Show:
Verbal Reasoning
Text Completion
Sentence Equivalence
Reading Comprehension
Definitions
100
1. The prize competition was ____ as a showcase for new technology, but instead the competition was marred by disqualifications and disputes. A. disappointing B. conceived C. touted D. heralded E. promising F. required
What is CD Explanation: Since the competition was spoiled it did not do what it set out to do. The word ‘conceived’ is a definite possibility, but there is no other word with a similar meaning. The word ‘touted’ can mean advertised, and so can ‘heralded’ (announced) both of which would complete the sentence sensibly.
100
2. The new institute provides intensive postgraduate teaching to a wide range of students, in the hope that these students will use their knowledge to boost the country's ____ economy. A. languishing B. emerging C. booming D. domestic E. bankrupt F. flagging
What is AF Explanation: If the economy needs boosting it is probably not doing well. Two similar words from the negative choices available are ‘languishing’ and ‘flagging’ both of which imply the economy is weak. (Note that ‘flagging’ has more than one meaning!)
100
The doubt referred to in line 7 concerns whether A. the stage personalities of the past would appeal on a personal level to people like the author B. their contemporaries would have understood famous actors C. the acting of famous stage personalities would appeal to us today D. Garrick was as great as he is portrayed E. historical records can reveal personality
What is A Explanation: “Should we care for the greatest actors” means “should we like them”. The author goes on to ask whether we would find their ways and ideas too different from our own. These are the doubts that he raises. The author is not really concerned whether we would like their acting. Hence, A is the best answer.
100
Abrasive a) indicators; bringers of warnings b) rough; coarse; harsh c) recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from d) to counter; make unimportant
What is (b)
200
When staying in a hotel, Bernard would arrange for his valet to bring him his newspaper in the dining room so that everyone would realize that he had a manservant; this (i)____ embarrassed his nephew who, though equally rich, preferred a more (ii)____ life-style. Blank (i) A. ostentation B. arrogance C. dissimulation Blank (ii) D. opulent E. libertine F. understated
What is AF Explanation: We need a pair of opposites because the preferences of the uncle and nephew are different. The uncle shows off and the nephew makes his wealth less obvious. Thus ‘ostentation’ and ‘understated’. (Dissimulation – hiding the truth; libertine – unrestrained, prodigal; opulent – lavish)
200
Although he was finally (i)____, the years of (ii)____ tore apart his social circle, ruined his health and (iii)____ his mind. Blank (i) A. incriminated B. vindicated C. acclaimed Blank (ii) D. dedication E. self-doubt F. suspicion Blank (iii) G. sharpened H. deranged I. mellowed
What is BFH Explanation: The word ‘although’ indicates opposite ideas in the sentence. If we get the meaning sorted first it might be that he was finally accepted/proved right (any positive word) after years of ‘bad things’ that tore apart his social circle and damaged his mind (two negatives for the last two blanks.) Attacking the two negatives first we can have his mind ‘deranged’ and either ‘self-doubt’ or ‘suspicion’ for the other. If we ignore the negative (incriminated) and take ‘vindicated’ (proved right) for the first blank then that would best match with ‘suspicion’. (It is unlikely that ‘self-doubt’ would tear apart anyone’s social circle).
200
3. Like other metaphors, the "book of Nature" has two facets: it is ____ but if taken literally, it may mislead. A. heuristic B. perceptive C. poetic D. insightful E. prosaic F. iconoclastic
What is BD Explanation: The ‘but’ indicates opposite ideas. The opposite of mislead would be something that helps us see clearly – making ‘perceptive’ and ‘insightful’ obvious choices. [Heuristic = serving to stimulate interest; prosaic = dull; iconoclastic = unorthodox]
200
Information supplied in the passage is sufficient to answer which of the following questions? (Select ALL answer choices that apply) A. Who did Doran think was probably the best English actor? B. What did Doran think of Garrick? C. Would the author give a definite answer to the first question posed in the passage?
What is AC Explanation: The quotation marks around "perhaps the greatest of English actors," tell us that the author is quoting from the book he is reviewing, and hence the author of that book, Doran, thinks Betterton was probably the best. Doran writes “long and interesting records of the triumphs of Garrick” but we cannot infer Doran’s opinion of the actor from that. The author would not give a definite answer to the question because he says the writings of Doran “do not relieve one of the doubt”. We can answer question A with the word “Betterton” and question C with the word “no”.
200
Harangue a) forgiveness; pardon; release b) a respite; postponement of a sentence c) complicated; highly convoluted d) noisy, attacking speech
What is (d)
300
It is a waste of time to ____ someone so dimwitted; he is too dull to recognize your barbs. A. disparage B. ridicule C. lampoon D. laud E. enlighten F. train
What is BC Explanation: The word ‘barbs’ implies insults. So we might be looking for a word that means ‘insult’. The word ‘disparage’ fits the bill but does not have a similar word in the remaining choices. Of what is left we can focus on ‘lampoon’ and ‘ridicule’ which both mean to mock or deride – which imply making fun of someone to show up faults.
300
As Gerard (i)____ the (ii)____ that greeted his work, he became increasingly smug. Blank (i) A. repudiated B. humbly accepted C. basked in Blank (ii) D. accolades E. opprobrium F. lack of interest
What is CD Explanation: Someone might become smug if they were over-pleased with themselves. Gerard would have become smug through too much praise (accolades) not lack of interest or opprobrium (contempt). If he is smug then ‘humble’ does not fit, nor does ‘repudiates’ (shuns). And so, finally, we have him basking in (enjoying) all the praise.
300
4. The increasing interactivity emerging in the latest computer systems means that the traditional view of the computer as a ____ of information now unduly limiting. A. gleaner B. transformer C. processor D. producer E. repository F. cache
What is EF Explanation: Since the computer is more interactive it is no longer to be viewed as a passive tool. We need two words which both suggest a passive role for the computer. ‘Repository’ and ‘cache’ are words which are used for a storage place and thus, are the best answer.
300
The author implies that his first definition of a sanctuary is A. totally wrong B. somewhat idealistic C. unhelpful D. indefensible E. immutable
What is B Explanation: The author says in sentence two that his previous definition was “too absolute”. Yet he admits that the less man “upsets the balance of Nature” the better. Hence his definition is not entirely right (because it is too idealistic) but it is not entirely wrong either. It is now easy to eliminate answers A, C, D, and E because they are strongly negative.
300
Obfuscate a) establish firmly in a position b) deliberately make something difficult to understand c) gullible; ready to believe anything d) a respite; postponement of a sentence
What is (b)
400
He completed the work with unusual ____ ; his need to get out of the office overcame his habitual torpor. A. dispatch B. grace C. effectiveness D. slovenliness E. carelessness F. celerity
What is AF Explanation: If he overcame torpor (inactivity) he must have acted quickly; hence, ‘dispatch’ and ‘celerity’ are the best as they both mean speed. (Note the use of ‘dispatch’ as a noun.)
400
It is a common complaint that people today have a short attention span. But is it that people are (i)____ if the television camera (ii)____ a view, or is it that the (iii)____ from one angle to another has trained the viewer to expect variety? Blank (i) A. satisfied B. fascinated C. impatient Blank (ii) D. lingers over E. cuts short F. rapidly changes Blank (iii) G. constant shift H. delay in moving I. inability to move
What is CDG Explanation: Working backwards, we can see that the viewer would be trained by variety (constant shift) to expect variety. Now the earlier part of the last sentence is meant to be a contrast and so we have the opposite of constant shift (lingers over) causing people to have a short attention span. People with a short attention span will be ‘impatient’ if the camera ‘lingers over’ a view.
400
6. As a result of his regimented upbringing, that left him unable to see the nuances of complex situations, he was often accused of being ____ . A. indecisive B. tyrannical C. obtuse D. boorish E. xenophobic F. imperceptive
What is CF Explanation: Someone who cannot see the nuances (shades of meaning) in a situation could be described as ‘imperceptive’. Someone who is imperceptive can also be called ‘obtuse’ (mentally dull and slow to understand).
400
The author’s argument that destroying bot-flies and mosquitoes would be a beneficial action is most weakened by all of the following except A. parasites have an important role to play in the regulation of populations B. the elimination of any species can have unpredictable effects on the balance of nature C. the pests themselves are part of the food chain D. these insects have been introduced to the area by human activities E. elimination of these insects would require the use of insecticides that kill a wide range of insects
What is D Explanation: In “except” questions find the true statements first. In this case find four statements that weaken the idea that destroying pests is beneficial. That means finding statements that show that it is not a good idea to destroy the pests. Answers A, B, C, and E give reasons why destroying these insects might be a mistake. D, however, is the right answer because it suggests that eliminating these insects might not be wrong, since they are not even natural inhabitants of the area.
400
Crepuscular a) to cause bitterness and bad feeling b) self denying; refraining from indulging c) active at dawn and dusk d) acceptance of fate
What is (c)
500
The formerly (i)____ waters of the lake have become (ii)____. So even though the waters are teeming with life, fish are no longer visible from the surface. Blank (i) A. murky B. stagnant C. pellucid Blank (ii) D. tranquil E. verdant F. turbid
What is CF Explanation: Clue: The word ‘formerly’ indicates that once things were different. Hence we require a pair of opposites. Since fish cannot now be seen the waters must be ‘turbid’ (murky and muddy); formerly the waters must have been unpolluted and ‘pellucid’ (very clear). (tranquil = peaceful; stagnant = not moving; pellucid = transparently clear; verdant = green and fertile)
500
The (i)____ and virtuosity required of a jazz player make jazz seem to lack (ii)____; this apparently amorphous flow can make it hard for people with traditional expectations of musical stability to acquire a taste for this genre. Blank (i) A. controlled playing B. inventiveness C. emotional distance Blank (ii) D. inherent structure E. underlying rhythm F. controlled emotions
What is BD Explanation: The word ‘amorphous’ means lacking shape or form. This is the clue to the second blank and using the clue we can take ‘inherent structure’ as something that would seem to be lacking in jazz. For the first blank we need something to reinforce the idea of lack of structure, and so we choose ‘inventiveness’. Also, ‘inventiveness’ contrasts nicely with the idea of musical stability.
500
It is paradoxical that String Theory inspires such widespread respect when it is so ____ that few could ever hope to master its claims. A. intractable B. confusing C. elevated D. arcane E. obscure F. rigorous
What is DE Explanation: The word ‘arcane’ means known only to a few people; it is, therefore, ‘obscure’. As you can see, the sentence more or less defines the word ‘arcane’ so we can be sure we are correct.
500
The purpose of the final paragraph is A. to sum up the main points of the author’s argument B. to urge a solution to an increasingly pressing problem C. to qualify the author’s definition of an important term D. to propose a program E. to suggest that man should not intervene in natural environments
What is C Explanation: The author is modifying or qualifying his earlier definition of a sanctuary. Examiners are fond of the word “qualify” as many students do not know this meaning of the word.
500
Lachrymose a) tearful; sad b) clear pronunciation; accent; articulation c) to cause bitterness and bad feeling d) fall suddenly and steeply
What is (a)