The intellectual flexibility inherent in a multicultural nation has been (i)____ in classrooms where emphasis on British-American literature has not reflected the cultural (ii)____ of our country.
| Blank (i) A. inculcated B. encouraged C. stifled |
Blank (ii) D. unanimity E. diversity F. aspirations |
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Solution
Correct Answer: C,E
Explanation:
Clue: Try to understand the overall meaning here. The emphasis on one type of literature (British-American) has not reflected the differences (diversity) in our country, which is multicultural. And so the flexibility in our culture has been reduced or suppressed (stifled).
( unanimity = consensus, agreement; aspirations = hopes; inculcate = instill)
This recent evaluation of two artists whose works even experts find difficult to (i)____, reveals a surprising (ii)____ in their temperaments: Palmer was reserved and courteous, Frazer (iii)____ and boastful.
| Blank (i) A. evaluate B. distinguish C. critique |
Blank (ii) D. similarity E. difference F. constraint |
Blank (iii) G. choleric H. tractable I. phlegmatic |
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Solution
Correct Answer: B,E,G
Explanation:
Clue: Colons can be important places to start. Since both artists are described after the colon we can see that Palmer is ‘reserved and courteous’ but Frazer is ‘boastful’.
So, we conclude that the artists differed and we need a ‘bad’ word for the third blank. ‘Choleric’ means easily angered and so would be a good opposite to ‘restrained’.
We now know that ’difference’ will fit the second blank and can go back to the first blank.
The fact that their temperaments are so different is ‘surprising’. Hence it would seem that their works were similar and therefore difficult to ‘distinguish’.
(phlegmatic = calm, imperturbable; tractable = easily lead, docile; constraint = limitation)
If there is nothing to absorb the energy of sound waves, they travel on (i)____ , but their intensity (ii)____ as they travel further from their source.
| Blank (i) A. indefinitely B. erratically C. slowly |
Blank (ii) D. alleviates E. diminishes F. mitigates |
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Solution
Correct Answer: A,E
Explanation:
So, if the waves are not absorbed they travel on indefinitely (apparently for ever), but the intensity gets less (diminishes) as they travel away. (Note that all the words for the second blank can mean ‘lessen’ but alleviate and mitigate cannot be used in this particular context.) Remember, the sentence has to make the best sense, so saying that sound intensity increases as the waves travel is counter to common sense.
(erratically = not constantly; alleviates = makes less severe)
Many people at that time believed that spices help preserve food; however, Hall found that many marketed spices were ____ bacteria, moulds and yeasts.
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Solution
Correct Answer: teeming with
Explanation:
Clue: ‘However’ indicates that the first part of the sentence is contradicted by the second. Therefore, if people once believed that spices preserved food, then the person mentioned found that spices did not preserve food, and in fact the spices were teeming (full of) bacteria etc. that could destroy the food.
The revolutionaries working to improve the lives of the peasants faced an (i)____ task; the peasants were the least (ii)____ of all people, bound by tradition and (iii)____ by superstitions.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
| unwarranted | free | rejected |
| uphill | reactionary | obscured |
| unacceptable | enthralled | fettered |
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Solution
Correct Answer: uphill,free,fettered
Explanation:
Clue: the part after the comma expands on what has been stated. Also note the word ‘least’, which here means ‘not’.
Therefore, the peasants were least ‘free’, because they were ‘fettered’ (restricted or bound) by superstition.
Thus those working to change the lives of the peasants would face a difficult (‘uphill’) task as the peasants were going to be resistant to change.
(unwarranted = unjustified; enthralled = fascinated; reactionary = opposed to change)
Biological clocks are of such (i)____ adaptive value to living organisms, that we would expect most organisms to (ii)____ them, and, indeed, we find that such clocks are virtually (iii)____.
| Blank (i) A. meager B. ambivalent C. clear |
Blank (ii) D. eschew E. possess F. select |
Blank (iii) G. ubiquitous H. unknown I. compulsory |
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Solution
Correct Answer: C,E,G
Explanation:
Clue: The sentence structure suggests that if biological clocks are a great advantage, then most organisms would possess them. [Or, if they are not an advantage, then organisms will not have them.] Therefore, the ‘clear’ or obvious value, leads us to expect that organisms would ‘possess’ them. The words ‘and, indeed’ indicate that what we expect is actually the case and that biological clocks are widespread or ‘ubiquitous’.
(meager = small, slight; eschew = shun, avoid; ambivalent = ambiguous)
____ by nature, Jones spoke very little even to his own family members.
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Solution
Correct Answer: taciturn
Explanation:
Clue: He ‘spoke very little’ and so he uses few words. Therefore, ‘taciturn’ is the best word.
(garrulous = talkative; equivocal = ambiguous; gregarious = sociable)
Each occupation has its own ____ ; bankers, lawyers and computer professionals, for example, all use among themselves language which outsiders have difficulty following.
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Solution
Correct Answer: jargon
Explanation:
Clue: The second half of the sentence is talking about language, and it is amplifying what has been said before the semicolon. Therefore, the first blank needs to be about language and ‘jargon’ is specialized language used in a profession.
The revolution in art has not lost its steam; it ____ on as fiercely as ever.
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Solution
Correct Answer: rages
Explanation:
Clue: ‘as ever’ indicates that things have not changed, so the two halves of the sentence need to say similar things. So, if the revolution has not lost its steam, it will be going on as strongly as before. Therefore ‘rages’ is the best word. Also the word ‘fiercely’ indicates that we need a strong word.
(trudges = walks as though tired; meanders = wanders; ambles = walks aimlessly)
Today Wegener’s theory is (i)____ ; however, he died an outsider treated with (ii)____ by the scientific establishment.
| Blank (i) A. unsupported B. unchallenged C. undervalued |
Blank (ii) D. reverence E. disdain F. impartiality |
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Solution
Correct Answer: B,E
Explanation:
Clue: ‘however’ indicates a contradictory statement, and therefore we need opposite ideas in the two halves of the sentence.
So, Wegener’s theory is unchallenged(everyone accepts it); however he was treated with disdain (contempt).
Also the word ‘outsider’ in the sentence indicates that the second blank will have to be a negative word.
(approbation = approval; reverence = respect)