1.) In contrast to the intricate, rambling sentences of Henry James, Raymond Carver’s stories are brutally _____.

(A) ambivalent(B) concise(C) cynical(D) pragmatic

2.) When taken in _____, the candidate’s remarks were not nearly as callous as they first seemed.

(A) context(B) good faith(C) specifics(D) total

3.) New evidence allowed the defense to _____ their client, who was relieved to go free.

(A) attest(B) corroborate(C) exculpate(D) prejudice

4.) The ______ disease left him enervated: getting out of bed was impossible for months.

(A) debilitating(B) ephemeral(C) pernicious(D) sanguine

5.) After years of constant criticism and questioning, David was _____, ready to fight at the drop of a hat.

(A) pacifistic(B) phlegmatic(C) prudish(D) pugnacious

6.) To some, the ____ markings were glyphs left by ancient aliens who had colonized the earth and vanished sometime before the dinosaur’s extinction; others thought cave bears left them by scratching at the rock.

(A) cryptic(B) hierarchical(C) ostentatious(D) significant

7.) “Did you see that dress Julie was wearing? It was yellower than a tennis ball! Quite _____, if you ask me.”

(A) dull(B) fetching(C) garish(D) staid

8.) After the Canadians invaded Greenland, the international community _____ their unwarranted aggression.

(A) approved(B) censored(C) denounced(D) lauded

9.) Due to a(n) ____ of thinking, Lena tried jumping from the roof to the pool, and now she looks like a plaster mummy.

(A) dearth(B) inundation(C) surfeit(D) surplus

10.) Mike had always been ____, and so he had no trouble obeying his parents’ rule that “a child should be seen, and not heard.”

(A) grandiloquent(B) gregarious(C) recalcitrant(D) reticent

11. The overall purpose of the passage is to:

(A) describe the relationship between friends(B) portray the nature of a small town(C) recount an episode in the narrator’s self- discovery(D) chronicle an obsession with a mysteriousindividual(E) analyze a general issue regarding personalidentity

12. The statement “fiction was passed as fact” in line 18 means that the neighbors

(A) had learned more facts about the stranger’s background(B) gained more confidence in their assumptions about the stranger(C) grew more suspicious about the stranger’s motives(D) were not entirely honest with the stranger(E) became less accepting of speculations about the stranger

13. The questions in lines 21–33 are primarily intended as

(A) suspicions about the stranger’s criminalpast(B) speculations about the stranger’s warexperience(C) doubts about the stranger’s sincerity(D) assumptions about the stranger’s piety(E) guesses about the stranger’s intentions

14. In line 28 the “moonscape surface” represents

(A) a desolate aftermath(B) an idyllic location(C) an imagined goal(D) an unexplored vista(E) a primordial stage

15. As it is used in line 68 the word “character” most nearly means

(A) strange person(B) abstract quality(C) individuality(D) visible symbol(E) dance

16. The phrase “his look was clear” (line 83) indicates that the stranger was

(A) uncharacteristically sober(B) physically pale(C) suddenly unmysterious(D) lacking in arrogance(E) focused on a particular goal

Q #17

Playing a video basketball game is not nearly as demanding, either mentally or physically, as a real basketball game.

A.) a realB.) that of a realC.) it is when playing a realD.) playing a realE.) when playing a real

Q #17 Answer

Playing a video basketball game is not nearly as demanding, either mentally or physically, as a real basketball game.

D.) playing a real

Q #18

We had to submit our project without a bibliography, because listing our sources would have took Jose and I another day to complete.

A.) would have took Jose and IB.) would have taken Jose and IC.) would have taken Jose and meD.) would have took Jose and meE.) would be taking Jose and me

Q #18 Answer

We had to submit our project without a bibliography, because listing our sources would have took Jose and I another day to complete.

C.) would have taken Jose and me

Q #19

Oceanographers are studying how the increased atmospheric concentration of gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide elevates the acidity of seawater and its affecting fish.

A.) elevates the acidity of seawater and its affecting fishB.) elevate the acidity of seawater and how they affect fishC.) elevates the acidity of seawater and how that acidity affects fishD.) elevate seawater acidity and its effect on fishE.) elevates seawater acidity for its effect on fish

Q #19 Answer

Oceanographers are studying how the increased atmospheric concentration of gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide elevates the acidity of seawater and its affecting fish.

C.) elevates the acidity of seawater and how that acidity affects fish

Q #20

Renowned as an expert in linguistics, modern intellectuals also acknowledge Pinker’s many contributions to psychology.

A.) modern intellectuals also acknowledge Pinker’s many contributions to psychologyB.) Pinker’s many contributions have been also acknowledged by modern intellectuals to psychologyC.) Pinker’s many contributions to psychology are also acknowledged by modern intellectualsD.) Pinker being also acknowledged for his many contributions to psychology and by modern intellectualsE.) Pinker is also acknowledged by modern intellectuals for his many contributions to psychology

Q #20 Answer

Renowned as an expert in linguistics, modern intellectuals also acknowledge Pinker’s many contributions to psychology.

E.) Pinker is also acknowledged by modern intellectuals for his many contributions to psychology

Q #21

In the fourth century BC, the Greeks’ emphasis on inquiry, art, and reason made it one of the centers of world culture.

A.) the Greeks’ emphasis on inquiry, art, and reason made itB.) the emphasis in Greeks on inquiry, art, and reason made themC.) the Greeks emphasizing inquiry, art, and reason made itD.) the emphasis on inquiry, art, and reason made GreeceE.) the emphasis of the Greeks on inquiry, art, and reason made them

Q #21 Answer

In the fourth century BC, the Greeks’ emphasis on inquiry, art, and reason made it one of the centers of world culture.

D.) the emphasis on inquiry, art, and reason made Greece

Q #22

Beaming with pride, the trophy was held aloft by Selene as the cheers reached a crescendo.

A.) the trophy was held aloft by Selene as the cheers reached a crescendoB.) the cheers reached a crescendo as Selene held the trophy aloftC.) the trophy being held aloft by Selene as the cheers reached a crescendoD.) Selene held the trophy aloft the cheers reaching a crescendoE.) Selene held the trophy aloft as the cheers reached a crescendo

Q #22 Answer

Beaming with pride, the trophy was held aloft by Selene as the cheers reached a crescendo.

E.) Selene held the trophy aloft as the cheers reached a crescendo

Q #23

Walking together in the park, it surprised us to see an a capella group performing on the green.

A.) it surprised us to see an a capella group performing on the greenB.) an a capella group performing on the green surprised usC.) we were surprised about our seeing an a capella group on the green performingD.) we were surprised in seeing an a capella group performing on the greenE.) we were surprised to see an a capella group performing on the green

Q #23 Answer

Walking together in the park, it surprised us to see an a capella group performing on the green.

E.) we were surprised to see an a capella group performing on the green

Q #24

Mario Andretti’s name is synonymous to autoracing; he has won Race Car Driver of the Year in three different decades.

A.) toB.) ofC.) withD.) inE.) for

Q #24 Answer

Mario Andretti’s name is synonymous to autoracing; he has won Race Car Driver of the Year in three different decades.

C.) with

Q #25

We wanted to hire a babysitter who was able to work flexible hours, display patience with a crying child, and, above all, she must have fun playing with children.

A.) she must haveB.) she should haveC.) haveD.) havingE.) be able to have

Q #25 Answer

We wanted to hire a babysitter who was able to work flexible hours, display patience with a crying child, and, above all, she must have fun playing with children.

C.) have

Q #26

Cubism was a 20th century art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, it inspired also related movements in music and literature.

A.) Cubism was a 20th century art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, it inspired alsoB.) Cubism, a 20th century art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, also inspiredC.) Cubism, a 20th century art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, having also inspiredD.) A 20th century art movement revolutionizing European painting and sculpture, therefore Cubism also inspiredE.) Cubism revolutionized European painting and sculpture, being a 20th century art movement also inspiring

Q #26 Answer

Cubism was a 20th century art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, it inspired also related movements in music and literature.

B.) Cubism, a 20th century art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, also inspired

Q #27

A one-year old, the pre-school teachers were shocked to hear him speak in full sentences.

A.) A one-year old, the pre-school teachers were shocked to hear him speak in full sentences.B.) The pre-school teachers were shocked by the speaking in full sentences by the one-year old.C.) The pre-school teachers were shocked to hear a one-year old speaking in full sentences.D.) A one-year old speaking in full sentences, the pre-school teachers were shocked to hear him.E.) The pre-school teachers, who were shocked to hear a one-year old speaking in full sentences.

Q #27 Answer

A one-year old, the pre-school teachers were shocked to hear him speak in full sentences.

C.) The pre-school teachers were shocked to hear a one-year old speaking in full sentences.

Q #28

At the end of the physical exam, my doctor told me that I could lower my blood pressure by exercising, improving my diet, and relaxing more.

A.) by exercising, improving my diet, and relaxing moreB.) in my exercising, improving my diet, and more relaxationC.) because of exercising, improving my diet, and relaxing moreD.) by exercising, improving my diet, and more relaxationE.) with exercising, improving my diet, and more relaxation

Q #28 Answer

At the end of the physical exam, my doctor told me that I could lower my blood pressure by exercising, improving my diet, and relaxing more.

A.) by exercising, improving my diet, and relaxing more

Q #29

The model of the city may not have moving cars on its roads, but there are a functional set of streetlamps.

A.) but there are a functional set of streetlampsB.) but it does have a functional set of streetlampsC.) but there is a functional set of streetlampsD.) although a functional set of streetlamps are what it does haveE.) and there is a functional set of streetlamps

Q #29 Answer

The model of the city may not have moving cars on its roads, but there are a functional set of streetlamps.

B.) but it does have a functional set of streetlamps

Q #30

Receiving no advice to the contrary from his brothers, Timmy’s decision was to take a year off from medical school.

A.) Timmy’s decision was to take a year off from medical schoolB.) taking a year off from medical school was Timmy’s decisionC.) Timmy deciding to take a year off from medical schoolD.) a year off from medical school was what Timmy decided to takeE.) Timmy decided to take a year off from medical school

Q #30 Answer

Receiving no advice to the contrary from his brothers, Timmy’s decision was to take a year off from medical school.

E.) Timmy decided to take a year off from medical school

Q #31

One of the most important agricultural resources of the Phillipines, the coconut tree faces the threat of extinction within three years due to coconut leaf beetle infestation.

A.) the coconut tree faces the threat of extinctionB.) the coconut tree has been facing the threat of extinctionC.) the threat of extinction faced by the coconut tree isD.) the coconut tree, facing the extinction threat,E.) facing the coconut tree with the threat of extinction

Q #31 Answer

One of the most important agricultural resources of the Phillipines, the coconut tree faces the threat of extinction within three years due to coconut leaf beetle infestation.

A.) the coconut tree faces the threat of extinction

Q #32

Before sending an angry email to someone, you should wait several hours and then decide if it is still worth sending.

A.) you should wait several hours and then decide if it is still worth sendingB.) they should wait several hours to be sure that the email is something that is still worth sendingC.) they should wait several hours to decide if it is still worth sendingD.) wait several hours to decide if sending the email was worth itE.) several hours of waiting should help you decide if it is still worth sending

Q #32 Answer

Before sending an angry email to someone, you should wait several hours and then decide if it is still worth sending.

A.) you should wait several hours and then decide if it is still worth sending

Syllogism #1

1. There are three kinds of crime.1. (opportunity, desperation, premeditation)

2. Cameras only prevent crimes of opportunity.3. Therefore, cameras are ineffective.

Syllogism #2

1. America is not linguistically diverse.2. English is the primary language.3. To fully participate in society, you need to

speak that society’s primary language.4. Therefore, you need to speak English to fully

participate in American society.5. Therefore, this will help in the short term but

hurt in the long run.

Prompt.

Next week you'll be writing an essay on this prompt: "Do artistic endeavors such as music, painting, literature, and drama enhance our understanding of reality or provide escape from reality?"