Pathfinding in games must appeal to player expectations for (i)___________and naturalness, that is, what natural intelligence might conceivably do. Thus, navigation in games is not necessarily (ii)___________for maximum machine efficiency or for shortest distance. Indeed, these goals are assumed to be secondary and possibly even undesirable. That is, if they lead to unrealistic, mechanical-looking movement that is lacking in sensori-emotional or aesthetic qualities, movement as such (iii)___________players and detracts from the game’s replay appeal and immersive quality.
| Blank I | Blank II | Blank III |
| (A) plausibility | (D) optimal | (G) discomfits |
| (B) artifice | (E) permeable | (H) abets |
| (C) comfort | (F) quixotic | (I) emboldens |
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Solution
(A) plausibility , (D) optimal , (G) discomfits
Blank (i) is explained by looking at the rest of the sentence after the blank. The word “and” implies continuation, so the right answer should go along with “naturalness,” and should match “what natural intelligence might … do.” Plausibility (believability) is a good match. Blank (ii) is clarified by looking at the next sentence, which says “these goals are … secondary and … undesirable.” Therefore, they are not optimal, or ideal. Blank (iii) must be a negative word to go along with “detracts,” and so discomfits (frustrates) is the only possible choice.
That early factory owners extended benefits to female workers (i)___________the theory that gender equality and the industrial revolution were two movements with (ii)___________aims.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| (A) bolstered | (D) precarious |
| (B) cheapened | (E) preternatural |
| (C) adulterated | (F) complementary |
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Solution
(A) bolstered, (F) complementary
Looking at the relationship between the two blanks helps on this question. If the blank (i) was a word like “supported,” blank (ii) would have to be a word like “similar.” Or, if blank (i) was a word like “weakened,” blank (ii) would be something like “different.” Looking at the choices, only bolstered (supported) and complementary (shared in a helpful way) create a workable relationship
Film is now widely respected as a serious art form: even Westerns, once (i)___________by most critics as patent escapism, are now commonly lauded as (ii)___________of creative expression by even the most jaded reviewers.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| (A) rhapsodized | (D) exemplars |
| (B) deflected | (E) anomalies |
| (C) derided | (F) antitheses |
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Solution
(C) derided , (D) exemplars
If critics once categorized Westerns as patent (obvious) escapism, then using derided (ridiculed) for blank (i) to describe that criticism would make sense. And, if those films are now
lauded (praised), then only exemplars (ideal models) fits blank (ii).
I loved the way the movie conveyed its themes with (i)___________, but most critics argued that its subtleties would have been better portrayed in a more (ii)___________way, so that its powerful message would be accessible to more people.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| (A) gallantry | (D) maladroit |
| (B) vigor | (E) circuitous |
| (C) nicety | (F) forthright |
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Solution
(C) nicety, (F) forthright
Start with the second blank. If the critics wanted the movie to be accessible to more people, then forthright (direct) would fit blank (ii). The word but signifies a shift, so nicety (understatement) works for blank (i).
Although at first the couple’s argument seemed to be about a___________matter, it soon became obvious that their disagreement stemmed from a fundamental schism.
| (A) base |
| (B) nugatory |
| (C) officious |
| (D) lucid |
| (E) stygian |
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Solution
(B) nugatory
The word although tells us that the adjective describing the matter will be different than the description in the second part of the sentence, which explains that the disagreement is from a fundamental (foundational) schism, or split. Therefore, nugatory (trivial) makes sense.
Just as our professor was known for his curt answers to questions during the discussion group, so his book only provided___________explanations of most concepts.
| (A) liberal |
| (B) summary |
| (C) fractious |
| (D) unhelpful |
| (E) ambivalent |
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Solution
(B) summary
The phrasing “just as … so” indicates the blank will coincide with the professor’s curt (brief) answers. Summary (short) creates the necessary link.
The recent Lowbrow art movement of Los Angeles has inarguable (i)___________. Original
works by artists such as Mark Ryden, once only collected by a select few, have now garnered
greater (ii)___________and often sell for tens of thousands of dollars at auction. The movement’s detractors need not be surprised, then, that more people are clamoring for these
works to (iii)___________more classic pieces at galleries and museums.
| Blank I | Blank II | Blank III |
| (A) esteem | (D) deprecation | (G) curtail |
| (B) panache | (E) approbation | (H) supplant |
| (C) lassitude | (F) rectitude | (I) contravene |
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Solution
(A) esteem , (E) approbation , (H) supplant
It is easiest to start with blank (ii): if the works were once only collected by a few and now sell for thousands of dollars, then approbation (approval) fits. Accordingly, blank (i) should also be complimentary to the art, so esteem (high regard) is logical. Blank (iii) should maintain the positive light in which these works are regarded, and if the works supplant (replace) old ones, such a tone is supported.
Despite the actor’s profession that (i)___________was the antithesis of art, his campy performance on the play’s opening night was undoubtedly (ii)___________.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| (A) melodrama | (D) laconic |
| (B) intransigence | (E) maudlin |
| (C) indigence | (F) immutable |
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Solution
(A) melodrama , (E) maudlin
The word despite signifies an upcoming shift or contradiction in the sentence. Looking at the choices, melodrama (excessive drama) and maudlin (overly sentimental) create that shift,because, with those words in the sentence, the actor does something that contradicts what he claims to believe. Knowing the definition of antithesis (opposite) helps here.
The characteristic (i)___________of Victorian homes lies in stark contrast to the more modern style of houses designed recently: today’s architects are often utilitarian, discarding any
architectural embellishments to the point that their style could almost be described as
(ii)___________.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| (A) ornateness | (D) ascetic |
| (B) blandishments | (E) concomitant |
| (C) austerity | (F) labyrinthine |
-
Solution
(A) ornateness, (D) ascetic
Since without further context both choices (A) and (C) could fit blank (i), it makes sense to begin with blank (ii). The architects are utilitarian (only focused on the useful), and they discard embellishments (decorations); their style could therefore be termed ascetic (severely simple in appearance), especially since given the clue “to the point that,” which indicates “to an extreme level.” The contrast to such a style would be ornateness (decorativeness).
The (i)___________amount of evidence connecting mental and physical health makes it all the more (ii)___________that most American physicians have, thus far, failed to factor this
correlation into their instructions to patients. In contrast, practitioners of Eastern medicine have long prescribed treatments for both mind and body.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| (A) mediocre | (D) benign |
| (B) overwhelming | (E) adamant |
| (C) indistinct | (F) stupefying |
-
Solution
(B) overwhelming , (F) stupefying
Neither of the two blanks has a supporting clue in the sentence, so it is useful to think about the relationship between the blanks. If blank (i) was small, for instance, then blank (ii) could be a word like unsurprising. Looking at the choices, only overwhelming and stupefying (astonishing) create the necessary logic.
The public official, who had been quite___________during his campaign, became surprisingly contentious and even belligerent after being elected.
| (A) confrontational |
| (B) volatile |
| (C) petulant |
| (D) ineffable |
| (E) conciliatory |
-
Solution
(E) conciliatory
If it is surprising that the official became contentious (tending to argue) and belligerent (hostile), then he must have been conciliatory (agreeable) beforehand.
It is hardly surprising that the two lobbyists’ opinions of the political system reflected their professed world views: the optimist considered government corruption to be, at worst, sporadic,while the cynic thought graft was___________.
| (A) ubiquitous |
| (B) aberrant |
| (C) barefaced |
| (D) nefarious |
| (E) partisan |
-
Solution
(A) ubiquitous
An optimist and a cynic will have contrasting world views, so if the optimist thinks corruption is sporadic (occasional), it is logical that the cynic believes graft (corruption) to be ubiquitous (ever-present). The use of the word while also signifies ontrasting elements.