SAT: Sentence Completions: Easy #1 1)As a young physics instructor, Richard Feynman discovered that he had the gift of sharing his _____ his subject and making that excitement _____. a.passion forcontagious b.knowledge ofinaudible c.contempt forpraiseworthy d.propensity forfutile e.commitment toimpersonal 6)Finchs callous habit of _____ the suggestions of his coworkers make him seem _____ to them. a.revilingamenable b.solicitingaccessible c.revisitingcantankerous d.ignoringapproachable e.deridingabhorrent 2)Some entertainers, their egos inflated by celebrity, see themselves as _____ figures to whom ordinary moral _____ do not necessarily apply. a.penitentrules b.privilegedconstraints c.pedagogicalenticements d.redundantconventions e.giftedbenefits 7)Officials charged that the bakery had engaged in _____ practices by misleading consumers about the nutritional value of certain products. a.legitimate b.exacting c.intelligible d.inordinate e.deceptive 3)A storys theme is sometimes _____, that is, stated directly by the author, but more often it is _____. a.obviousindisputable b.capriciousdramatic c.convolutedsimple d.enigmaticveiled e.explicitimplied 8)The director cast J ames Earl J ones in the part because of his _____ voice: its rich quality was ideal. a.blatant b.spontaneous c.grating d.sonorous e.muted 4)In this production, the king is portrayed as an initially _____ leader utterly transformed by his overwhelming thirst for power into a _____ tyrant. a.benevolentvicious b.heartlessdevious c.devotedreluctant d.prominentsecluded e.notoriousmasterful 9)Records documenting the presence of Africans among the crews of explorers like Christopher Columbus _____ the antiquity of the African presence in the Americas. a.create b.illustrate c.compromise d.overlook e.modify 5)Although Ms. Harveys disposition was generally _____, she could become enraged when sufficiently _____. a.viciousignored b.sereneprovoked c.energeticdisappointed d.meekcomplimented e.perversebetrayed 10) The golden eagle is known for astonishing visual _____; it can spot small prey on the ground from more than one thousand feet in the air. a.repetition b.magnetism c.acuity d.enticement e.objectivity 11) Since the student was _____ in answering the teachers questions about the accident, the school had to find another means of reconstructing the chain of events. a.concise b.evasive c.lucid d.alert e.trite 14) Some of the regions ranches belong to _____ Landowners; they live elsewhere and visit their ranchers only rarely. a.domestic b.absentee c.joint d.bucolic e.rural 12) The philosophers argument was frustratingly _____: it simply went round and round and came to no firm conclusion. a.offensive b.fanciful c.technical d.circuitous e.belligerent 15) While the general publics response to President Lincolns first inaugural address was only _____, an enthusiastic reaction came from abolitionist leader Frederick Douglas, who pronounced it a sacred effort. a.unanimous b.spontaneous c.lukewarm d.strenuous e.animated 13) The rapid decomposition promoted by a forest fire can be viewed as frantic release, a period during which many minerals and chemicals otherwise locked up in dead organisms are _____. a.tabulated b.examined c.forfeited d.decimated e.liberated 16) Information about the actual workings of early printing houses in England is so _____ as to be almost nonexistent. a.contradictory b.repetitive c.humdrum d.scarce e.erroneous SAT: Sentence Completions: Easy #2 1)Carson presents her case so strongly and logically that only the prejudiced or the _____ will attempt to _____ her. a.impartialdefy b.doubtfulchampion c.gulliblebelieve d.obstinatecontradict e.irrationalsupport 6)The editors objected to the _____ tone of the article, which _____ both the politicians and the voters. a.disparagingbelittled b.laudatoryderided c.censoriousextolled d.obsequiousvilified e.dismissivecommended 2)These studies will necessarily take several years because the _____ of the new drug involved in the project is not _____. a.availabilitytested b.virulencedoubted c.effectimmediate d.backgroundpractical e.valueexpendable 7)Representing a round world on a flat surface is impossible without some _____: the Mercator projection map shows Greenland as over ten times larger than Mexico, a country in fact only slightly smaller than Greenland. a.superficiality b.oversight c.simplification d.distortion e.sophistication 3)Although he was _____ by nature, he had to be _____ at work because of the need to slash costs. a.prudentprofligate b.ferociousindefensible c.industriousproductive d.extravagantparsimonious e.pleasantamiable 8)The highly publicized redesign of the car is essentially _____: the exterior has been updated, but the engine remains unchanged. a.intuitive b.cosmetic c.incoherent d.consequential e.retroactive 4)Lupus experts are _____ about the new test developed by J anoff and feel _____ that it will enable physicians to diagnose the disease with greater accuracy. a.optimisticconfident b.concernedequivocal c.perplexedcomplacent d.cautiouspositive e.dogmaticdismayed 9)The landscape was truly _____, so arid that even the hardiest of plants could not survive. a.lurid b.parched c.drubbed d.verdant e.variegated 5)Ayn Rand can be considered a _____ novelist; her _____ ideas have provoked irate rebuttal from her philosophical opponents. a.polemicalcontroversial b.charismaticfulsome c.visionarytraditional d.soporifichackneyed e.savvyingenuous 10) The singer now performs a more _____ repertoire of songs than in the past, when he sang only traditional ballads. a.wary b.sentimental c.experimental d.customary e.mellow 11) The revolt of the Pueblo people in 1680, which temporarily drove the Spanish colonists from New Mexico, fostered the _____ of the indigenous cultures by discouraging Spanish attempts at total domination. a.precision b.fragmentation c.inversion d.saturation e.preservation 15) During the day, downpours were _____, starting and stopping at nearly regular intervals. a.unmediated b.spontaneous c.incidental d.endemic e.periodic 12) As a physicist, Veronica is a gifted _____: she loves to go beyond particular facts and speculate about general principles. a.dogmatist b.consultant c.prodigy d.materialist e.theorist 16) The editors comment was not intended as a criticism but as a _____ by which she sought further clarification. a.query b.confession c.dismissal d.condemnation e.credo 13) Unable to decide between a career in engineering and one in philosophy, Gwen _____ her two interests and became a medical student. a.reclaimed b.merged c.defined d.abandoned e.conveyed

17) Tina was _____ by the speech, regarding such criticisms of her company as extremely annoying. a.fascinated b.galled c.uplifted d.soothed e.disoriented 14) Steven tried hard to give up sweets, but he found it particularly difficult to _____ chocolate. a.digest b.extol c.impugn d.forgo e.relish 18) During the 1990s, Shanghai benefited from an architectural _____, the result of a dramatic increase in innovative and artistic building. a.intransigence b.plentitude c.stagnation d.renaissance e.desecration SAT: Sentence Completions: Easy #3 1)Initially only the carpeting outside the restroom was _____ by water from the burst pipe; eventually, the entire hallway flooded. a.diverted b.confined c.scuttled d.cleansed e.drenched 6)When asked to explain their escapade, the campers did not _____ but answered forthrightly and honestly. a.enunciate b.articulate c.cooperate d.prevaricate e.anticipate 2)As his suspicions of strangers increased, Thomas adopted an increasingly _____ lifestyle, withdrawing almost totally from society. a.sequestered b.urbane c.intrusive d.luxurious e.frugal 7)Fearing excessive publicity, the patient refused to discuss her situation without a promise of _____ from the interviewer. a.empathy b.abstinence c.attribution d.confidentiality e.candor 3)Interest in the origin of life is _____; all cultures and societies have narratives about creation. a.distant b.mythical c.universal d.debatable e.superficial 8)Efforts are finally being made to _____ the traffic congestion that plagues the downtown area. a.engage b.alleviate c.transport d.regenerate e.trivialize 4)The existence of environmental contamination is no longer a point of _____; government, industry, and the public agree that it is a serious problem. a.concern b.cooperation c.urgency d.relevance e.dispute 9)She displayed a nearly pathological _____, insisting on knowing every detail of her friends lives. a.orderliness b.credulity c.curiosity d.shyness e.morbidity 5)In rock climbing, survival depends as much on _____, the ability to perceive without conscious reasoning, as on physical strength. a.autonomy b.incoherence c.intuition d.sophistry e.receptivity 10) Commerce on the remote island was conducted exclusively by _____, exchanging goods for goods. a.credit b.loan c.faith d.patronage e.barter 11) Although cats are as social as many other animals, some people think of them as _____ creatures. a.sinister b.companionable c.solitary d.nocturnal e.mundane 16) Recent data recording a bottlenose whales dive of over 4,700 feet _____ earlier _____ that such whales were among the seas deepest divers. a.refutedtheories b.challengedpredictions c.confirmedspeculations d.validateddisclaimers e.substantiateddoubts 12) Far from an amicable interaction, mating in the insect world is more _____ than _____. a.combativecooperative b.controlledrandom c.revolutionarygradual d.plannedspontaneous e.hiddencommon 17) Although visitors may find touring the city by subway to be _____, they are pleased to discover that subways are an inexpensive and _____ way to get around. a.wastefulgenerous b.dauntingefficient c.extravagantprohibitive d.convenientsolitary e.enjoyableeasy 13) Frequently, people are too ready to _____ rumors as truth without first trying to _____ them. a.acceptsubstantiate b.acknowledgeperpetuate c.dismisscorroborate d.distortalter e.ignoreenhance 14) Using computer labs to _____ classroom instruction is most effective when the curriculum _____ lab exercises and classroom teaching in a coordinated manner. a.supplementintegrates b.substantiateundermines c.remedycompromises d.disparagereinforces e.fostercurtails 15) May Sarton had a _____ career: it _____ from 1929, when Poetry magazine published her early sonnets, to 1994, when her last collection of poems came out. a.limiteddeveloped b.diversefoundered c.variabledeclined d.lengthylasted e.sedatesoared SAT: Sentence Completions: Moderate #1 1)Although he usually proposes serious and _____ ideas, in his more _____ moments he can utter one of those dubious suggestions that carry more wit than substance. a.constructivefacetious b.flippantconvivial c.insipidsophisticated d.practicalponderous e.insightfulperceptive 6)Although Caroline Gordon was rigorously objective, her lively and _____ private correspondence _____ a delightful capacity for biting commentary on the social scene. a.exuberantminimized b.entertainingexhibited c.incisivedisguised d.eloquentderided e.dispassionatedemonstrated 2)Although 106 million years ago the Antarctic was not as frigid as it is today, its climate was hardly _____. a.stable b.inclement c.sultry d.bleak e.severe 7)An effective member of a debating team must focus on the _____ issue and avoid _____ arguments. a.subtlesignificant b.equivocalobstreperous c.designatedpertinent d.comprehensivegeneral e.principalperipheral 3)Since the mayors attempts to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies produced no real improvements, the efforts were seen by critics as _____. a.dramatic b.far-reaching c.cosmetic d.necessary e.timely 8)Like a martinet, Charles deals with all people in a(n) _____ manner that implies that they must _____ him. a.haughtythwart b.imperiousobey c.egalitariansalute d.timorouscheat e.cowardlyunderstand 4)Disappointingly, the researchers failure was a direct result of their _____; we had not expected their focus to be so indistinct. a.egoism b.irreverence c.relevance d.vagueness e.sexism 9)New York is a cosmopolitan city; its numerous newspapers in many languages reflect its _____ population. a.polyglot b.vapid c.homogeneous d.insular e.bemused 5)The child was given to emotional _____: she can be profoundly miserable one moment and utterly _____ the next. a.excessesbuoyant b.attachmentunfeeling c.hostilitiescongenial d.consensusjubilant e.shiftsmirthless 10) The medical community seemed so factional that medical progress was often accompanied by _____, with each step forward creating new enmities a.sacrifice b.astonishment c.coordination d.conflict e.error 11) The organism Pfiesteria piscicida is _____ in size: thousands can fit on the period at the end of a sentence. a.comprehensive b.fallacious c.insuperable d.parochial e.infinitesimal 16) Mavis described the recently published treatise as inane, insipid, and _____, just another affirmation of the obvious. a.banal b.baleful c.successful d.profound e.inspired 12) Geraldine was famous for her _____ explanations which summarized complex procedures in remarkably few, yet precise words. a.rhetorical b.perpetual c.brash d.succinct e.verbose 17) The reviewer characterized Madonna Swan-Abdallas autobiography as a portrait of an _____ person, one who prevailed against great odds. a.empathetic b.indomitable c.expeditious d.idiosyncratic e.astute 13) Lena Hornes singing style is such that she can invest even the most _____ lyrics with dramatic meaning. a.harmonious b.sensational c.impeccable d.vapid e.esteemed 18) Reformers often appear oppressively _____ in describing their own good deeds, but Dr. Alice Hamilton avoided such self-righteousness in her accounts of her investigations of industrial safety conditions. a.moralistic b.practical c.whimsical d.impartial e.scathing 14) The meal had a(n) _____ effect on the travelers: their energy was restored almost instantly. a.tonic b.cloying c.indefinite d.debilitating e.intemperate 19) Anna Wickmans marriage seemingly _____ her art because, a few years after her wedding, she began to write poetry prolifically. a.quelled b.construed c.consumed d.invigorated e.sated 15) It is the relative _____ of the owls ear cavities, the sheer size of those spaces, that accounts for the owls acute sense of hearing. a.symmetry b.cumbersomeness c.uniformity d.intricacy e.vastness 20) A scientific theory is _____ and hence amenable to revision or abandonment in light of observations that are _____ its predictions. a.tentativeinconsistent with b.creativeanticipated by c.tenuousderived from d.doctrinalcontrary to e.testablesupportive of Sentence Completions Moderate #2 1)The legislation facing Congress was so ____ that it threatened to shatter the governing bodys fragile bipartisanship. a.divisive b.transparent c.concordant d.repetitive e.rhetorical 6) Although based on autobiographyand specific incidents, Brian Frielsplays ultimately ____ their localsetting and achieve ____ appeal. a.expandprovincial b.transcenduniversal c.deridepersonal d.attain worldwide e.describeintuitive 2)In All Gods Children Need Traveling Shoes, author Maya Angelou uses ____, brief descriptive sketches, to provide ____ picture of Ghana that clearly details the land and its people. a.missivesan illusory b.themesa thorough c.vignettesa vivid d.treatisesan authentic e.abstractsan ambiguous 7) The frequent name changes that thecountry has undergone ____ thepolitical turbulence that has attendedits recent history. a. argue against b. contrast with c. testify to d. jeopardize e. sustain 3)The new policy has been called a quiet revolution because, though introduced without ____, it is already producing ____ changes. a.warningspecious b.fanfaremomentous c.concealmenttransient d.hesitationostensible e.debatenegligible 8) Braciopods, clamlike bivalves ofprehistoric times, were one of themost ____ forms of life on earth:more than 300,000 species have been____ from fossil records. a.plentifulsubtracted b.ornateretrieved c.multifariouscatalogued d.scarceextracted e.anachronisticextrapolated 4)Artists who are described as ____ are the first to experiment with new forms or concepts. a.aesthetic b.partisan c.decorous d.cerebral e.avant-garde 9) In the tropics, nests of termites andants are ____ features, towering above the ground. a.unsanitary b.inconsequential c.variegated d.crumbly e.conspicuous 5) At first merely ____, his actions grewso bewildering and bizarre as to appearentirely ____ to us. a.dignifiedmystifying b.perplexinginexplicable c.eccentricstolid d.intriguingreasonable e.logicalquestionable 10) Colonial American playwrightMercy Otis Warren was know forher political ____: her keenjudgment and insight were widelyacknowledged. a.partisanship b.intemperance c.acumen d.irreverence e.interest 11) In 1991, salsa ____ ketchup as the best- selling condiment in the United States,outselling ketchup by $40 million inretail stores. a.supplanted b.augmented c.brandished d.evaded e.redoubled 14) The crafty child tricked his innocentbrother, a particularly ____ and trustingboy, into committing a mischievousprank. a.guileless b.intrusive c.astute d.opportunistic e.circumspect 12) The Earths oceans sustain a ____ ofmarine creatures, an abundance thatmakes the seas teem with life andactivity. a.melee b.profusion c.configuration d.symmetry e.dimension 15) Luisa worked with extreme precision,____ that served her well in her lawcareer. a.a meticulousness b. an effrontery c. an inhibition d. a litigiousness e. an impetuousness Sentence Completions Difficult #1 1)Portraits of the charismatic leader have become ____; so prevalent are they in public areas throughout the country. a.omnipresent b.panoramic c.ubiquitous d.prohibitive e.pernicious 6)Though her lecture contained ideas thatwere provocative and systematicallypresented, her style of delivery was so____ that I actually dozed off. f.galling g.pungent h.soporific i.desultory j.theatrical 2)Although aware of the hazards of extrapolating a lifestyle from a bone fragment or the reconstruction of a skull, most anthropologists by the nature of their work are inclined to indulge in ____. f.indecision g.pessimism h.reticence i.skepticism j.speculation 7)Like most ____ literature, this movingremembrance of the poets parentsprimarily expresses lamentation fortheir deaths. a.dogmatic b.elegiac c.abstract d.dramatic e.striking 5)Such a solemn, almost ____ tone is not really appropriate for this biography because although its subject experienced many misfortunes, she strongly believed in the value of ____. a.reverentaccuracy b.pompouscatharsis c.lugubriouslevity d.superciliousnessfatalism e.incongruouscandor 8)The validity of her experimentalfindings was so ____ that even themost ____ investigators could notrefrain from extolling her. f.enigmaticofficious g.fallaciouscredulous h.unassailabledisputatious i.inevitableconvivial j.dubiousskeptical 6)The fact that poverty often ____ in highly industrialized areas may indicate that the condition is ____ by industrial progress itself. a.thrivesthwarted b.occursengendered c.arrivesthreatened d.recursalleviated e.languishesencouraged 9) Humor springs from an unexpected and, more specifically, ____ juxtaposition of ideas so that the audience is surprised into laughter. f.unnecessary g.common h.slapstick i.incongruous j.deliberate 7)He has several talents that ____ the possibility of genius; however, no one of them is quite transcendent enough to ____ the possibility. a.precludesurpass b.intimaterealize c.proclaimcondone d.vindicatechallenge e.verifydisprove 10) Much in keeping with its ____ start,the cooperative is doing a thrivingbusiness and is making plans to expandin the near future. f.problematic g.premature h.blemished i.auspicious j.erratic 11) The gaily lit garlands strung across OxfordStreet, the enticing shop windows, thecrowded theatersall of these things ____the ____ of the economic crisis that hascome to haunt the country. f.bespeakseverity g.underlineexistence h.beliegravity i.protestsuperficiality j.malignenormity 17) The review was ____ in recounting the plays felicities and its flaws without undulyemphasizing one or the other. f.equitable g.immoderate h.cumulative i.unproductive j.adulatory 12) The union leader made the ____ statementthat no union member, not even themaintenance crew, would be allowed tocross the picket line. f.discreet g.ambiguous h.fallacious i.obsequious j.categorical 18) Rosita Peru, who rose to become the highest- ranking female in the television industry, was____ recruited: Spanish language program- producers courted her persistently. a.indiscriminately b.enigmatically c.vicariously d.rancorously e.assiduously 13) The researchers were ____ in recordingstories of the towns African Americancommunity during the Depression,preserving even the smallest details. a.obstreperous b.apprehensive c.compensatory d.radicalized e.painstaking 19) Even in her most casual conversation, onedetects the impulse to ____, to impartknowledge systematically to her listener. a.mystify b.instruct c.insinuate d.embellish e.meditate 14) Unlike sedentary people, ____ often feel asense of rootlessness instigated by the verytraveling that defines them. a.athletes b.lobbyists c.itinerants d.dilettantes e.idealists 20) Ms. Turner was an ____ opponent, one whonever swerved from her purpose and wouldnever compromise or yield. a.inexorable b.ambivalent c.eloquent d.impassive e.obstreperous 15) Through a series of ____, Professor J uarez presented a dramatic narrative that portrayed life in the Mayan city. a.conundrums b.vignettes c.dynamics d.factors e.tangents 21) The one-celled organism that was killing fishpopulations was described as ____ because of its ability to transform itself rapidly. a.imaginary b.corrupt c.protean d.extraneous e.plundering16) Not in the least profound, the film ____ a need that most of us occasionally have for ____. a.caters toescapism b.panders toinsight c.satisfiesenlightenment d.forgessentimentality e.ignoresliberation Sentence Completions Difficult #2 1)When proposing long-range goals for science, Symes becomes uncharacteristically _____, a failure he shares with many who are more _____ as critics of existing undertakings than as visionaries of the future. a.subtledevious b.abstractappreciative c.astuteperceptive d.explicitarticulate e.ambiguouslucid 6)Curiously enough, the _____ of theoutcome of the struggle in no way _____its intensity. k.predictabilitycondones l.uncertaintyinvalidates m.ambiguityconfuses n.unimportanceincreases o.inevitabilitymitigates 2)The very _____ of sand in the area made it so _____ that even geologists did not stop to ask how it came to occupy its place in the landscape. k.abundancefamiliar l.appearanceunusual m.structurecomplex n.compositionunnatural o.abrasivenessminute 7)The _____ of governmental power makesit impossible for a potential _____ toknow whom to flatter. f.benignitystatesman g.ambiguitysycophant h.changeabilityrebel i.rigiditymember j.moralitybeliever 8)American courts have changed little in form over the years, but the role they perform has been far from _____. a.simple b.static c.radical d.dynamic e.unimportant 8)Unless the special interests of a biological species demand _____ of its members, it is obviously _____ to spread theindividuals as evenly as possible over theavailable habitat. k.colonizationdemonstrative l.decentralizationconvenient m.minimizationinefficient n.aggregationexpedient o.concentrationineffective 9)For all his familiarity with the peoples of every continent, Landers was the most _____ of historians; he looked out upon the whole world, but he looked through British spectacles. a.shortsighted b.broad-minded c.conservative d.parochial e.introspective 9) The _____ he exhibits in financialdealings is mirrored in his personalrelationships; never have I seen a man so_____ kind words and considerate deeds. k.extravaganceoblivious l.haughtinessgrateful for m.parsimonychary of n.rancorgenerous with o.benevolencecovetous of 10)Although Ms. Martins appraisal of the city councils work is the most perceptive I have seen, it nonetheless contains some _____ features. a.candid b.absorbing c.dubious d.discerning e.tangible 10) Sheila Rowbotham sees her book not asan _____ work, but as the initialexploration of an unmapped field. k.introductory l.investigative m.innovative n.exhaustive o.enlightening 11) It would seem that the _____ of science, thebuilding and making of things, have stirredthe American imagination, but that the ____roots of such activities have not. k.applicationtheoretical l.hypothesespractical m.formulasactual n.offshootsextrinsic o.productsfuture 16) After the initial shock of its _____, thecounterculture movement had, in the end, arejuvenating influence on American culture in general. f.authoritarianism g.iconoclasm h.diversion i.speculation j.inspiration 12) There has been little _____ criticism of de laMare; indeed, that which has been written isat two extremes, either appallingly _____ orbitterly antagonistic. k.hostileambiguous l.recentillogical m.ferventcomplimentary n.objectivesycophantic o.temperatecensorious 17) An illusion is highly _____; like a richlyconnotative word or symbol, it suggests farmore than it says. k.simplistic l.evocative m.descriptive n.imaginary o.persuasive 13) Professor Greenes _____, detailed, and lucidlectures match the gravity of her subject. f.blithe g.studious h.jaundiced i.obscure j.uproarious 18) To refer to the ability to wreak catastrophicdestruction and kill hundreds of thousands ofpeople as nuclear capability is to indulge in_____. a.invective b.didacticism c.hyperbole d.euphemism e.pessimism 14) A stroke of humor at the end is not sufficientto balance the _____ of the piece. f.harmony g.irony h.subtlety i.gravity j.flippancy 19) He claims that life on this planet was theresult of a combination of circumstances so_____ that they could never occur again. a.intense b.impressive c.confined d.improbable e.unimaginable 15) Bees and other social insects have extremelyprecise mechanisms of communication, butthis precision probably _____ their ability tochange their behavior in order to meet newsituations. f.enhances g.increases h.explains i.limits j.interrupts 20) After carefully observing the remarkableresponsiveness of newborn infants to theirenvironment, scientists are revising a long- held belief that infants are primarily _____creatures. a.innocent b.passive c.inquisitive d.timid e.sensitive Sentence Completions Difficult #3 1)The Supreme Courts reversal of its previous ruling on the issue of States rights ____ its reputation for ____. a.sustainedinfallibility b.compromisedconsistency c.bolstereddoggedness d.exacerbatedinflexibility e.dispelledvacillation 6)Over the years his opinions had ____: he refused to tolerate new ideas and nothing could change his mind. p.digressed q.proliferated r.ossified s.germinated t.incubated 2)Because it has always ____ many of lifes pleasures, this sect finds it difficult to ____ its membership in todays hedonistic atmosphere. p.endorsedplacate q.forbiddendeplete r.proscribed toaugment s.denouncedalienate t.condonedsupplement 7)As the first ____ in her political campaign, the senator unleashed a spirited verbal attack on her leading opponent. k.salvo l.palliative m.concession n.demurral o.inaugural 11)Because he felt intimidated in his new position, he was ____ divulging his frank opinions of company proposals. a.scurrilous about b.candid in c.chary of d.fervid about e.precipitate in 8)A long-standing theory about the migration of green turtles was ____ by an innovative marine biologist who graciously defused potential ____ by dedicating her work to the original researcher. p.instigatedrancor q.renouncedapproval r.displacedattribution s.enhancedalteration t.repudiatedacrimony 12)Most people will struggle mightily to stop change, or at least to ____ its effects on them. a.enhance b.initiate c.distort d.defend e.mitigate 9)Mavis described the recently publishedtreatise as inane, insipid, and ____; justanother affirmation of the obvious. p.banal q.baleful r.inspired s.successful t.profound 13)A lifelong foe of deceit, he has spent nearly four decades ____ the claims of spurious psychics and alerting parapsychological researchers to the dangers of ____. a.construingintolerance b.distortingspirituality c.inflatingmethodology d.debunkingcredulity e.reprovingrationalism 10)The sound advice given by the eleventh- century medical scholar Trotula in herwritings on womens health ____ some of our assumptions about the inadequacy ofmedieval medicine.p.belies q.bypasses r.elucidates s.compounds t.camouflages a.The mans colleagues characterized him as ____ because he had an irritable, quarrelsome disposition. a.tyrannical b.disingenuous c.sanctimonious d.cantankerous e.morose16) The actor was noted for his ____ behavior: he quickly became irritated if his every whimwas not immediately satisfied. k.fastidious l.petulant m.vindictive n.sedulous o.mercenary 12) Horror movies have ____ effect, purging our fears of the unknown by giving them artistic expression. p.an indiscernible q.an analogous r.a malleable s.a transient t.a cathartic 17) A judicious biography must be a(n) ____representation that depicts both the strengthsand weaknesses of the subject, avoiding thetwo extremes of ____ and indictment. p.polarizedvindication q.imaginativediscernment r.holisticcensure s.complimentaryanimosity t.equitableeulogy 13) Inbreeding can promote the expression of____ genes, those that make an animal subject to disease or impair reproductive efficiency. k.ineffable l.articulated m.consummate n.presumptive o.deleterious 18) Hayley Millss films have been called ____although most of them are not so sentimentalas to deserve that description. a.treaclyb.cursory c.prosaic d.meticulous e.consecrated 14) A scientist should not automatically rejectfolkways that might at first seem silly orsuperstitious; scientific qualifications are nota license for ____, nor do they ____ prejudice or bias. k.experimentationeliminate l.arrogancepursue m.smugnesslegitimate n.rigidityconsole o.humilityadvocate 15) The journalists polished, direct and concisetestimony for the defendant had the samecharacteristics as her ____ writing. k.elegant l.extravagant m.rambling n.enthusiastic o.casual

Sentence Completions Difficult #4 1)More ____ than her predecessor, Superintendent Reynolds would, many predicted, have a far less ____ term of office. a.phlegmaticapathetic b.conciliatoryconfrontational c.emphaticcompassionate d.vigilantreputable e.penuriousfrugal 7)According to the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, only philosophy can provide ____ understanding because it ____ assumptions that other areas of study merely take for granted. u.faultyprobes v.reliableconcedes w.genuinescrutinizes x.abstractlauds y.veileddivulges 2)Rodolfo Gonzales was once described as ____ in body and mind because of the flexibility and grace apparent in both his boxing and his writing of poetry and plays. u.unyielding v.tremulous w.emphatic x.lithe y.fickle 11)Sixteenth-century Spanish rulers saw themselves as champions of ____: trifling with tradition was not permitted in matters of faith or politics. p.refinement q.philanthropy r.orthodoxy s.licentiousness t.versatility 14)Galloping technological progress has made consumers ____: advances undreamed of a generation ago are so common that they seem humdrum. a.flabbergasted b.miffed c.jaded d.wary e.embittered 12)So felicitous was Gregory Rabassas translation of Gabriel Marquezs book that Marquez, who greatly valued ____ expression, is said to have ____ it to his original. u.aptpreferred v.exoticshifted w.inelegantcompared x.exactrelegated y.impreciseadded 15)The collection of animals in the laboratory was a virtual ____ that included sea urchins, mice, dogs, monkeys, and chimpanzees. a.milieu b.sanctuary c.arboretum d.cavalcade e.menagerie 13)The debate over adopting the constitution was by no means a ____ discourse; tempers flared and ____ resounded throughout the meeting hall. u.peacefulaccommodations v.contentiousinsults w.tenseopinions x.decorousinvectives y.genteelanecdotes 16)Geraldine was famous for her ____ explanations, which summarized complex procedures in remarkably few, yet precise words. a.rhetorical b.brash c.perpetual d.verbose e.succinct14)The psychiatrist was helpful to her patient; her ____ served as ____ to his anxiety and alleviated his depression.u.tranquilitya catalyst v.irascibilitya remedy w.serenitya spur x.equanimityan antidote y.excitabilityan accompaniment a.By selling information to a rival company, Thompson was unquestionably guilty of ____ behavior. a.venal b.extemporaneous c.futile d.prodigious e.oppressive16) Generally ____ the opportunity to join thegentry and live the aristocratic life, the British scientists of this period brought to theirlaboratories a devotion to their calling akin inits intensity to ____ asceticism. p.pursuingmedieval q.exploitingorthodox r.eschewingmonastic s.covetingintellectual t.flauntinghypocritical 12) The sociologist charged that United Statescitizens, ____ to acknowledge the limitationsinherent in the human condition, see absolutehappiness and self-fulfillment not asunattainable ideals, but as ____. u.aviddelusions v.condemnedinevitabilities w.compelledperquisites x.loathentitlements y.clamoringretributions 17) Modern writers, ____ to drape reality withpretty phrases, show us everything, putrid and pure, with a grim ____. u.aspiringausterity v.hesitatingdiscretion w.disdainingobjectivity x.purportingomniscience y.endeavoringnaturalism 13) It was difficult to understand the scandal: theshow was extremely ____ and not in the leastsuggestive. p.immoral q.flagrant r.inadvertent s.decorous t.rebellious 18) Only when one approaches ____ ofavailability of personnel, funds, or facilitiesdoes one have to consider seriously ____among research programs. a.an understandingdisharmony b.an overabundanceinadequacies c.a discoverydevelopments d.a disparityrivalries e.a ceilingpriorities 14) Strangers often mistook his ____ for a lack of ____; his friends however, understood that hewas simply not interested in justifying hisconvictions to people ignorant of hisparticular circumstances. p.diffidenceself-confidence q.tolerancepatience r.aggressivenessideas s.compassionfeeling t.belligerenceself-assertion 15) The speaker, praised for her style, yetridiculed for her vacuity, often moved navelisteners with ____ alone and led them tobelieve that her speech had ____. p.reasondalliance q.infelicityconviction r.rhetoricsubstance s.pragmatismfutility t.boorishnessintegrity