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He had a reputation of being _______________ as a young man, but he became a serene presence in his twilight years.
The sentence contrasts the man's "serence presence" as he aged, with his younger reputation. The correct answer will mean the opposite of "serene." "Zany," meaning crazy or wacky, is the best choice among the answers.
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The general only adopted unusual methods when it became clear _____________ strategies would not work.
The sentence explicitly contrasts the missing word with the general's "unusual methods." The correct answer will effectively mean usual. "Conventional," meaning common or customary, is the correct answer.
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Campfire cooking provided a ______________ experience none of the hikers would soon forget.
The key word in the sentence is "cooking." The correct answer will be a word relating to cooking or eating. "Gustatory," meaning concerned with the sense of taste, is the correct answer.
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Thanks to his _______________ spending habits, he had saved quite a bit of money over the years.
The sentence connects the subject's "spending habits" to his ability to save. The correct answer needs to indicate the man's spending habits were wise and careful enough to save money. "Judicious," meaning reasonable and smart in judgment, is the best choice.
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More than anything else, the ability to make more money through bonuses as a salesman was _________________ in his decision to decline a promotion.
The key phrase in the sentence is "more than anything else." The correct answer will stress the role the bonuses played in the decision. "Pivotal," meaning of central importance, is the best choice.
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The legend states he was so ______________ he once got stuck in a bathtub.
To get "stuck in a bathtub" requires a person to be quite large. The correct answer needs to mean sizable or big. "Corpulent," meaning grossly fat or overweight, is the best fit.
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The motivational speech was an underwhelming recitation of ________________ cliches and lame jokes.
The sentence calls the speech "underwhelming," and pairs the missing word with "lame." The correct answer will further the disappointing nature of the speech. "Hackneyed," meaning common and overused, is the best choice.
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Her _______________ manner was surprising, as her parents hardly ever spoke.
The sentence calls the subject's manner "surprising" in light of her parent's quiet demeanor. The correct answer must stand against her parents' never speaking. "Loquacious," meaning very talkative, is the best choice.
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His ______________ approach to the sport soon was copied by competitors and quickly became the standard method.
The approach to the sport "became the standard method" only after being "copied by competitors." This implies it was not the standard method at first, and the correct answer will reflect this. "Novel," meaning new and innovative, is the best choice.
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The investor remained ____________ throughout the meeting, revealing none of his thinking.
The investor revealed "none of his thinking" in the meeting, indicating he said almost nothing. The correct answer will mean extremely quiet, which is the definition of "taciturn."
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Both sides agreed the controversy needed a(n) _________________ party to help resolve the conflict.
The party described by the missing word is attempting to resolve the "controversy." The correct answer needs to reflect a person who could work with both sides. "Disinterested," meaning unbiased or neutral, is the best answer choice.
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She was ________________ enough to claim that she was not at a party, but she was caught on a surveillance camera.
To claim she was not where "she was caught on a surveillance camera," indicates that she was less than honest. The correct answer should mean prone to lying or deception, the definition of "mendacious."
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The film's ___________________ humor was looked down on by intellectual critics.
The film is "looked down on by the intellectual critics," meaning the humor is unappealing to intellectuals. The correct answer needs to mean the opposite of "intellectual." "Sophomoric," meaning juvenile or conceited, is the best fit.
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The _________________ city councilman was an easy target for underworld bribery.
The city councilman is "an easy target" for bribery. The correct answer needs to mean corruptible or able to be bribed, the definition of "venal."
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The book was highly derivative, with a ___________________ plotline.
The plotline for a "highly derivative" book will be old and common, and the correct answer should illuminate this. "Cliché," meaning an overused and unoriginal phrase or idea, is the best choice.
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Standing in the presence of his idol, he quickly became _____________ and unable to speak.
The inability to speak "in the presence of his idol," indicates the subject was bothered and agitated, and the correct answer will reflect this. "Flustered," meaning worked up or problematically excited, is the best choice.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Many people criticized the mayor’s decision to ban sugary drinks. However, a small group __________ his efforts to intertwine public health and public policy.
The sentence makes a contrast between those who “criticized” the mayor’s decision and the way others responded. The adjective in the blank describes how this other “small group” reacted. "Lauded" means praised, which is the antonym of "criticized," and thus best completes the sentence.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She was infuriated by her classmates’ _________; she wanted to do something to fix the problems that everyone else seemed to accept as inevitable.
“Quiescence” means complacency or passive acceptance, which is the only answer choice that would infuriate someone with a desire to act.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although Todd tends to be ___________, he used a conversation partner to help him learn French.
“Autodidactic” describes someone who learns on his own and teaches himself. The first phrase starting with “although” indicates that the word in the blank must be incompatible with using a conversation partner.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Unlike Chuck, whom most would describe as extremely __________, Bill rarely said an unnecessary word.
Chuck is set up to be the opposite of Bill, who is quiet, so Chuck must be talkative. "Loquacious" means talkative, so it is the answer.
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