1/18
Even the strongest pesticides could not abolish the beetles.
NO CHANGE
delete
retract
eradicate
Explanation: To abolish means to formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution, and so it does not apply to an infestation of beetles. Choice B is incorrect because delete applies to written or genetic material or computer memory, not to insects. Choice C is incorrect because retract means to draw or take back, which does not apply to insects. Only choice D, eradicate, describes something that can be done to an infestation of insects.
2/18
Although statistics cannot prove theories, but they can invalidate them by ruling out the correlations they imply.
NO CHANGE
they can refute
but they can debunk
they can smear
Explanation: Choices A and C are incorrect because the use of the conjunction but is redundant with the use of the conjunction but. Choice D is incorrect because smear means to damage the reputation of, which does not apply to theories. Choice B is best because statistics can refute theories.
3/18
Well-trained wine experts can separate out the tastes of dozens of different grapes, regions, and vintages.
NO CHANGE
certify
acknowledge
discern
Explanation: Choice A is incorrect because the phrase separate out is redundant, and also because separate describes a physical rather than a mental act. Choice B is incorrect because to certify is to formally attest or confirm, which does not apply to a mental event. Choice C is incorrect because to acknowledge is simply to accept or admit the existence or truth of, which does not at all indicate a particular skill of wine experts. Only choice D, discern, which means to distinguish with difficulty by the senses, reasonably describes what wine experts do with grapes, regions, and vintages.
4/18
It’s almost impossible to achieve a consensus of unified opinion on those matters on which the group members have widely different priorities and values.
NO CHANGE
a unified consensus of opinion
a consensus in opinion
consensus
Explanation: A consensus is a general agreement, so the phrase consensus of unified opinion is redundant. Choice B is likewise redundant. Choice C is not idiomatic. Choice D provides the most concise, idiomatic, and clear phrasing.
5/18
Often, the town council will debate an issue for weeks before appointing a formal decision.
NO CHANGE
compelling
making
predetermining
Explanation: To appoint means to formally or officially assign a role to (someone), and therefore applies only to a person and not to a decision. Choice B is incorrect because the council is making the decision themselves, and is not being compelled (forced) to do it. Choice D is incorrect because a predetermined (decided beforehand) decision would not require any extra time to deliberate.
6/18
Although loved by audiences worldwide, the film was soundly disparaged by many critics.
NO CHANGE
confronted
impaired
repudiated
Explanation: To disparage means to represent as being of little worth, which is precisely what critics might do to a bad movie. Choice B is incorrect because a movie cannot be confronted. Choice C is incorrect because to impair means to weaken or damage something, but this cannot reasonably be done to a movie that is already made. Choice D is incorrect because to repudiate is to refuse to be associated with or to deny the validity of, neither of which is something that critics can do to movies that they did not themselves help create.
7/18
At the present moment in time, we cannot process your request because we have lost the connection to our server.
NO CHANGE
At this moment in time, we
Currently, we
We
Explanation: None of the modifiers in choices A, B, and C contribute any meaning or emphasis to the sentence, and so all are redundant. The present tense verb cannot process is all that is needed to indicate the present.
8/18
After the neighbors filed a noise complaint, the workers had to hamper their work by 6:00 every evening or risk municipal fines.
NO CHANGE
subside
curtail
lower
Explanation: Choice A is incorrect because to hamper means to hinder or impede the progress of (something), but it is nonsensical to expect that workers would do this to themselves. Choice B is incorrect because subside (to decrease in intensity) is an intransitive verb, that is, it cannot take an object as this verb does. Choice D is incorrect because work cannot be lowered. Only choice C, curtail (restrict) makes sense in this context.
9/18
Once she found a supportive group of friends who appreciated her talents and idiosyncrasies, Daryl’s self-esteem began to proliferate.
NO CHANGE
blossom
multiply
enlarge
Explanation: Choices A and C are incorrect because someone’s self-esteem cannot proliferate (increase rapidly in numbers) or multiply because self-esteem is a unitary thing. Choice D is incorrect because enlarge applies to physical size or extent, which cannot apply to a human psychological trait like self-esteem. Choice B is best because one’s self-esteem can blossom (mature in a healthy way).
10/18
Taxpayers are unlikely to fund an expensive public project unless it is designed to solve an imminent problem that is likely to occur in the future.
NO CHANGE
a problem that is imminently likely to occur in the future
a problem that is imminently likely
an imminent problem
Explanation: Imminent means about to happen, so choices A and B are redundant. Choice C is incorrect because imminently likely is a malapropism of eminently likely. Choice D is best because it is concise and free of redundancy
11/18
Originally built as an engine for a small tractor, the motor had to be evolved in order to meet the needs of the portable generator.
NO CHANGE
correlated
amended
adapted
Explanation: To evolve means to develop gradually into a more complex or effective form, but the process of changing a motor is not gradual or passive. Choice B is incorrect because correlated means having a mutual relationship, particularly when one quantity affects another, which does not apply to objects like motors. Choice C is incorrect because to amend means to improve (a document), but a motor is not a document. Choice D is best because to adapt is to make (something) suitable to a new purpose.
12/18
The sounds, themes, and images in advertisements are carefully chosen to subtly intimidate consumers to buy things they may not need.
NO CHANGE
propel
induce
oppress
Explanation: Choice A is incorrect because to intimidate means to frighten into compliance, which is not at all subtle. Choice B is incorrect because propel implies a forceful forward motion that is not appropriate to the act of purchasing something. Choice D is incorrect because to oppress is to keep in subservience through assertive authority, which is far too strong and broad a term to describe what advertising may do to individuals. Choice C, induce (successfully persuade), is the most appropriate choice to describe how advertising influences consumers.
13/18
The negotiations became very apprehensive when the topic shifted to company ownership.
NO CHANGE
neurotic
tense
worried
Explanation: Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because apprehensive, neurotic, and worried are all adjectives describing the internal, emotional states of people, and are inappropriate for describing the mood of a conversation. (The correct term to describe a situation that induces worry is worrisome, not worried.) Only choice C, tense (causing anxiety), can appropriately describe the mood of negotiations.
14/18
Although he is usually reticent to talk about his personal life, he is more than happy to talk about the merits of the different Star Wars films.
NO CHANGE
reticent about
disinclined to talk with regard to
unwilling about
Explanation: Reticent means unwilling to reveal one’s thoughts or feelings. It does not mean reluctant, and so choice A is redundant. Choice B, reticent about, captures the idea most concisely. Choice C is wordy and unidiomatic. Choice D is incorrect because it omits any reference to expression.
15/18
Many of the government ministers have been in exile since they were impeded in the 2016 military coup.
NO CHANGE
scuttled
ousted
snubbed
Explanation: Choice A is incorrect because to impede means to obstruct or hinder, but the sentence does not indicate that the ministers were prevented from achieving a goal. Choice B is incorrect because scuttle means deliberately cause to fail, but the sentence does not indicate that the ministers deliberately failed in any effort. Choice D is incorrect because snubbed means rebuffed or ignored disdainfully, but such an action would not cause anyone to go into exile. The best choice is C, ousted, which means driven from power.
16/18
Corporations that value cooperation over competition tend to see less incidents of elicit behavior such as embezzlement.
NO CHANGE
fewer incidents of illicit
fewer incidence of illicit
less incidents of illicit
Explanation: Choice A is incorrect because elicit is a verb meaning evoke or draw out. Also, incidents are countable, non-continuous things, and so should be modified by fewer, not less. Clearly, this sentence calls for illicit, and adjective meaning forbidden by law. Choice C is incorrect because incidence means frequency of a disease, crime, or other undesirable thing, so, as an uncountable quantity, it doesn’t go with fewer. The only choice that avoids all diction problems is B.
17/18
He liked to make provocative comments in his speeches, but was unwilling to deal with the blowback that would inevitably derive.
NO CHANGE
pursue
advance
ensue
Explanation: The sentence requires a verb that describes what blowback (unintended adverse results of a political action) does with regard to provocative comments. Choice A is incorrect because derive requires an indirect object and the preposition from, so this is an unidiomatic usage. Choice B is incorrect because blowback cannot pursue (chase). Choice C is incorrect because to advance is to move forward in a purposeful way, but blowback is unintended and negative. Choice D is correct because it is reasonable to expect that blowback would ensue (happen as a result) after provocative comments.
18/18
The reason that many distance runners fail to hit their marathon goals is because they don’t safeguard a steady pace throughout the race.
NO CHANGE
that they don’t perpetuate
that they don’t maintain
because they don’t prolong
Explanation: The core of this sentence is The reason is. Therefore, the object in this clause must be a noun phrase that defines the reason. Choices A and D are incorrect because a phrase that begins with because is not a noun phrase. Choice B is incorrect because to perpetuate means to make (something) continue indefinitely, which is not what good marathon runners want to do with their pace. They only want to maintain (choice C) a steady pace until the end of the race.
