VR_FIB_4
Question 1
Explanation The clue for the blank is “conveyed the message calmly and without to-do.” There is also the changing –direction trigger “although.” Together the clue and trigger tell you that what goes in the blank is opposite of calmness. A good word for the blank might be serious. (A) doesn’t match, nor does (B). You can’t cross out (C) if you don’t know what puerile means. (D) doesn’t work, but (E) does. You’re down to (C) and (E). When one answer choice has word you don’t know and other works, go with what works. Pick (E). The best answer is, indeed, (E).
Vocabulary Correct
Choice Facetious: Humorous Impartial: Disinterested Puerile: Jejune, Juvenile, Callow, Immature Uncommunicative: Reticent, Taciturn
X
Dire: Terrible, Dreadful
Question 2
Explanation The clue for this blank is really everything before the colon - which, don’t forget, is a same-direction trigger. That means what goes in the blank should agree with “not for its realism, but rather for its direction of reality.” A good word for the blank, then, is distortion. Does (A) match distortion? No. What about (B)? No. (C) works, but (D) and (E) don’t . The best answer is (C). This question is a great example of why not to rush. If you don’t stop to find the clue, then (A) becomes an attractive choice.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice A mockery: Burlesque, Charade, Parody A personification: Incarnation
X
A caricature: Imitation A sublimation: Change An allegory: Fable, Parable, A moral story
Question 3
Explanation Use the trigger though to complete the first blank. The word for blank (i) must mean something different from warm and easy going which eliminates affable. Since the second part of the sentence indicates that Bernie’s qualities are positive, she cannot be cantankerous, so unyielding is the best choice for blank (i). Blank (ii) must be positive quality, so recalcitrance is out. Benevolence is a near synonym for the phrase generous nature, so they would not be used in combination. Tenacity is a quality that an unyielding person would have, and is thus the best choice for the blank (ii).
Vocabulary Correct
Choice Affable: Friendly, Genial Recalcitrance: Stubborn, Refractory
X
Unyielding: Not giving in, Stubborn Benevolence: Large hearted, Magnanimous Cantankerous: Irritable
X
Tenacity: Perseverance, Doggedness
Question 4
Explanation The film contains many references to Canada, including Toronto landmarks and t-shirts for a Canadian coffee shop and a Canadian indie-rock band. From those clues, you know the second blank is a word like unapologetically or clearly. Eliminate obscurely .Cinematically is a trap answer because it refers to a film, but the film is not cinematically Canadian. The items mentioned are all things that are truly in favor of Canadians, and therefore unreservedly is the best answer. You know the first blank is a positive word such as tribute or ode. Paean is a song of praise and is the closest match and correct choice .The other two choices do not pertain to tribute.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice Breach: Violate, Disregard
X
Unreservedly: Without doubt Dearth: Lack of, Paucity, Scarcity Obscurely: Unclear, Cloudy, Nebulous
X
Paean: Praise for recently dead, Panegyric Cinematically: Filmic
Question 5
Explanation The passage begins by describing both sides of debate, indicating that there is significant disagreement on the issue. Since the two sides disagree, they cannot be in accord. Disagreement doesn’t necessarily involve anger, so ire doesn’t work here either. The debate does seem to be gaining in importance, or prominence. Blank (ii) must describe a negative type of power, and autocratic is the only negative choice in this column. Blank (iii) must mean something that would make is difficult to conduct studies. If the school districts are reluctant or loathe experimenting, that would make it difficult to conduct studies.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice Accord: Agree
X
Autocratic: Dictatorial, Bossy Eager: Enthusiastic Ire: Anger, Wrath Whimsical: Fanciful, Capricious Wanton: Unrestrained
X
Prominence: Importance Titanic: Colossal, Huge, Prodigious
X
Loathe: Hate, Detest
Question 6
Explanation Use the trigger at the beginning of the first sentence to determine the meaning of the first blank. The word that fits in this blank must make the first part of the sentence disagree with the idea that the word was brought into usage by Capek; if the concept is often attributed to Asimov, then it isn’t widely accredited to Capek. Likewise, the trigger but can help us figure out the second blank. The creatures must not look artificial, so they may look nearly identical to humans. Use the clue in the last sentence to determine that the third blank must mean something like horror; scourges are sources of affliction or calamity, so that’s the answer choice most like horror.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice Proposed: Suggested
X
Identical: Similar Nuisance: Bother, Annoyance
X
Attributed: Assigned, Imputed, Ascribed Amenable: Willing to comply, Conformable Actualities: Existing, Being Queried: Question Comely: Pleasing to eye, (b) Decorous
X
Scourges: Causing misery, Curse
Question 7
Explanation The blank describes the goal of charitable appeals, so charitably or generously would make sense. Both perniciously and nefariously are nearly the opposite of what you’re looking for, so eliminate choices (D) and (E). Choices (B) and (C) give roughly synonymous meaning, but there’s no clear connection between discretion and generosity. Both magnanimously and benevolently can mean charitably, so choices (A) and (F) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice
X
Magnanimously: Benevolently, Large-hearted Quietly: Softly Discreetly: Wise self-restraint Perniciously: Harmful, Deleterious, Insidious Nefariously: Extremely wicked
X
Benevolently: Magnanimously
Question 8
Explanation The clue goes along with the group and changed his opinion to complement those around him signals he is flexible to a fault and it irritates his friends. The best answers are choices (C) and (D), which most closely mean flexible and easily lead and produce equivalent, appropriate sentences. Incorrect choices (A) and (D) both could mean loudly crying out, and incorrect choices (B) and (F) are synonyms that go in the opposite direction of missing word.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice Vociferous: Strident, Loud and clamorous Indelible: Lasting, Can’t be removed
X
Malleable: Easily influenced, Ductile
X
Tractable: Amenable, Malleable Strident: Vociferous Immutable: Unchangeable
Question 9
Explanation The clue in this sentence is boasted, which implies that the opposing team was conceited, which would have been a good guess for the blank. Haughty and arrogant both mean the same thing. Choice (E) is the opposite definition you were looking for. Choices (A) and (B) are traps, if you didn’t catch the clue - you might think that because they were winning, the other players were fortunate or vigorous (strong), but that’s not the definition you should have been looking for. Choice (D) describes how the losing players are feeling.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice Fortunate: Lucky Vigorous: Energetic, Robust
X
Haughty: Arrogant, Hubris Incensed: Outraged, Angered Humble: Modest
X
Arrogant: Haughty, Rude
Question 10
Explanation The trigger in this sentence is rather than, and the clues are quiet boardroom and exhibiting outrage. You should fill in your own word based on the meaning you need, such as apathetic. Choices (A) and (D) look quite similar but they are opposite in meaning. Impassive means without emotion and impassioned means excited. Choice (A) looks good, so you should find an answer that means the same thing. Stoic fits the bill. The rest of the answer choices, with the exception of (F), are traps. Fetid means stinky, histrionic means overly emotional and empathetic contains the root path, but doesn’t have the meaning you’re looking for.
Vocabulary Correct
Choice
X
Impassive: Without passion Histrionic: Excessive emotion, Melodrama
X
Stoic: Stolid, Unemotional Impassioned: Passionate Empathetic: Showing empathy Fetid: Stink, Stench, Bad smell