Sentence Completion with Explanations

1. The teams manager, Eric Gorton has ____________ Nick Fenand in his squad for next month's qualifying match
against Liechtenstein despite doubts ____________ the players fitness.
A. included .about
B. hospitalized by
C. joined on
D. removed. over
E. replaced concerning
The best answer is A. Doubts by, on or over are not idiomatic expressions. The teams manager has done something
despite doubts about the players fitness so it is logical that he included the player in his squad.
2. The Anasazi, a civilization that arose as early as 1500 BC, occupied the region now __________ as the Four
Corners, where Utah Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet, for centuries.
A. invoked
B. known
C. labeled
D. denoted
E. assumed
The best answer is B. Choices A, C, D and E cannot precede the preposition as.
3. Over the ___________, different New York neighborhoods have played ___________ to the cutting edge:
Greenwich Village in the 1950s, SoHo in the 1970s, the Lower East Side in the 1980s.
A. decades host
B. centuries guest
C. time games
D. moments along
E. way coy
The best answer is A. Host, games, along and coy can logically follow played, but not guest. It is idiomatic to say
over time, not over the time. Moments does not fit with the broad time span indicated in the rest of the sentence.
Way is illogical.
4. A groundbreaking exhibition is showcasing Iraq's rich roots in Mesopotamia, the region between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers that gave __________to the world's first urban civilization some 5,000 years ago.
A. support
B. water
C. floods
D. birth
E. itself
The best answer is D. Gave birth is idiomatic. It ties in with the mention of roots and the worlds first urban
civilization.
5. Originally, the project was planned to take at least 15 years, but effective resource and technological advances
have ________ the teams progress.
A. energized
B. postponed

C. accelerated
D. deferred
E. reduced
The best answer is C. The word but indicates that the project will not take as long planned, therefore, it is logical
that it was accelerated.
6. When mortals died, whether noble or __________, they joined Re on his nocturnal journey through the
underworld; __________ at dawn immortal, if all went well.
A. ordinary occurred
B. common emerging
C. maudlin appeared
D. impoverished woke
E. domestic summoned
The best answer is B. Common presents a contrast to noble. Emerging is in line with a journey through the
underworld.
7. Toward the end of the 13th century, some __________ event forced the Anasazi to __________ their houses and
homeland and to move south and east toward the Rio Grande and the Little Colorado River.
A. seismic shift
B. cataclysmic flee
C. unfortunate desert
D. disastrous move
E. calamitous revisit
The best answer is B. Unfortunate is too weak a word to describe such an event. Cataclysmic is apt. In choices D
and E, move and revisit do not fit with the last clause of the sentence. A house and homeland cannot shift.
8. Those __________ ancestors doubtless found sticks helpful for pointing out a direction, tracing a diagram in the
dirt or __________ up a slab of useful flint.
A. decrepit fixing
B. faulty picking
C. distant prying
D. olden raise
E. aged keeping
The best answer is C. Choices A and E make the ancestors sound as though they were still alive. There is no reason
for the ancestors to be considered faulty. The second blank must be filled with a gerund (-ing form).
9. Tony Benito and his sister, Margarita Benito, face 15-month jail terms in Britain on ________ of court charges
after they __________ to appear in court to testify about the family's assets.
A. contempt failed
B. misconduct refused
C. rudeness agreed
D. love promised
E. scorn swore
The best answer is A. The expression contempt of court is idiomatic. It is logical that they would be in contempt if
they failed to appear.

10. Despite __________ printed in newspapers and broadcast over the internet and on television, Americans
__________ to lose millions to internet con artists.
A. predictions persevere
B. warnings. continue
C. encouragement proceed
D. cautions persist
E. signals incur
The best answer is B. The word despite signals that there is a contradiction in the two parts of the sentence which
rules out C. Continue to is idiomatic, whereas persevere, persist and incur cannot be followed by to.
11. Federal data show that the number of citizens receiving welfare __________ again last year even though an
economic slowdown pushed more people into __________.
A. rescinded beggary
B. reduced affluence
C. jumped subservience
D. tripled pauperism
E. declined poverty
The best answer is E. Even though signals that there is a contrast from one part of the sentence to another. Choice E
provides for the appropriate contrast. An economic slowdown cannot push people into affluence or subservience.
12. Georgia's teachers received the third largest salary hike in the country last year but still did not move up in
national __________.
A. competition
B. readings
C. ranting
D. ratings
E. rankings
The best answer is E. There is no national competition for salaries. Choice B and C are irrelevant. Ratings are
usually applied to a subjective quality, not a fact.
13. Despite signs of a truce, the countrys dilemma remains, should they let the north country remain __________
or should they __________ it.
A. autonomous... conquer
B. free self-governing
C. independent separated
D. quelled annexed
E. subordinate subservient
The best answer is A. The word or in the sentence signals that what is on either side of the word must be different
options. Only A presents two different options.
14. As the last __________ slice of Atlantic coastal plain bordering the continent's vast equatorial rain forests, the
region, known as the Gamba Complex, is a biologically __________ mosaic of forests, savannas, lagoons, lakes
and beaches that, until recently, was virtually unknown to science.
A. underdeveloped luxuriant
B. uncharted broken
C. examined plentiful
D. undeveloped rich

E. explored abounding
The best answer is D. Choices C and E are unidiomatic following last. Broken mosaic is illogical as a description of
forests etc.
15. Mr. Miller has expressed his hope that the project can __________ support for conserving the Silverson
Wildlife Complex.
A. raise
B. rally
C. mount
D. foster
E. booster
The best answer is B. To rally support is an idiomatic expression.
16. The term conservationist had been defined by some as a person who believes that the natural world is endlessly
__________ and beautiful, and therefore as much of it as possible should be __________.
A. irrational preserved
B. abhorrent salvaged
C. fascinating saved
D. exhilarative promoted
E. appealing distinguished
The best answer is C. Because the blank appears before and beautiful, one can expect it to be filled with something
positive. The and therefore indicates that the second blank should also be positive. Only C, D and E have two
positive choices, and of them only C contains two words that are appropriate to describe the natural world.
17. __________ temporary power lines and data cables, huddled around laptops and editing equipment, journalists
and technicians were __________ out news to many outposts.
A. Among burning
B. Although turning
C. Using tossing
D. Despite writing
E. Amid churning
The best answer is E. Although and despite must precede clauses, not noun phrases. Amid and among are both
reasonable choices. Churning out, however, is idiomatic while burning out, is not.
18. The country is a regional __________, an absolute but highly dynamic monarchy that has created an economic
__________ out of little more than vision, geography and will.
A. anomaly powerhouse
B. synchronicity giant
C. incongruity dwarf
D. paradox dependency
E. discrepancy power
The best answer is A. Synchronicity and discrepancy have to relate to two or more things (i.e. a discrepancy
between x and y). That is not the case here. Out of little more indicates that something was made out of next to
nothing, which is only remarkable if what was created was positive, such as an economic powerhouse.

19. Rugby is still largely an __________ sport in Georgia, but in its traditional __________ of England, France,
New Zealand, Australia and South Africa it has, since turning professional in 1995, become a multi-billion-dollar
industry.
A. voluntary home
B. master vicinity
C. impermeable
D. failed locality
E. amateur bastions
The best answer is E. The word amateur is a logical choice after but since turning professional. Bastion is an
appropriate word to describe where the sport is traditionally played.
20. In addition to huge gas __________, the Caspian sea may hold as much as 200 billion barrels of oil, reserves
second only to those of the Persian Gulf.
A. tanks
B. quotas
C. canisters
D. supplies
E. deposits
The best answer is E. A sea can only hold deposits, not any of the other options.
21. Union leaders __________ bosses of allowing paramilitaries access to the plants to __________ graffiti on the
walls and intimidate workers.
A. convicted inscribe
B. accused scrawl
C. blamed etch
D. incriminated write
E. denoted scribble
The best answer is B. Only accuse and convicted can be followed by of . Inscribe has a positive connotation which
is inappropriate.
22. Very quickly the native Californians were overwhelmed by people of all __________, coming from all
__________ -- by wagon train from Council Bluffs, Iowa, by horseback from ranchos to the south, by ship from
China.
A. destinations vehicles
B. nationalities countries
C. upbringings interests
D. backgrounds directions
E. denominations sectors
The best answer is D. It is incorrect to use of with destinations. Nationalities is incorrect because only one
nationality is mentioned. Of choices C, D and E, directions makes the most sense in light of what follows.
23. Airspan Airlines long and __________ search for a partner finally __________ last week when the bankrupt
Dutch airline agreed to merge with Airlex.
A. arduous ended
B. extended concluded
C. joyous consigned
D. fortuitous stopped

E. laborious proceeded
The best answer is A. Since the first blank comes after long and we can assume it will be something that will not
be a contradiction. This rules out joyous and fortuitous. The second blank follows finally. It is logical that the search
ended, and the information is given in the last part of the sentence.
24. Thought the negotiators are trying to finalize a less expensive __________ benefit plan, they are considering
charging __________ people higher premiums.
A. health wealthy
B. wealth distinguished
C. safety prosperous
D. payoff abundant
E. fitness cognitive
The best answer is A. Health benefit plan is the only expression which is idiomatic and logical. Only wealthy makes
logical sense.
25. Cablewise Systems officially rolled out its national high-definition satellite service, Boom, in a bet that the
cable operator can __________ into a burgeoning segment of the television-viewing community that is expected to
__________ high-definition television sets.
A. turn reserve
B. dredge abuse
C. float borrow
D. tap own
E. pierce dictate
The best answer is D. Tap into is idiomatic and makes sense in the context of the sentence. While borrow and
reserve are possible grammatically, own makes the most sense.
26. Looking to expand its foothold overseas, CSC has purchased a majority stake in Germany's leading television
news agency, giving the U.S. broadcaster __________ of a leading channel in the German television __________.
A. control market
B. part emporium
C. desperation consortium
D. domination space
E. power fringe
The best answer is A. The term giving control can be followed by of whereas desperation, domination and power
cannot. While the word emporium means about the same as market, it is not used in this sort of figurative context.
27. More than 80 schools have been __________, with similar rehabilitation works in progress or in the final stages
of __________.
A. achieved configuration
B. jointed formulation
C. ended sponsorship
D. finished reproduction
E. completed planning
The best answer is E. A school can be finished or completed, but not achieved, jointed or ended. In the final stages
of planning is more logical and is idiomatic.

28. People and rhinoceroses prefer similar habitat but don't mix very well, which is one reason rhinoceroses have
almost __________ from the earth.
A. vanished
B. extinguished
C. flourished
D. stumbled
E. abdicated
The best answer is A. Choice B and E cannot be applied to an animal. Choice C and D cannot be followed by from
the earth.
29. Scientists have __________ a bright purple, bloated frog in southern India that is so unique it merits the
establishment of not only a new __________ but also a new family.
A. uncovered topic
B. alleviated genus
C. discovered species
D. disseminated disturbance
E. distinguished categorization
The best answer is C. A frog cannot be alleviated or disseminated. Species logically completes not only ____, but
also a new family.
30. Most heart attacks occur when a blood clot __________ off one of the coronary arteries that __________ blood
to the heart muscle itself.
A. blocks fosters
B. stops pumps
C. halts supplies
D. closes feed
E. obstructs presages
The best answer is D. Closes off is idiomatic. One can feed, pump or supply blood to the heart, but not foster or
presage.
31. In this era of managed nursing care, Smith continues to __________ a kind of medicine that most people
assume nearly vanished, bringing to their rounds tenderness and profound __________.
A. participate caring
B. condone abhorrence
C. disparage suability
D. practice competence
E. engage antipathy
The best answer is D. To practice medicine is idiomatic. The second blank must be a positive item.
32. Psychiatrists, medical doctors and __________ have used hypnosis for more than two centuries to treat
__________ and illness.
A. therapists bliss
B. psychologists pain
C. catalysts suffering
D. physicians discomfort
E. physicists torment

The best answer is B. Physicians is redundant. Catalysts and physicists are illogical choices. Bliss is an illogical
choice for the second blank.
33. In each __________, scanners detected increased blood __________ in relevant parts of the brains of
hypnotized subjects who were put through color and pain tests.
A. case flow
B. instance stain
C. place powder
D. position current
E. testament stream
The best answer is A. Only choice A and B are logical for the first blank. Blood stain is does not make sense after
the word increased.
34. __________ to the "science" of phrenology, an individual's character and abilities could be deduced from the
size and __________ of various bumps on the head.
A. Corresponding tension
B. Based texture
C. Supposing hardness
D. According shape
E. Configured form
The best answer is D. Based and According are the only logical choices for the first blank, but Based cannot be
followed by to. Also, while any of the choice could feasibly fit in the second blank, size and shape is an idiomatic
expression.
35. The world's most prolific aircraft builder's commercial __________ is struggling in the worst aviation downturn
in history and has __________ off 35,560 of its 93,000 workers since 1999.
A. sector paid
B. part sent
C. division laid
D. ward bought
E. department caught
The best answer is C. Ward is used to refer to part of a hospitcal. Part is too general. A business does not have
sectors. Since there has been a downturn, it is logical that the workers have been laid off.
36. Since he had __________ over the company from his father only a year before, he blamed himself for
destroying a business relationship his father spent seventeen years __________ .
A. presided cultivating
B. hovered developing
C. ruled crushing
D. relinquished taking
E. taken building
The best answer is E. While presided, hovered and ruled are all suitable before over, only taken over makes sense
coming before from his father.
37. Savvy leaders know that there is no single map for __________ leadership; the rules change depending on
whom you are guiding and the __________ around you.
A. altruistic contradictions

B. effective conditions
C. successful natives
D. abysmal situation
E. topical criteria
The best answer is B. Because the sentence starts with Savvy leaders, the first blank must be something positive, as
in choices A, B and C. Of the three, conditions is the most logical choice.
38. A voluntary school drug-testing __________ proposed by the mayor and school superintendent __________
make this crime-plagued city the first to experiment with this approach.
A. test should
B. program would
C. study can
D. class will
E. investigation ought to
The best answer is B. Because the drug-testing is just proposed, i.e. only a possibility, the second blank should be
filled with would.
39. __________ we bought equipment at the end of last year but weren't billed until 2003, we had to include it on
this year's books.
A. Because
B. Despite
C. So
D. Whereas
E. After
The best answer is A. Only choice A is grammatical and creates a logical connection between the two parts of the
sentence.
40. For the first time in 38 years, Essex Packaging has __________ an unprofitable quarter.
A. understood
B. managed
C. handled
D. experienced
E. related
The best answer is D. Semantically, the word experienced is the most logical choice.
41. The proposed random testing plan has brought a debate to Virginia that was already __________ in national
political __________ .
A. intense opinions
B. flouncing rings
C. floundering groups
D. talking parties
E. raging circles
The best answer is E. A debate can be said to be raging, but not flouncing, floundering or talking. Political circles is
idiomatic. Choice A is incorrect because a debate cannot be intense in a political opinion.
42. The governor has shied from taking a position on the issue, but the Civil Liberties Union said it would actively
__________ any program that forced inmates to sign the __________ .

A. support interface
B. challenge document
C. reflect text
D. sustain certification
E. revere petition
The best answer is B. The word but makes it clear that what the Union does is different from what the governor has
done. Support and challenge are both suitable options, however, one does not sign an interface.
43. Scanners have long been neglected by the designers of the PC world __________ boxes that take up far too
__________ space on the desktop.
A. sleek many
B. ornamental little
C. clumsy few
D. clunky much
E. blusterous numerous
The best answer is D. Since designers have neglected scanners, one expects them to be described in negative term,
such as clumsy or clunky. Of the possibilities for the second blank, only little and much are grammatical suitable
with a non-countable noun such as space.
44. The plan is proving popular, if __________ , in New Bedford, where it was originally suggested to Kramer at a
__________ of faith-based organizations earlier this month.
A. trendy assembly
B. widespread opportunity
C. controversial forum
D. cumbersome dispersal
E. prevalent summit
The best answer is C. Because of the word if, the first blank must contrast with popular. Controversial and
cumbersome provide a suitable contrast. Dispersal is illogical.
45. Miller unveiled his __________ research plan to the committee last Tuesday; he expects to have a final plan
ready for a __________ by January.
A. preliminary vote
B. luminous printing
C. concluding decision
D. definitive judgment
E. ultimateverdict
The best answer is A. Preliminary research plan is logical since it contrasts logically with the final plan.
46. Had the attempt to increase sales succeeded, Fox would have had __________ to believe the Forester Plan
could set similar __________ .
A. cause tables
B. foundation traditions
C. underpinning tribunals
D. reason records
E. keystone verifications

The best answer is D. Cause and reason fit in the first blank, but reason to believe is an idiomatic expression.
Similarly, to set records is idiomatic.
47. The joint government web site was specially created to educate small firms __________ their wage and
__________ reporting responsibilities.
A. about tax
B. on refund
C. concerning salary
D. apropos earnings
E. in income
The best answer is A. To educate someone about something is idiomatic. Since the second blank comes after wage
and the blank will most likely be filled with something similar to wages. Salary and earnings, however, mean the
same thing as wage, and are therefore illogical choices.
48. A solid __________ of Americans say they want Congress to legalize the importation of lower-priced medicines
from Canada and Europe, and would be willing to pay higher taxes to provide prescription drug benefits to
__________ citizens.
A. minority decrepit
B. faction old
C. majority senior
D. lobby elderly
E. fifty percent superfluous
The best answer is C. The first blank comes after the adjective solid. It would be unusual to use solid to describe a
minority, faction or lobby. Old and elderly make sense, but only senior citizens is idiomatic.
49. On April 15, Sangers International, a __________ mainstay here for 112 years, told its 300 employees to stop
work mid-shift because it was __________ down.
A. factious closing
B. manufacturing shutting
C. economic slogging
D. economical traipsing
E. mechanized pulling
The best answer is B. Only closing down and shutting down are idiomatic and logical. Factious does not make sense
in the context of the sentence.
50. In talks on this trip, the prime minister has tried, without much __________ , to persuade foreign leaders to stop
weakening their __________ against the dollar.
A. gratification money
B. accomplishment billfolds
C. accompaniment exchange
D. voracity tender
E. success currencies
The best answer is E. The first blank, which appears in a parenthetical expression, logically qualifies the expression
the minister has tried. Currencies is the only choice which can logically be compared to the dollar.
51. A week-long investigation began yesterday in Florida, with __________ speculation on the cause of the crash
centering on damage to the planes right wing.

A. final
B. momentary
C. initial
D. middling
E. definitive
The best answer is C. Since it is the first day of an investigation that is scheduled to last a week, it makes sense that
the speculation was called initial.
52. __________ its high concentration of family-owned manufacturing firms, dating back to the late 1800s,
Blendens Furniture is accustomed to the ups and downs of the business __________ .
A. Having phase
B. With cycle
C. Due to rotation
D. Owning sequence
E. Overseeing disarray
The best answer is B. Having and owning at the beginning of a sentence cannot precede its. For the second blank,
cycle is the best choice for something described as having ups and downs.
53. Last week, Texitron, an American firm with factories in 40 countries, __________ it was closing two more
plants, __________ the number of Texitron jobs lost to 1,030 this year.
A. determined setting
B. decided deranging
C. proclaimed putting
D. announced bringing
E. alerted raising
The best answer is D. Choice B, C and D can fit in the first blank. However, only bringing the number to is
idiomatic.
54. In true entrepreneurial style, Kelly has turned the popular book into a __________ global business of books,
games, and videos that teach the __________ of financial freedom that he used to build his fortune.
A. flourishing whim
B. starving tenet
C. skulking dogma
D. thriving principles
E. pedestrian ideas
The best answer is D. Since it was done in entrepreneurial style, one would assume that what Kelly did was
successful. Flourishing and starving are, therefore, apt. For the second blank, principles is a much better choice
since one does not teach a whim.
55. With its personal touches, including twice-daily housekeeping and round-the-clock concierge service, the hotel
has a delightful your-wish-is-our-command air about the place, without the __________ you might find
__________ .
A. ornamentation somewhere else
B. stuffiness elsewhere
C. artifacts missing
D. dankness beyond
E. insubordination away

The best answer is C. The sentence is praising the hotel so one would expect that the hotel would be without
something negative. Insubordination can only be used to describe a person. Dankness and stuffiness are appropriate
choice for the first blank, but beyond is not a logical choice for the second blank.
56.Verton executives challenged the web site tactic, ___________ that if customers switched, the ___________
would lose revenues and the very jobs the union was trying to protect.
A. arguing company
B. argued firm
C. proclaiming employee
D. stated worker
E. questioning staff member
The best answer is A. A gerund form, such as arguing, proclaiming or questioning is needed to fill the first blank.
Questioning cannot precede that. One uses the word revenue to talk about the income of a company, not that of
individuals.
57. ___________ an increase in attacks on the existing technology, Netfix said that it would release features across
its line of network firewall products.
A. Mentioning
B. Talking
C. Combining
D. Citing
E. Toting
The best answer is D. Mentioning is too casual. Talking cannot precede an increase. Combining and toting are
illogical.
58. Its ___________ includes such treasures as woven funerary shoes from a royal tomb in ancient Thebes and a
rare pair of Inuit boots ___________ of eider skin.
A. compilation done
B. collection made
C. set prepared
D. pile shaped
E. stock fashioned
The best answer is B. Compilation cannot be appropriately applied to shoes. A pile or stock cannot include items.
Only made can go before of.
59. There is growing ___________ that a child's earliest experiences have a more ___________ and long-lasting
effect on subsequent health than had been previously thought.
A. testimony significant
B. thought transitory
C. spurt obsequious
D. reflection peaceable
E. evidence powerful
The best answer is E. Growing evidence is idiomatic. Something that does not contradict long-lasting, such as
powerful, is needed to fill the second blank.
60. Following years of generous stock options, corporate jets and other ___________, boards are ___________
their belts when it comes to executive pay.

A. perks
B. liabilities
C. benefits tightening
D. encumbrances
E. prosperity
The best answer is C. Generous stock options and corporate jets would likely be described as something positive,
such as a perk or a benefit. To tighten ones belt is an idiomatic expression.
61. The ___________ of tap dance can be traced to the antebellum South when African-American slaves, adept at
copying Irish jigs and Lancashire clogging, improvised and embellished those dances with their own ___________
and movements.
A. origins rhythms
B. account feelings
C. birth apathy
D. version awareness
E. chronicle combo
The best answer is A. Only an origin or a birth can be traced. A dance can be embellished with a rhythm, not with
apathy.
62. The federal and provincial governments launched the National Children's Agenda six years ago to work
___________ eliminating child poverty, yet progress is ___________.
A. with exclusive
B. on indefinable
C. about ethereal
D. toward elusive
E. near intangible
The best answer is D. Eliminating child poverty is a goal, thus toward is the best choice. The word yet indicates that
the goal has not been reach, thus elusive is apt.
63. Started in 1993 by the Cultural Council to ___________ the city's downtown neighborhoods, the festival
___________ artists and acrobats, magicians and stilt walkers from as far away as Spain and China.
A. indicate promotes
B. celebrate showcases
C. substantiate singles out
D. commemorate exonerates
E. honor exemplifies
The best answer is B. Celebrate is the most appropriate verb to describe a festival with artists, acrobats, magicians
and stilt walkers. Showcases is appropriate for things being shown to the public.
64. The Thornhill highway carries anywhere from 25,000 to about 50,000 ___________ a day depending on the
section of road, with the count ___________ 60,000 in some urbanized areas.
A. transportation reaching
B. trips averaging
C. vehicles topping
D. automobiles arriving
E. voyages recording

The best answer is C. A highway can carry vehicles or automobiles, but none of the other options. Choice D is
incorrect because arriving would have to be followed by at.
65. The public attention it generates could help lay the ___________ for the kind of national consensus needed to
bring substantial reform to health-care delivery.
A. groundwork
B. beginning
C. basis
D. center
E. origin
The best answer is A. To lay the groundwork for x is idiomatic.
66. The improved sales were largely the result of a 21.3% increase in unit volume, but a 12.1% ___________ in
average selling ___________ negatively impacted results.
A. plummet strategy
B. augmentation cost
C. certification charge
D. drop price
E. increase outlay
The best answer is D. The word but signals that the second part of the sentence will contrast with the first part,
therefore, the first blank should be filled with an antonym of increase, such as drop. Selling cannot be used as an
adjective to describe any of the choices other than price.
67. Virginia has not taken any comprehensive ___________ on transportation funding since ___________ the sales
tax a half-cent in 1986.
A. heart increasing
B. modification adjusting
C. shape moving
D. action raising
E. amendment heaving
The best answer is D. To take amendment and to take shape are not idiomatic. To take heart, to take shape, and to
take action are idiomatic, but only choice D fits the meaning of the sentence.
68. To memorialize their loved ones, the ___________ are increasingly turning to personalization, and those in the
funeral business are responding to the ___________ with a variety of tasteful customized products.
A. lonelyplea
B. bereaved demand
C. mourners task
D. destitute endowment
E. next-of-kin ultimatum
The best answer is B. Any of the choices could feasibly fill in the first blank, but bereaved is the most logical
because it refers to people who memorialize their loved ones.
69. While supporting publicly funded health care, Dr. Roberts, president of the National Orthopedic Association,
hopes the case ___________ much needed debate.
A. makes
B. quells

C. stirs
D. agitates
E. represses
The best answer is C. Since debate is much-needed, the blank should be filled with a word that will promote debate,
such as stirs.
70. Many athletes and celebrities demand payment for their signatures, and people are ___________ up to pay the
price.
A. lining
B. folding
C. taking
D. cracking
E. giving
The best answer is A. Lining up is both idiomatic and logical.
71. The overnight train from London to Edinburgh was an experience that reminded me how exciting that mode of
___________ can be, but how our fast-paced lives rarely ___________ the luxury of time to enjoy it.
A. transportation condone
B. adventure allow
C. movement permit
D. shifting suffice
E. travel afford
The best answer is E. Only mode of transportation and mode of travel are idiomatic and logical. The word afford,
used in the sense of allow, fits the context of the sentence.
72. Mardex recently launched a line of broadband home networking products, ___________ wireless base stations
and a five-port hub, ___________ targeting the home and home business.
A. enclosing each
B. including both
C. attaching none
D. containing all
E. enfolding some
The best answer is B. A line of products can logically be said to include certain items. Both is the logical choice to
refer to two items.
73. While smoking has declined steadily in Canada since 1965, the ___________ has not held true for girls and
younger ___________.
A. inclination people
B. tendency children
C. slope folk
D. trend women
E. grade teenagers
The best answer is D. Tendency and trend are both appropriate choices, however, women is more appropriate than
children. Young children is a group that would presumably include girls.
74. James Colin has ___________ his sound on numerous occasions throughout his career -- all the while
___________ a contemporary tone.

A. retuned preserving
B. revamped maintaining
C. evolved upholding
D. fabricated sustaining
E. metamorphosed composing
The best answer is B. Choice C, D and E cannot fill the first blank because they are intransitive verbs. Retuned can
be applied to an instrument, not a sound.
75. Long waiting ___________, it seems, have become a defining element of the heath-care system; and nowhere is
it ___________ than in orthopedic surgery.
A. days more
B. times shabbier
C. spots better
D. periods worse
E. eras greater
The best answer is D. Waiting periods is idiomatic. The first part of the sentence discusses something bad (long
waits). The second part of the sentence says that it has become more pronounced, thus worse is suitable.
76. At age 84, he is America's most listened-to radio ___________, and a ten million dollar-a-year ___________
will keep him busy into his 90s.
A. anchor pact
B. announcer indenture
C. personality treaty
D. broadcaster contract
E. duplicator agreement
The best answer is D. Choices B, C and D are suitable to fill the first blank. Contract is the only noun that can be
used to refer to a work agreement.
77. In a fascinating book, science ___________ Sarah Helm ___________ there is far more to moths than meets the
eye.
A. scribbler exposes
B. writer reveals
C. dabbler tells
D. author thinks
E. sycophant discloses
The best answer is B. Only choices B and D can fill the first blank. All the choices to fill the second blank besides
reveals cannot precede a complete clause.
78. Founded in 1976, the Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society has become a leading ___________ of
information on health and medicine for the general ___________.
A. source public
B. well citizenry
C. scourge populous
D. font community
E. resource civilians
The best answer is A. Source of information is idiomatic, as is general public.

79. The credibility of The Evening Guardian has made it a valuable ___________ for reaching medical consumers
and for helping medical researchers obtain family ___________.
A. means histories
B. viaduct records
C. tool kinship
D. transducer past
E. affiliate associations
The best answer is A. Both means and tool are acceptable, but means is more appropriate. Tool is generally used to
refer to a tangible object. Family history is idiomatic in a medical context.
80. Six years ago this ___________, Asian leaders met in cold, rainy Vancouver to discuss the region's worsening
financial ___________.
A. time calamity
B. moment distress
C. week crisis
D. today tragedy
E. day emergency
The best answer is C. Only week can be used for the first blank. Choice A and B do not make sense. Today and day
cannot follow this.
81. Medical Update, a monthly newsletter that reports on epidemiological surveys and other ___________ of the
society, is ___________ by this division.
A. doings disordered
B. episodes put out
C. bouts disseminated
D. activities published
E. segments assembled
The best answer is D. The first blank must be filled by something of which surveys can be considered an example,
such as activities. Also, a report being published is logical.
82. A judge ___________ an Arizona woman to 60 days home detention for intercepting her husband's ex-wife's email, saying the penalty is a warning to others who might be tempted to do ___________.
A. ordered so
B. declared such
C. sentenced the same
D. segregated as well
E. mediated similar
The best answer is C. Only ordered and sentenced can be followed with to 60 days. The same has a much
clearer referent than so.
83. In the magazine, national health surveys are taken to ___________ current research on topics such as cancer,
diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and bipolar disorder.
A. proliferate
B. propagate
C. distance
D. further

E. dissect
The best answer is D. To further research, meaning to advance it, is idiomatic.
84. Outside the courtroom, the lanky ___________ told TV cameras he now hoped to get a job as a computer
security ___________ or programmer.
A. gentleman personnel
B. teenager consultant
C. chap resource
D. constituent competitor
E. adolescent player
The best answer is B. Lanky is an adjective most often used to describe teenagers. Personnel and resource do not fit
because it is a non-countable noun.
85. A late rally on Wall Street after most European markets had closed set a positive tone in Europe, with higherthan-forecast ___________ again the main driver of gains.
A. rejoinders
B. profits
C. deficiencies
D. depreciation
E. stupefaction
The best answer is B. Since a positive tone was set, profits is a logical outcome.
86. The renaissance in farmers' markets began just ___________ 20 years ago in several places, ___________ them
California and New York City.
A. more with
B. over among
C. more than between
D. above some of
E. up some
The best answer is B. Just over is correct and idiomatic. Among them is the appropriate expression to single a few
out of a group.
87. Net margins for grocery stores were sorely ___________, so a group of usually uncooperative supermarket
executives joined ___________ with a few food manufacturers to come up with a system to automate checkout
stands.
A. drooping influences
B. lowered cogency
C. falling teams
D. lagging harnesses
E. sagging forces
The best answer is E. The adjective sorely is most appropriately used with either lagging or sagging. Joined
harnesses is illogical. Joined forces is idiomatic.
88. As recently as the 1980s, production far outstripped ___________, and the government was paying dairy
farmers $1 billion to thin their herds while it bought tons of ___________ cheese.
A. supply extra

B. planning unwanted
C. demand surplus
D. quota surreptitious
E. billing supercilious
The best answer is C. For the first blank, choices A and E are illogical. B and D are ungrammatical. Since
production far outstripped demand, surplus is a logical choice for the second blank.
89. After Borden received ___________ in 1856 for producing concentrated milk in a vacuum, condensed milk
became an important part of the dairy ___________.
A. an award subject
B. a copyright field
C. a document trade
D. a patent industry
E. power of attorney business
The best answer is D. Choices A and D can logically fill the first blank, but industry makes much more sense for
the second choice.
90. Tuberculosis kills 1.5 million people a year and nearly two billion people worldwide have ___________
tuberculosis infection, a massive potential reservoir for the ___________.
A. sleeping affliction
B. latent disease
C. raging affiliation
D. dozing illness
E. rampant circumstance
The best answer is . Since there is a potential reservoir, it makes sense that the disease is dormant. Choices A, B
and D all have the same meaning but only latent is a word applied to a disease.
91. The ___________ multi-cellular creatures on earth, sponges are collections of loosely organized single cells
with no true organs or ___________ .
A. plain glands
B. plainest tissue
C. simpler tools
D. simplest tissues
E. small pianos
The best answer is D. An expression of the form The ______ something on earth requires the use of the superlative
(-est) form to fill the blank. Organs and tissues are both parts of a body so they logically fit together.
92. A highly ___________ gas, methyl bromide is injected into the soil before planting, ___________ out nearly
everything alive.
A. toxic wiping
B. redundant moving
C. foul selling
D. noxious killing
E. recombinant taking
The best answer is A. A gas cannot be redundant or recombinant. Killing out is not idiomatic, while moving out
cannot be used in a transitive sense.

93. Most easily measured ___________ gains come from increasing the capital stock and improving the efficiency
with which the capital stock is used.
A. lucrative
B. lachrymose
C. economic
D. correctional
E. gainful
The best answer is C. Lucrative and gainful gains are redundant. Lachrymose and correctional are illogical.
94. No other people of the world are quite so ___________ with installing and ___________ expanses of short
grass mostly around houses but also at schools, parks, golf courses, graveyards, freeway embankments and
corporate headquarters.
A. taken keep
B. misguided saving
C. allusive tapering
D. inclusivesavoring
E. obsessed maintaining
The best answer is E. Choices C and D are illogical. B is incorrect because one cannot be misguided with
something. Choice A is incorrect because the second blank must be filled with a gerund form (-ing).
95. Ranchers have long despised prairie dogs, believing (___________, according to some new research) that they
deprive cattle of ___________.
A. erroneously forage
B. incredulously space
C. frantically greens
D. abstrusely graze
E. utterly food
The best answer is A. Erroneously is the best choice because it qualifies the word believing.
96. ___________ in the University's Research Park, the Patton Center is the catalyst that brings together the people
and ideas necessary for ___________ successful enterprises.
A. Found beginning
B. Stationed setting
C. Lying inaugurating
D. Facing fixating
E. Located launching
The best answer is E. Stationed is used for army personnel. Facing cannot be followed by in. Lying is unidiomatic.
Launching an enterprise is an idiomatic expression.
97. Timber rattlesnakes used to be common in a range ___________ from Oklahoma and Nebraska up the
Appalachians to southern New England, and ___________ the Mississippi river to Wisconsin and Minnesota.
A. progressing by
B. extending along
C. extenuating forward
D. persevering onward
E. originating siding

The best answer is B. Extending from x to y is an appropriate expression to discuss a range of land. Along is the best
choice to describe something extending the length of a river.
98. The castle is now a tourist ___________, bringing visitors and restoration volunteers from ___________
countries.
A. drawer multiple
B. collector several
C. attraction numerous
D. sighting various
E. abode dismissible
The best answer is C. Tourist attraction is idiomatic. Numerous is a adjective that can appropriately be applied to
countries.
99. The grandson of a Haitian slave, Dumas became the most famous author in France; now, his rousing romantic
novels are enjoying renewed ___________.
A. infamy
B. unanimity
C. disrepute
D. popularity
E. disparity
The best answer is D. Since Dumas was the most famous author, it is logical that what is renewed is his popularity.
100. Today, as in the ___________, whether for chefs ___________ their restaurants with fresh produce, or
customers interested in homemade cakes and preserves, farmers' markets promise not only freshness but sociability.
A. country stocking
B. past supplying
C. secret hoarding
D. history supplied
E. east collecting
The best answer is B. The word past makes a logical contrast to today. History cannot be proceeded by the.
101. With tools such as lasers, climate-controlled research chambers and, of course, computers, Hatfield and his
___________ are bringing soil science into the next ___________.
A. employees term
B. cohorts dimension
C. colleagues century
D. minders exponent
E. facilities component
The best answer is C. Colleagues is an appropriate term to refer to members of a research team. To bring something
into the next century is idiomatic.
102. Though the general died young, leaving his son without an inheritance, the young man overcame
___________, the lack of ___________ education to become one of the world's most popular writers.
A. exuberance secular
B. poverty formal
C. adversity expedient
D. lethargy liberal
E. illness legal

The best answer is B. Since he was left without an inheritance, overcoming poverty is logical. The expression
formal education is idiomatic.
103. Every healthy body at rest ___________ a certain amount of energy just keeping the organs functioning and
blood ___________.
A. expends circulating
B. puts off clotting
C. using pushing
D. burning flow
E. endeavors mingling
The best answer is A. Grammatically, the present simple tense is called for to fill the first blank. Expends is a
suitable verb to describe the use of energy. For the second blank a gerund (-ing) form is required to maintain
parallelism.
104. Euthanasia, the act of humanely ___________ animals that are hopelessly sick or ___________, is a
controversial topic.
A. maiming hurt
B. executing wounding
C. slaughtering wounded
D. killing injured
E. assassinating injuring
The best answer is D. Assassinating can only be applied to people. Maiming, executing and slaughtering have more
negative connotations than killing and therefore could not be used with the adjective humanely.
105. Change is particularly difficult for some animals, especially ___________ who have been used to the same
daily ___________ for a long time.
A. them grind
B. those routine
C. these habit
D. critters habitat
E. whomever habitation
The best answer is B. Those is the best pronoun to refer back to animals. For the second blank, daily grind is
appropriate in meaning, but is a slang expression. A habit cannot be describe as daily in the sense of general
behavior.
106. The reopening marks the end of a massive, inside-and-out ___________ project that shrouded the society's
terra-cotta headquarters in scaffolding for nearly four years.
A. reduction
B. reunification
C. commiseration
D. renovation
E. conservation
The best answer is D. It is logical that a reopening would follow a renovation.
107. Diego silenced the ___________ and turned her passion for scrapbooks into a successful retail and
___________ business.

A. devotees public
B. enthusiasts marketable
C. detractors economic
D. concordances profitable
E. skeptics wholesale
The best answer is E. One silences opposing voices, therefore, choices D and E can logically fill the first blank.
Retail and wholesale logically go together.
108. Stenton, who was ___________ in New York City in 1915, spent most of his life sharing his love of music by
teaching others to ___________ the piano.
A. educated listen
B. born play
C. taught love
D. raised appreciate
E. grown adore
The best answer is B. The first blank requires a verb to refer to an action that happened in 1915. Other than choice
B, all the choices refer to things that happen over a period of years.
109. Today Calder is the youngest by nearly two generations at the veterans hospital, where he ___________
therapy and ___________.
A. undergoes rehabilitation
B. has restoration
C. does healing
D. suffers analysis
E. experiences treatment
The best answer is A. Choices A and B can logically and idiomatically fill the first blank. Restoration is incorrect
because it is not a word one applies to humans.
110. More and more people are considering mortgages that require the ___________ to pay only the monthly
___________ on the loan.
A. taker profits
B. client revenues
C. instigator dividends
D. borrower interest
E. investigator capitol
The best answer is D. Choices C and D are illogical for the first blank. Choice A is not idiomatic. Revenues is not a
word used to describe payments made by an individual.
111. Some economists are predicting that demand will catch up with productivity shortly, ___________ an
enormous boom in job growth.
A. making
B. shooting
C. spurring
D. spinning
E. goading
The best answer is C. Spurring, a verb whose origins come from the spurs of a horseback riders boots, is
appropriate to describe something that causes an enormous boom.

112. The city is ___________ to annex land for new, suburban-style homes, but zoning abuses blight existing
neighborhoods with ___________ construction.
A. scheduled exquisite
B. talking opulent
C. foregoing errant
D. slated illegal
E. considering succulent
The best answer is D. Only choices A and D are both logical and grammatical for the first blank. For the second
blank, however, exquisite is not a logical adjective to describe a blight.
113. In ___________ of resolving the profound economic and social problems that continue to ___________ the
nation, the president's removal last July accomplished nothing.
A. sense butter
B. light libel
C. coin malign
D. means disturb
E. terms plague
The best answer is E. In terms of is idiomatic. Plague is the best choice to refer to profound economic and social
problems.
114. Some agencies offer financing ___________ for developers to encourage the building of ___________
housing.
A. incentives rental
B. perks semi-permanent
C. bonuses viable
D. encouragement marketable
E. raises salable
The best answer is A. Perks, encouragement and raises are usually given to employees, not developers. Housing
cannot be viable.
115. Marks, ___________ forecaster, estimates that, compared to the administration's dividend tax cuts, extending
unemployment benefits would produce a 20 times ___________ positive effect on the gross domestic product.
A. a reliable greatest
B. an economic greater
C. an intuitive great
D. a moneyed worse
E. a furtive worst
The best answer is B. Choices A, B and C are reasonable to fill the first blank. D and E are possible, but would be
unusual. After a 20 times greater___, a comparative form of adjective is needed, such as greater.
116. As a politician's wife, Carole Samuels became active in her own ___________, attending chamber of
commerce breakfasts and historical society meetings, and ___________ in the Gardeners Club.
A. way convened
B. time convening
C. self ran
D. right running

E. identity chaired
The best answer is D. In her own right is idiomatic. A gerund is needed to fill the second blank to maintain
parallelism.
117. Seth Walters has ___________ more than four decades in commercial banking, ___________ from a bank
messenger to president and CEO of the Merchants Bank.
A. caroled upping
B. resided increasing
C. loafed raising
D. spent rising
E. squandered starting
The best answer is D. Grammatically, choices A, B and C cannot fit in the first blank because they would have to be
followed by a preposition. Choice E is unlikely if the time had been squandered, Walters would not have risen to
the position of president.
118. As healthcare costs grow, the problem of the underinsured will only get ___________, as corporations seek to
control costs by continuing to raise ___________ for employees.
A. worse deductibles
B. depleted deductions
C. alleviated welts
D. recompensed interest
E. disparaged abscesses
The best answer is A. The phrase the problem will only get ___, is generally followed by something negative, such
as worse. Deductibles is logical since the sentence refers to insurance (the problem of the underinsured).
119. At the school, she wrote and directed several ___________ productions about the Everglades and its
___________ as well as tributes to historic Floridians, such as Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
A. physical fauna
B. theatrical animals
C. musical locations
D. creative flora
E. prolific alligators
The best answer is B. Theatrical productions and musical productions are idiomatic. Animals is a better choice than
locations for something that belongs to the Everglades.
120. Some residents claim that the timing of the strike was inappropriate, considering the ___________ economy.
A. flourishing
B. harmonizing
C. shivering
D. questionable
E. illiterate
The best answer is D. Choices B, C and E cannot be applied to an economy. A strike is generally considered
inappropriate when the economy is poor, hence D is a better choice than A.
121. A wildfire roaring through the ___________ of the San Bernardino Mountains burned as ___________ as 20
homes and forced thousands to flee.
A. crests various

B. foothills many
C. summits numerous
D. grounds far
E. trees much
The best answer is B. It would be nearly impossible for a fire to roar through the crests or summits of mountains.
Many is the appropriate choice to agree with homes.
122. Businessmen and investors may be ___________ a little easier now that the initial fears ___________ by the
elections of leftist presidents in neighboring countries have been muffled.
A. living released
B. working tipped off
C. breathing unleashed
D. thinking forestalled
E. pondering untapped
The best answer is C. To breath easier is idiomatic. Used metaphorically, fears can be unleashed.
123. Arguing that the roots of many of the region's problems are more political and institutional than economic, the
lecturer claimed that the government will now stress the need to ___________ corruption and ___________
bureaucracy.
A. arm unwieldy
B. forego international
C. attack exceptional
D. defuse permissive
E. tackle inefficient
The best answer is E. Attack and tackle are the only logical choice for the first blank. The word bureaucracy is
rarely preceded by a positive adjective.
124. Compared to economic disaster areas like Venezuela and Argentina, where the ___________ shrank by 12
percent last year, Brazil's outlook is ___________.
A. economy rosy
B. population undecided
C. integration advantageous
D. specification ambiguous
E. profit perilous
The best answer is A. Choice A is the most logical for the first blank. Profit could not follow the when referring to
an entire country. For the second blank, there is a contrast set up between Venezuela and Argentina on the one hand,
and Brazil on the other. Since the former are disaster areas, the second should be positive.
125. Throughout the downturn of the past few years, economists and analysts have trumpeted our historic increases
in productivity as the one ___________ in an otherwise dreary economic ___________.
A. upturn neighborhood
B. indication surrounding
C. positive environment
D. advisory background

E. allocation milieu
The best answer is C. The phrase as the one x in an otherwise dreary sets the stage for a positive
word filling the blank.
126. The Andes ___________ as the floor of the Pacific Ocean slipped uneasily beneath South
America, ruffling the land along the west coast of the ___________.
A. formed continent
B. created country
C. disinterred mass
D. depredated mass
E. shaped landfill
The best answer is A. Created and shaped would have to be put into a passive form (were created,
were shaped) to fill the first blank. Disinterred and depredated are illogical.
127. Researchers have long ___________ about whether this kind of selfless behavior in animals,
___________ as altruism, directly benefits the helper.
A. argued known
B. dreamed deemed
C. stipulated named
D. simulated seen
E. posited characterized
The best answer is A. Only argued and dreamed can go before about. Deemed cannot precede as.
128. According to Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, an animal's success in the gene
___________ is measured by the number of offspring it ___________ raises to pass on its DNA.
A. source substantially
B. swamp joyfully
C. pool successfully
D. base productively
E. chromosome verdantly
The best answer is C. Gene pool is idiomatic. Successfully is a logical choice; if the offspring are not
raised successfully, they cannot make an impact on the gene pool.
129. ___________ of mythical giant apes lurk in the oral ___________ of most Native American
tribes, as well as in Europe and Asia.
A. Talks chronicles
B. Stories verbiage
C. Legends writings
D. Quips meanderings
E. Tales traditions

The best answer is E. One can have stories, legends or tales of something. Oral traditions is an
idiomatic expression. Furthermore, oral verbiage is both redundant and illogical, while oral writings
is a contradiction in terms.
130. Statistically, the 3,300 responses _________ the opinions (accurate to plus or minus two
percent) of the 154 million American adults who have traveled over the ___________ three years.
A. face last
B. focus first
C. preclude coming
D. represent past
E. repress forthcoming
The best answer is D. Grammatically, all of the choices are suitable to fill in the first blank, but
semantically, represent is the most logical choice. Because the present perfect (have traveled) is used,
the second blank must be something that refers to the past.
131. The academic services division was ___________ to providing quality support to the students
and staff through the provision of specialist administrative ___________.
A. submitted services
B. committed assistance
C. destined debate
D. conniving help
E. striving contact
The best answer is B. Choice D and E cannot be correct for the first blank because they are gerund
forms. An academic services division cannot normally be submitted. Destined would have to be
follow be an infinitive form.
132. Prosecutors have ___________ a wealth of circumstantial evidence linking the six ___________
to the deadly bombing.
A. collected detectives
B. amassed suspects
C. accumulated suspicions
D. assembled executors
E. engineered perpetrators
The best answer is B. To amass wealth is idiomatic. Here the expression is expanded to refer to a
wealth of evidence. Suspects is appropriate to refer to people accused but not yet tried.
133. First hired in 1972 as ___________ staff writer for The Examiner, Frank Gordon has since
fashioned a career in journalism ___________ over three decades.
A. a budding taking
B. a novice reeling

C. an introductory sponging
D. an eager spanning
E. a top straddling
The best answer is D. For the first blank, a person cannot be introductory. Eager or novice are the
most appropriate adjective to describe a beginning writer. Only spanning can be used to indicate that
Gordons career lasted three decades.
134. It was thought that if the corpse did not have ___________ care, the former pharaoh would not
be able to ___________ out his new duties as king of the dead.
A. careful fold
B. secret address
C. deciduous situate
D. proper carry
E. learned marry
The best answer is D. The care that one takes over something cannot be described as careful, secret,
deciduous or learned. Duties are said to be carried out.
135. Many of these prizes are ___________ at the Faculty of Business presentation ceremony
___________ is held in June for the preceding academic year.
A. designatedwho
B. relegated that
C. awarded which
D. stultified in which
E. given where
The best answer is C. Prizes are normally awarded or given. Which is the appropriate pronoun to
refer to the ceremony.
136. Earlier this month tax-evasion charges were ___________ against Maryanne Sumner, who is
___________ for the auditing of operations.
A. filed responsible
B. summoned reliable
C. subpoenaed determined
D. lodged reachable
E. grated accountable
The best answer is A. A person can be summoned or subpoenaed, not charges. To file charges is
idiomatic.
137. The Egyptians mummified their dead because they believed that a person needed his body in the
afterlife, and the better-looking the better, so it was ___________ on the priests in charge of
___________ to do a good job.

A. designated wrapping
B. selected preserving
C. assigned mummifying
D. doled exacting
E. incumbent embalming
The best answer is E. The first four choices for the first blank are used passively (the priest was
assigned). The blank calls for an active verb. The work of mummification is embalming.
138. Projects ___________ by management students include a recent communication analysis and
team development project conducted by a postgraduate ___________.
A. serviced pupil
B. organized student
C. steered professor
D. accomplished teacher
E. sentenced fellow
The best answer is B. One cannot service, accomplish or sentence a project. A postgraduate is a type
of student.
139. When deep-sea explorers ___________ the Baltic Sea floor located a Swedish spy plane shot
down by the Russians more than 50 years ago this June, they ended one of the more ___________
mysteries of the Cold War.
A. dredging flimsy
B. combing enduring
C. cruising unforeseen
D. skimming unreceptive
E. searching personified
The best answer is B. One cannot cruise or skim the sea floor. A mystery can be described as
enduring when it has been in existence for a long period of time.
140. By ___________ the elements in the bones of a person long dead, researchers can ___________
the main constituents of that individual's diet.
A. testing delineate
B. revealing concoct
C. exhuming discern
D. examining determine
E. subsuming reveal
The best answer is D. A body can be exhumed, but not the elements in the bones of a body. These can
be tested, examined or revealed. The constituents of a persons diet can be determined.
141. Connected by a complex set of ___________ roads, the villages were defined by ditches, curbs,
moats, open parklands, and working forests.

A. intersecting
B. fixed
C. interlinking
D. thickened
E. dense
The best answer is C. Since the roads are described as complex, it makes sense that they would be
interlinked.
142. Discovered by two paleontology students in clay pits near Peterborough, the ___________ is the
largest known fish ever ___________.
A. fossil recorded
B. remnant devoured
C. visage monitored
D. vestige summoned
E. pebble careened
The best answer is A. Only fossil is logical in reference to a fish.
143. The recent arrest has ___________ concern about a government push against powerful business
barons before the ___________ elections.
A. hurdled forthcoming
B. marked approaching
C. initiated short
D. sparked upcoming
E. kindled near
The best answer is D. While choices C, D and E are all possible, only sparked concern is idiomatic.
144. The government will also now start the legal process of lifting the monopoly ___________ by
Telecon, the state carrier.
A. endured
B. pressed upon
C. enjoyed
D. confounded
E. supplied
The best answer is C. A monopoly is something that a company enjoys, so C is the most logical
choice.
145. An extensive archaeological excavation has ___________ a lost city that is believed to be one of
the ___________ jewels in the ancient civilization of the Maya.
A. unearthed crowning
B. buried shining
C. uncovered glowing

D. bared crowned
E. obscured buffed
The best answer is . Excavations remove objects from the earth therefore, unearthed is an appropriate
choice. Crowning jewels is idiomatic.
146. Though the economy ___________ through a recession in 2001, super-low interest rates have
___________ demand for mortgages, which has encouraged a boom in mortgage refinancing.
A. battled incited
B. conceded impelled
C. suffered fueled
D. slogged driven
E. smudged posited
The best answer is C. A recession is a negative occurrence so it is appropriate that one would battle
or suffer through it. Fuel can be used figuratively to mean promote.
147. The rationale ___________ the rise of fee-based advice is that it makes for a better relationship
with clients by eliminating the potential for conflicts that ___________ when someone profits
directly from their recommendations.
A. behind arise
B. invested in occur
C. driving intrude
D. after disrupt
E. following awaken
The best answer is A. It is idiomatic to talk about the rationale behind x. Similarly, conflicts are said
to arise.
148. Never before in ___________ history have monetary and fiscal policies been as motivating as
today, and yet, the American economy remains weak and vulnerable.
A. todays
B. yesteryears
C. yesterdays
D. recent
E. topical
The best answer is D. Todays history, yesteryears history and yesterdays history are unidiomatic
expressions. Topical history is illogical.
149. The open nature of the web, its unpredictable and ___________ proliferation of ideas and open
source software was ___________ to the world's leading operating systems company.
A. untenable propagation
B. insupportable panacea

C. copious abomination
D. uncontrollable anathema
E. bountiful atomization
The best answer is C. Both copious proliferation and bountiful proliferation are redundant.
Uncontrollable is the most logical choice for the first blank. Since uncontrollable has a negative
connotation, anathema, also a negative word, is a logical choice.
150. Front Inc., ___________ by the 1999 merger between Front Bank and Merchants Bank, has
been at the ___________ of merger rumors for years.
A. started middle
B. created center
C. began apex
D. founded summit
E. fashioned maelstrom
The best answer is B. A company is created by a merger. Founded is appropriate to use to refer to a
completely new company. Fashioned cannot be followed by by to refer to the companys origins.
151. As younger workers watch parents and others in ___________ generations go back to work after
retiring because their savings were not ___________, they still aren't doing enough to provide for
their own financial futures.
A. senior ample
B. younger sufficient
C. old generous
D. older adequate
E. advanced prolific
The best answer is D. Since the younger workers are watching parents and other in ____
generations, the others are likely of their parents generation, hence older is logical. The second
blank must contain a word that explains why older generation would go back to work.
152. Outspoken ___________ as a teenager, he was dismissed from high school when he refused to
compromise his word to a school ___________.
A. from his time mascot
B. early officer
C. already teacher
D. still regulation
E. even principal
The best answer is E. From his time and early are unidiomatic and still is illogical. Already is
awkward in the first blank.
153. College costs once again have increased far faster than inflation, with ___________ at state
schools posting the biggest ___________ in 30 years

A. fees augmentation
B. costs depreciation
C. revenues devaluation
D. tuition increase
E. payments intensification
The best answer is D. Tuition is a word that specifically means fees paid to a school and is thus the
best answer. The first part of the sentence deals with college costs increases in general, and the
second part mentions a more specific increase.
154. A new survey says most families aren't generally expecting to ___________ more money on
holiday vacations than they did ___________ year.
A. fritter previous
B. spend last
C. save past
D. squander preceding
E. invest prior
The best answer is B. Fritter and squander have negative connotations that are not in keeping with
the tone of the sentence. One does not invest in a vacation.
155. __________ in the history of this great country have there been more annoying commercials on
the public ___________.
A. Once systems
B. Ever channels
C. Sometimes broadcasts
D. Never airwaves
E. Always television
The best answer is D. Only choices D and E fit the sentence grammatically. Public television cannot
follow the definite article.
156. Since the success of his last book and his Oscar-winning ___________, (a success he likes to
remind you of at every ___________), he has become the most prominent liberal agitator in the West.
A. presentationmoment
B. documentary opportunity
C. stagingminute
D. filmprospect
E. enactment initiation
The best answer is B. A documentary or a film are choices which could be Oscar-winning. For the
second blank, prospect and initiation are illogical. Moment and minute cannot come after at every.

157. The most successful remodeling projects begin with homeowners ___________ have a
imaginative, yet ___________, idea of what they want done.
A. that sensational
B. where pragmatic
C. which inspired
D. whom dazzling
E. who realistic
The best answer is E. Who is the most suitable pronoun to refer to homeowners. The second blank
must be filled with a word which contrasts with imaginative because of the yet before the blank.
158. To accompany the book, Freeman ___________ has a new ___________ of digital photographs
spanning 30 years.
A. as well rehearsal
B. also exhibition
C. additionally
D. too revision
E. besides showing
The best answer is B. None of the choices other than also fit the sentence grammatically.
Photographs can logical be displayed in an exhibition.
159. He went over all his expenditures and ___________ for the preceding year and a half, and was
shocked by what he ___________.
A. income found
B. disbursements discovered
C. expenses uncovered
D. salaries related
E. tolls manifested
The best answer is A. Disbursements and expenses mean the same as expenditures and are therefore
redundant. An individual usually doesnt have many salaries and does not collect tolls.
160. Their income has proven ___________ to maintain what they regard as a comfortable, though
not ___________, lifestyle.
A. superficial excessive
B. opulent verifiable
C. sufficient luxurious
D. ample fulsome
E. sketchy extraordinary
The best answer is C. Sufficient and ample are suitable to describe income that can maintain a
comfortable lifestyle.

161. He was rejected by the National Film School and spent 11 years doing odd jobs for a small
theatre company before he got the ___________ to make his film noir thriller.
A. break
B. thought
C. calibration
D. opportunity
E. warning
The best answer is D. Break and opportunity are suitable as far as their meaning, but break cannot be
followed by to.
162. When George Wilson graduated from high school, his parents, both of ___________ were
hearing impaired and on disability, could provide ___________ financial help toward college.
A. whom no
B. they none
C. who little
D. them scarce
E. parent nary
The best answer is C. Who is the best pronoun to refer back to Wilsons parents. Only no and little
are suitable grammatically for the second blank.
163. Michael grew up under difficult circumstances in the San Fernando Valley, where he battled
family ___________ from ___________ age.
A. connections a small
B. embattlements a little
C. kinships a young
D. issues every
E. problems an early
The best answer is E. One battles problems. An early age is idiomatic.
164.While the couple tries to find bargain-basement prices on all their ___________, they do not
___________ on quality.
A. purchases stint
B. inceptions squelch
C. acquisitionssquint
D. abstentions squander
E. accumulations tender
The best answer is A. Purchases and acquisitions are logical choices for the first blank. The second
blank must be filled with a word that will contrast with the first part of the sentence.

165. What was a ruthlessly effective way of enhancing their electoral fortunes has developed into a
compulsion never to allow any leader much of a chance to ___________.
A. persist
B. impeach
C. command
D. impersonate
E. direct
The best answer is C. One cannot allow someone else to persist. Impeach cannot be used as in
intransitive verb. Since a leader commands, command is the best response.
166. Though she had never been there, and did not know ___________, she felt an overwhelming
urge to ___________ into this uncharted territory.
A. an individual strive
B. a soul delve
C. a person plunge
D. a being sift
E. someone hop
The best answer is B. Did not know a soul is an idiomatic expression used to mean did not know
anyone.
167. The defendants have asked for a jury trial, but Cary, lawyer for Sun Entertainment, is expected
to petition the court today for a trial by ___________ without ___________.
A. court a judgment
B. tribunal a sentencing
C. proxy an adjudicator
D. fire a panel
E. judge a jury
The best answer is E. The word but sets up the expectation of a contrast in the sentence. Trial by
judge contrasts with jury trial.
168. Short, broad grandmothers, speaking only Zapotec, the indigenous ___________ of the region,
dutifully grind corn for tortillas and march their pigs to market.
A. dialogue
B. language
C. vernacular
D. jargon
E. clauses
The best answer is B. Zapotec, written with a capital letter and spoken, is likely to be the name of a
language.

169. In 1980, Smith & Smith decided to ___________ eight of its old models to make room for some
of the more modern models that collectors seemed to be ___________ in.
A. retire interested
B. decline focused
C. desist fascinated
D. rest targeted
E. wane charmed
The best answer is A. Retire, though primarily applied to people, is also used to refer to products.
Only interested and fascinated can precede in.
170. The Calverts were a young New England couple looking for an inexpensive way to
___________ a small vacation cottage in Massachusetts when they first began purchasing country
___________ and folk art in the 1920s.
A. decorate samples
B. endow relics
C. conjure baubles
D. furnish antiques
E. bequeath trinkets
The best answer is D. There is no expensive or inexpensive way the endow or bequeath a cottage.
Country sample is vague (samples of what?).
171. Professional searchers will travel the ___________ over, using any ___________ possible
from satellites to simple theft to acquire meteorites.
A. globemethod
B. earth way
C. planet methodology
D. world means
E. land resources
The best answer is D. While the first four choices for the first blank all mean the same thing, only
world can come before over.
172. Traffic safety experts said that national driver education standards should be ___________ so
teenagers everywhere receive ___________ training before hitting the road on their own.
A. decanted coercive
B. adapted obliging
C. adopted uniform
D. excepted comprehensive
E. incepted insipid
The best answer is C. If the standards were adopted, then the training would be uniform.

173. Many of the draft document's points ___________ ideas espoused for years by antiglobalization ___________.
A. capitulated sympathizers
B. echoed activists
C. estranged protagonist
D. reiterated mentors
E. venerated militants
The best answer is B. Points may be echoed or reiterated. One cannot be a mentor for a cause.
174. Researchers say it will be several years before computer programs will accurately ___________
fire behavior the way television weathermen tell viewers where a hurricane or a ___________ is
heading.
A. precede rainfall
B. predict cloud
C. prepare shower
D. forecast blizzard
E. forbear tornado
The best answer is D. What the researchers do is being compared to what weathermen do, therefore,
predict or forecast are logical choices. While any of the choices for the second blank are feasible, a
blizzard is more similar to hurricane than some of the other choices, and therefore is better.
175. Low short-term borrowing costs may give consumers and businesses an ___________ to spend
and invest more and ___________ boost economic growth.
A. enticement thusly
B. stimulant nevertheless
C. incentive thus
D. inducement consecutively
E. supplement therefore
The best answer is C. The first four choices for the first blank mean roughly the same thing, but the
first two are not appropriate for a business situation. Thus shows the causal effect of the short-term
borrowing on economic growth.
176. All but the smallest new televisions will have to be able to receive digital television
___________ by July 2007 under a government rule upheld by a federal ___________ court on
Tuesday.
A. flashes claims
B. signs broadcasting
C. flares official
D. signals appeals
E. messages allowed

The best answer is D. Digital television sends signals. A regular court rules, but an appeals court
upholds or overturns decisions.
177. Supporters of helmet laws say the government should punish states that do not require helmets,
since the public often ___________ up paying medical costs for those ___________ in motorcycle
accidents.
A. take involved
B. winds tangled
C. give drawn
D. lend wounded
E. ends injured
The best answer is E. Ends up provides a justification for governments to punish states that do not
require helmets. Wounded or injured are logical choices for the second blank, but injured is more
often used to refer to people in accidents.
178. The company's plan is to ___________ costs while trying to exploit its traditional strengths in
entertainment and video games - particularly with new networked and wireless consumer
___________.
A. trim devices
B. skimp gadgets
C. clip contraptions
D. shape implements
E. wedge widgets
The best answer is A. Trim can be applied figuratively to costs. Devices is the more common choice
to refer to electronic goods. Gadgets, contraptions and widgets would more likely refer to an
elaborate homemade devise.
179. Despite Bettlemans pleadings and progress at the bargaining ___________, key issues
remained ___________.
A. block unhampered
B. discussion unsolved
C. board hampered
D. table unresolved
E. chair reprimanded
The best answer is D. The bargaining table is idiomatic. Before completing a negotiation, there are
issues that are unresolved, so remained unresolved is logical.
180. Under the emerging plan, the cuts would not take ___________ if hospitals agreed to provide
the data that the administration has requested.
A. shape
B. in

C. place
D. over
E. time
The best answer is C. Take place is appropriate because it is an idiomatic expression meaning to
occur.
181. Swift Airlines pilots have approved a measure allowing their union, the Air Line Pilots
Association, to call a ___________ at one of the nation's largest regional carriers in a ___________
over a new contract.
A. truce disagreement
B. ceasefire disparity
C. strike dispute
D. party prong
E. bash gap
The best answer is C. While call a truce, call a ceasefire and call a strike are all idiomatic, only
strike is logical in reference to airline pilots. Strikes are generally called because of disputes over
new contracts.
182. One study suggests that children who live in homes where the television is on most of the time
___________ have more trouble learning to read than other kids.
A. do
B. may
C. should
D. also
E. cannot
The best answer is B. Since the study suggests that its finding are true, may, which expresses
possibility, is best.
183. Left-leaning politicians from around the world worked on a ___________ against the spread of
___________ capitalism.
A. tallying rampant
B. denigration unrestrained
C. aeration raging
D. declaration unfettered
E. proclamation epidermal
The best answer is D. Choice A and C are illogical for the first blank. A denigration on not something
one usually works on.
184. The agency is working on faster ways to ___________ rapidly moving ___________ like the
SARS virus, which began in China and spread worldwide early last year.

A. detect threats
B. multiply microbes
C. spread proliferations
D. relieve bugs
E. allot intimidations
The best answer is A. Both detect and relieve are logical in reference to something like a virus. Bugs
is a slang term.
185. Despite the hours many children spend watching television, the report found that reading
___________ to be a regular part of many children's lives.
A. ceases
B. stops
C. continues
D. fails
E. neglects
The best answer is C. Because of the word despite in the sentence, the blank must be filled with
something that creates a contrast in the sentence. Continue is the only word that does this.