- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- Textures, clear
- Hues, vivid
- Alabaster, bright
- Line, dark
- Hues, dark
Hues are colors, which would look vivid (not dark) against the bright blue sky. Textures (consistencies) are not clear in rainbows like colors are. Alabaster is a pearly white color not seen in rainbows. Rainbows’ colors appear in curved lines, but these are not dark; moreover, line grammatically disagrees with the plural verb were.
- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- catalyst, individuals
- barrier, contrast
- hedge, protection
- derrick, protection
- derrick, limits
A hedge is a barrier, and protection is what the president needs during public appearances. A catalyst is an agent of change, making no sense with the rest of the sentence or with individuals. The president needs a barrier around him for protection, not contrast. A derrick is a jib crane, a boom, or an oil tower and would not surround the president. A derrick of limits around him makes no sense.
- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- base, somber
- crater, slow
- peak, radiant
- river, cloudy
- top, dim
The expedition reaches the peak (the highest point) of the mountain, and a radiant sunrise fits the tone of achievement and natural beauty. The other choices either reference incorrect parts of a mountain or don’t describe a sunrise effectively.
- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- precision, systematic
- chaos, hurried
- emotion, reckless
- assumption, random
- vision, lucky
Scientific work is best done with precision and a systematic approach. The other choices imply carelessness, randomness, or emotional bias, which are inappropriate in scientific experimentation.
- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- attractive, masses
- limited, people
- loathsome, masses
- colorful, individual
Loathsome means repulsive, hateful, or disgusting. Subject matter loathsome to people would not sell. Subject matter attractive to the masses or colorful (bright, lively, interesting) to the masses would sell. Subject matter limited to the people makes no sense. Subject matter colorful to the individual is lively and interesting to the person, which would not be a reason it did not sell.
- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- skin, abyss
- skin, craven
- skin, storm
- hide, abyss
- hide, storm
A rainstorm would “soak a kitten to the skin,” a familiar idiomatic expression meaning something is completely soaked. An abyss (a chasm or deep hole) would not soak anything. Craven is not a noun but an adjective meaning cowardly. Hide is a synonym for skin usually describing tanned leather, not a live kitten’s skin.
- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- apathetic, vague
- inquisitive, thoughtful
- hostile, frequent
- lazy, repetitive
- boastful, selfish
An inquisitive (curious) attitude and thoughtful questions would impress a professor. The other options are negative traits that would not be impressive in an academic setting.
- Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks in the following sentence.
- dry, technical
- brief, inaccurate
- eloquent, insightful
- rambling, passive
- shy, hesitant
Eloquent speech is well-spoken and persuasive, and insightful content provides depth and understanding—both qualities would leave an audience feeling inspired and informed. The other choices either suggest poor communication or lack of content.