome as indicated by the shift.
The situation was so fraught with uncertainty, the potential of discomfiture, and the threat of violence that even the most worldlywise traveler would have considered it a(n)___________.
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Solution
(A. embroilment, E. imbroglio)
The described situation is clearly difficult if even a worldlywise (experienced) traveler would think so. Therefore, the situation could well be described as an embroilment (entanglement) or an imbroglio (difficult situation).
Instead of the conventional advice to choose friends with personalities that contrast yours—for instance, befriending someone histrionic if you’re________—you may be happier if you find someone who has a more similar temperament to your own.
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Solution
(B. stolid, C. phlegmatic)
The “for instance” is an example of the conventional advice: to choose someone unlike yourself. If someone is histrionic (overly emotional), someone who is either stolid
(unemotional) or phlegmatic (calm) would have a contrasting personality
Exceedingly ___________ and only reliably produced by one mine in Australia, red diamonds are second only to jadeite in terms of their rarity.
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Solution
(C. singular, F. anomalous)
If red diamonds are only produced in one mine and second only to another mineral in their rarity, they must be extremely uncommon. Both singular (unusual) and anomalous (abnormal) would describe them well.
Those who knew Alvarez were immune to his portrayal in the press as a boor, knowing that his veneer of churlishness hid a ___________ human being.
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Solution
(A. genial, D. affable)
Since those who knew Alvarez are immune, or not fooled by, his portrayal in the press as a boor (rude person) and since he is described as having a veneer (thin covering) of churlishness (rudeness), it can be inferred that instead, he is genial (good-natured) or affable (friendly).