Bettelheim’s ____(i)____ of “Hansel and Gretel” is thorough and well-researched, but ultimately not compelling due to his ____(ii)____ focus, which is severely constricted by his narrow worldview.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| A. incantation | D. parochial |
| B. exegesis | E. sweeping |
| C. relish | F. jaundiced |
-
Solution
(B) exegesis , (D) parochial
Bettelheim has produced something that is thorough and well-researched concerning “Hansel and Gretel.” The first blank must then mean scholarly study. An incantation is a magical spell and relish could mean enjoyment, but neither word pertains to being scholarly. An exegesis is a critical explanation, or scholarly study, and is correct. Bettelheim’s focus is severely constricted by his narrow worldview, so it must be narrow. Sweeping can mean vast, the opposite of what you need. A jaundiced focus is one that is affected by envy or bitterness, and there is no support for this idea in the clues. Parochial means provincial or narrow-minded, making it a solid fit for the second blank.
A mathematician should not automatically reject theorems that might at first seem witless or juvenile; advanced degrees are not a license for ____(i)___, nor do they ____(ii)____ arrogance or egotism.
| Blank I | Blank II |
| A. haughtiness | D. sanction |
| B. puerility | E. dispel |
| C. substantiation | F. cultivate |
-
Solution
(A) haughtiness , (D) sanction
The first part of the sentence states that mathematicians should not be dismissive of theorems that seem beneath them. Someone who does this would be snobbish, so the first blank must mean something like snobbishness. Puerility means immaturity and substantiation means proof, so neither of those is a match, while haughtiness does mean snobbishness. If the advanced degrees are not a license, that means that they do not give someone permission to do something bad such as have arrogance or egotism. The second blank must mean something like permit. To dispel is to push away, which is almost the opposite of what you need here. To cultivate means to foster, which is not the same as permit. Sanction is the best answer because one of its standard definitions is give permission.
Humans have a natural affinity for Vervet monkeys; in both their habits and their personalities, they remind us of the essential humanity of non-human creatures. Vervet monkeys, like most humans, are ____(i)____, conducting most of their activities during the day. Their ____(ii)____ behavior and desire for company shows us that humans are not the only species that values ____(iii)____.
| Blank I | Blank II | Blank III |
| A. quotidian | D. collaborative | G. litheness |
| B. circadian | E. gregarious | H. camaraderie |
| C. diurnal | F. egregious | I. fatuity |
-
Solution
(C) diurnal , (E) gregarious , (I) fatuity
The clue for the first blank is most of their activities during the day, and so that blank must describe such a pattern. Quotidian means common and circadian patterns occur once per day, but not specifically during the daytime. Diurnal is the best fit because it means during the daytime. The second blank needs to be consistent with the clue desire for company.Collaborative means enjoys working with others but not a desire for company, but a gregarious creature is quite social and seeks out company. Egregious means extremely bad, and does not match. The third blank must also describe something like company. Litheness means grace and flexibility and fatuity means idiotic, and neither one truly refers to having company. Camaraderie means trusting friendship, which is the most like company and makes it the best answer.
The editorial, though intended to ____(i)____ the current administration, inadvertently ____(ii)____ several claims made against the regime suggested as a preferable alternative, effectively ____(iii)____ any plans for a change in leadership.
| Blank I | Blank II | Blank III |
| A. impugn | D. attenuated | G. politicizing |
| B. bolster | E. substantiated | H. metamorphosing |
| C. venerate | F. benighted | I. castrating |
-
Solution
(A) impugn , (E) substantiated ,(I) castrating
The first blank refers to the intention of the editorial, which suggested a preferable alternative to the current administration; a good word to describe the editorial’s intention toward the incumbents might be a word such as attack or undermine. Of the choices, only impugn means attack. The second blank refers to claims made against the group that the editorial was trying to support; the actions were inadvertent, so a good word for the blank might be something like supported or proved. Of the choices, the only word that makes sense is substantiated. Since the editorial ended up damaging the interests of the preferable alternative, a good word for the third blank might be something like stopping. Castrating matches this meaning.
Emmet Ray, a fictional jazz guitarist in Woody Allen’s film Sweet and Lowdown, is a paradoxical character; while he displays sophisticated musical artistry, his personality is typically _______.
-
Solution
(D) maladroit
The blank refers to Emmet Ray’s paradoxical character. The trigger while follows the clue, indicating that his sophisticated musical artistry is contrary to some other aspect of his personality. Look for a word that means unsophisticated, and use POE to eliminate choices (B) and (E). Petulant and audacious have appropriately negative meanings, but are unrelated to sophistication in the context of artistry. Maladroit means clumsy, so choice (D) is the best match.