Sergei’s belief in astrology, a pseudoscience whose practitioners provide results than can never be conclusively proven or falsified, left him vulnerable to _______.
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Solution
( B. chicanery , E. wile )
Since the information given by astrologers can never be conclusively proven or falsified, Sergei can’t know whether it’s true; thus, a word that means something like trickery or deception would make sense in the blank. Both vindication and authentication are nearly the opposite of what you’re looking for, so eliminate choices (C) and (D). Neither censure, which means criticism, nor vexation, which means anger, is supported by the sentence, so eliminate choices (A) and (F). Both chicanery and wile can mean trickery, so choices (B) and (E) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Since receiving a promotion to departmental chair, Brookstone has been even more prone to _______ against the university’s administration, and consequently has lost several professional allies.
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Solution
( B. tirades , C. diatribes )
Since Brookstone has lost several professional allies, and the blank describes something done against the university’s administration, a word that means something like attacks or opposition would make sense. Both approbations and commendations are nearly the opposite of what you’re looking for, so eliminate choices (A) and (E). Neither precursors, which means predecessors, nor canons, which means accepted principles or rules, is supported by the sentence, so eliminate choices (D) and (F). Both tirades and diatribes mean angry speeches, so choices (B) and (C) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Those who criticized Coco Chanel’s later clothing designs misjudged as _______ the style that generations of women to come would regard as the epitome of high fashion.
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Solution
( D. mundane , E. insipid )
The critics misjudged the designs, so you know that the word in the blank must mean the opposite of epitome of high fashion. Choices (B) and (F) give roughly synonymous meanings, but nothing in the sentence supports the idea that the designs were expensive. Neither defamatory, which means libelous, nor contrite, which means remorseful, is supported by the sentence, so eliminate choices (A) and (C). Both mundane and insipid can mean uninspired or ordinary, so choices (D) and (E) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Although it initially seemed that the ideological gap between them was insurmountable— he believed in _______ while she believed in accumulating wealth, he in sensitivity towards others while she in self-interest—the marriage ultimately lasted 52 years until his death.
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Solution
( A. largess , F. philanthropy )
Both the description of the ideological gap as insurmountable and the trigger while tell you that the word for the blank needs to mean the opposite of accumulating wealth. Both avarice and cupidity are the opposite of what you’re looking for, so eliminate choices (B) and (E).Neither empathy, which means the vicarious experience of another person’s feelings, nor parsimony, which means frugality, is supported by the sentence, so eliminate choices (C) and (D). Both largess and philanthropy can refer to generosity with money, so choices (A) and (F) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
“Out of sight, out of mind” is a useful _______ for those who cannot develop a logical argument to defense their failure to be concerned about poverty in foreign nations.
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Solution
( C. maxim , F. proverb )
Since the people in the sentence cannot develop a logical argument, they might be offering an empty, meaningless statement instead to excuse their behavior. The word saying would be appropriate for the blank. Fallacy might seem like a suitable answer, but there aren’t any clues in the sentence to prove that the statement is false. Allusion is a reference to something, a query is a question, and a waiver is the relinquishment of something. None of these words have the meaning of saying. Maxim and proverb are both meaningful sayings, and so choices (C) and (F) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Even among statisticians, who fully understand that true randomness includes repetition, there is often a misguided attempt to _______ one’s chances of winning the lottery by declining to select numbers that have recently appeared on winning tickets.
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Solution
( A. augment , B. escalate )
The statisticians certainly hope to win the lottery and the change-direction trigger word even and the clue misguided signal that they are acting inappropriately, despite their knowledge. You want words that mean increase. Mitigate and curtail make a good synonym pair that means to lessen, which is contrary to what you need. Squander is what the statisticians might do with the money after they win it and divulge, meaning to make known, does not make sense in context. Augment and escalate both mean to increase, and so choices (A) and (B) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Pulled over for speeding and nervous about receiving an unpleasant lecture, Natalie’s fears were easily relieved by the _______ policeman.
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Solution
( B. affable , F. genial )
If Natalie was nervous about receiving an unpleasant lecture but her fears were easily relieved, then the policeman must have been the opposite of unpleasant. So you are looking for words that means pleasant or friendly. Exacting and stringent mean meticulously demanding, and so you can eliminate choice (A) and choice (D). Affable and genial can both mean friendly, and are the best answers. Atypical means nonconforming, which does not retain the meaning of the sentence. Sober can means calm; though the policeman may have also been calm, you’re looking for words that mean pleasant or friendly. Furthermore, sober does not have a synonym amongst the other answer choices.
With recent advances in technology allowing for convenient online access to reading material, many forecasters expect to see hardcover book sales _______.
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Solution
( B. abate , E. dwindle )
From the clues convenient online access to reading material, it is likely that forecasters would predict a sales decrease. Therefore, you are looking for words that mean decrease. Multiply and appreciate both mean to increase, so you can eliminate choice (A) and choice (F). Prevail means to dominate, which does not match the meaning you need, and assimilate means to integrate and adjust to, which may seem apt but does not fit the context of the blank or retain the meaning of the sentence. Abate and dwindle mean to decrease, and are your best answers that produce equivalent, appropriate answers.
Worried that he had lost the support of his party, the Prime Minister forcefully _______ his controversial statement that healthcare would not be a priority.
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Solution
( A. recanted , E. disavowed )
The Prime Minister was worried that he had lost the support of his party, so he needed to forcefully reverse his controversial statement. You’re looking for a word that means take back. Both recanted and disavowed convey taking back a previous statement, and produce equivalent, appropriate sentences. Affirmed and validated are synonyms that mean declared true, which is the opposite of what you’re looking for. Overlooked and ignored are close in meaning, but they don’t make sense in the given context.
As the valedictorian of his graduating class, Thomas was tasked with delivering a(n) _______ speech, dutifully rehearsing in front of both his mirror and the cat.
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Solution
( C. eloquent , E. articulate )
To prepare for his speech, Thomas was dutifully rehearsing, your clue that the speech was well spoken. Synonyms for well-spoken are eloquent and articulate, which are your answers. Languid means dull and listless means without energy; both are similar adjectives that Thomas would try to avoid. Extended means long, and you have no clues that the speech should be long. Finally, enduring means everlasting and, while such a speech would be commendable, Thomas is more interested in the well-spoken aspect of his speech.