Why Sentence Completion?

Sentence Completion Questions

This Sentence Completion Questions are designed to help you prepare for the verbal and reading sections of many assessment and entrance exams. By completing the sample

items offered here and by studying their answer explanations, you will

develop the skills necessary to tackle each type of sentence completion

question. You will also improve your vocabulary and your process of

elimination skills.

Sentence  completions  test  your  ability  to  use  the  information

found  in  complex,  but  incomplete,  sentences  in  order  to  correctly

complete  the  sentences.  Sentence  completions  test  two  separate

aspects of your verbal skills: your vocabulary and your ability to fol-

low the internal logic of sentences. These sentences are often quite

complex.  Fortunately,  there  are  some  strategies  that  will  has

one blank (or, on some tests, two blanks) within a single sentence.

Often the sentences are long and difficult to follow, but with practice

you can learn to master them.

Many   standardized   tests—including   high   school   and   college

entrance  exams  and  civil  service  exams—use  sentence  completion

questions to test vocabulary and logic. Some of the "alphabet soup"

of exams that contain sentence completions are the:

•      SAT I exam
•     PSAT/NMSQT exam
•     GRE General test
•     TOEFL/TONIC exams
•     ISE
•     GRT

You might wonder what kinds of strategies you can use to master

sentence completions. When it comes to sentence completions, the

word that does not appear is the key to the meaning of the sentence.

The words that do appear offer clues to the missing word. If you can

find out how the words that appear are connected, you can find the

correct answer. This means that you must know more than just the

meaning of the words involved. You must also understand the logic

of the sentence. Here is a sampling of strategies:

• ·         Read the entire sentence saying "blank" for the blank(s).
• ·         This gives you an overall sense of the meaning of the sentence and helps you figure out how the parts of the sentence relate to each other. If an answer occurs to you before you even look at the choices, you may have a synonym for the answer or the answer itself.
• ·         Pay special attention to introductory and transitional words—but, although, however, yet, even though—because they are key to forming the logical structure of the sentence.
• ·         Be sure your choice is both logical and grammatically correct.
• ·         If you don't know some words, use elimination and educated guessing, which means you are able to eliminate one or more of the choices as definitely wrong; or guessing from context when you know a related word.

There are several types of sentence completions:

•  restatement
• comparison
• contrast
• cause and effect

Here  is  an  example  of  a  cause-and-effect  sentence  completion

question: After a brief and violent ______ that ousted the president, General

Monsanto declared himself the dictator of the country.

a.   nuance

b.   coup

c.   solicitation

d.   upbraiding

e.   lament

The answer is choice b. A coup (n.) is a sudden and decisive change

of leadership illegally or by force, a takeover. What (the cause) led the

general to declare himself dictator (the result)? Something brief and

violent, that ousted the president, a coup.

Here is an example of a restatement question:

The city council formed a committee to simplify several dozen

______ city ordinances that were unnecessarily complicated and

out-of-date.

a.   feckless

b.   empirical

c.   byzantine

d.   slovenly

e.   pedantic

The answer is choice c, byzantine, an adjective that means "highly

complicated and intricate." Here, you are looking for a restatement

of the clue words complicated and out-of-date, and for something that

needs simplifying.

As you practice sentence completions, you may discover signal words

and phrases—clues that help you choose the correct answer. Here are

common signal words and an example for each kind of question:

Restatement: namely, in other words, in fact, that is

Example: The pickpocket was a trickster, in other words, a ______.

(The answer, which restates "trickster," might be knave or

scoundrel.)

Comparison: likewise, similarly, and, just as, as ______ as, for exam-

ple, as shown, as illustrated by

Example: Anna was cleared of all charges; similarly, Sam was

______.

(The answer compares to being "cleared of all charges," so perhaps

Sam was vindicated.)

Contrast: though, although, however, despite, but, yet; on the other

hand, but, however, despite, or on the contrary

Example: Although the tiger is a solitary beast, its cousin the lion is

a ______ animal.

(The answer is something that contrasts with "solitary," such as

gregarious or sociable.)

Cause and effect: thus, therefore, consequently, and because and

phrases such as due to, as a result, leads to

Example: A truck stole her parking spot; consequently, Sally's ______

look showed her displeasure.

(The answer would be a look caused by someone stealing Sally's parking spot, maybe scowling or sullen.)

The sentence completion question sets in this book increase in dif-

ficulty as you practice your way through them—from easy to inter-

mediate  to  advanced.  These  divisions  may  re?ect  how  challenging

the vocabulary is or how complex the sentence structure is or how

challenging the logic of the sentence is.

The 500+ Skill Builder in Focus exercises will help you prepare for

an  exam  in  several  ways.  First,  you  will  become  familiar  with  the

question format. You will get used to identifying the relationships of

words  within  a  sentence.  The  more  comfortable  you  are  with  the

question format and the more familiar you are with the range of sen-

tence completion types, the easier the verbal or reading section of

your test will be.

Second, your performance on these questions will help you assess

your  vocabulary  strengths  and  weaknesses.  For  example,  you  may

find that you do very well with words that are cognates (words from

a common original form, such as asteroid and astronomy), but not so

well on foreign words, such as ennui or angst.

Third,  you  will  learn,  through  practice,  to  spot  and  disregard

wrong answer choices. You may also discover a pattern to your wrong

answers. (Are you weak on cause-and-effect questions?)

In  addition  to  this  book,  look  for  other  sources  of  vocabulary

growth: software, audio and online courses, and books. One helpful

resource  is  LearningExpress's  Vocabulary  and  Spelling  Success  in  20

Minutes a Day, which helps boost your vocabulary and your verbal

test scores.

You have already taken an important step toward improving your

score. You have shown your commitment by purchasing this book.

Now  what  you  need  to  do  is  complete  each  exercise,  study  the

answers,   and   watch   your   ability   to   solve   sentence   completions

increase.

Good luck!

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 1

Chapter 1
1.   She hadn't eaten all day, and by the time she got home she was
______.
a.  blighted
b.  confutative
c.  ravenous
d.  ostentatious
e.  blissful

2.   The movie offended many of the parents of its younger viewers by
including unnecessary ______ in the dialogue.
a.  vulgarity
b.  verbosity
c.  vocalizations
d.  garishness
e.  tonality


3.   His neighbors found his ______ manner bossy and irritating, and
they stopped inviting him to backyard barbeques.
a.  insentient
b.  magisterial
c.  reparatory
d.  restorative
e.  modest

4.   Steven is always ______ about showing up for work because he
feels that tardiness is a sign of irresponsibility.
a.  legible
b.  tolerable
c.  punctual
d.  literal
e.  belligerent

5.   Candace would ______ her little sister into an argument by teasing
her and calling her names.
a.  advocate
b.  provoke
c.  perforate
d.  lamente
e.  expunge

6.   The dress Ariel wore ______ with small, glassy beads, creating a
shimmering effect.
a.  titillated
b.  reiterated
c.  scintillated
d.  enthralled
e.  striated

7.   Being able to afford this luxury car will ______ getting a better-
paying job.
a.  maximize
b.  recombinant
c.  reiterate
d.  necessitate
e.  reciprocate


8.   Levina unknowingly ______ the thief by holding open the elevator
doors and ensuring his escape.
a.  coerced
b.  proclaimed
c.  abetted
d.  sanctioned
e.  solicited

9.   Shakespeare, a(n) ______ writer, entertained audiences by writing
many tragic and comic plays.
a.  numeric
b.  obstinate
c.  dutiful
d.  prolific
e.  generic

10.   I had the ______ experience of sitting next to an over-talkative
passenger on my flight home from Brussels.
a.  satisfactory
b.  commendable
c.  galling
d.  acceptable
e.  acute

11.   Prince Phillip had to choose: marry the woman he loved and ______
his right to the throne, or marry Lady Fiona and inherit the crown.
a.  reprimand
b.  upbraid
c.  abdicate
d.  winnow
e.  extol

12.   If you will not do your work of your own ______, I have no choice
but to penalize you if it is not done on time.
a.  predilection
b.  coercion
c.  excursion
d.  volition
e.  infusion


13.   After sitting in the sink for several days, the dirty, food-encrusted
dishes became ______.
a.  malodorous
b.  prevalent
c.  imposing
d.  perforated
e.  emphatic

14.   Giulia soon discovered the source of the ______ smell in the room:
a week-old tuna sandwich that one of the children had hidden in
the closet.
a.  quaint
b.  fastidious
c.  clandestine
d.  laconic
e.  fetid

15.   After making ______ remarks to the President, the reporter was
not invited to return to the White House pressroom.
a.  hospitable
b.  itinerant
c.  enterprising
d.  chivalrous
e.  irreverent

16.   With her ______ eyesight, Krystyna spotted a trio of deer on the
hillside and she reduced the speed of her car.
a.  inferior
b.  keen
c.  impressionable
d.  ductile
e.  conspiratorial


17.   With a(n) ______ grin, the boy quickly slipped the candy into his
pocket without his mother's knowledge.
a.  jaundiced
b.  nefarious
c.  stereotypical
d.  sentimental
e.  impartial

18.   Her ______ display of tears at work did not impress her new boss,
who felt she should try to control her emotions.
a.  maudlin
b.  meritorious
c.  precarious
d.  plausible
e.  schematic

19.   Johan argued, "If you know about a crime but don't report it, you
are ______ in that crime because you allowed it to happen."
a.  acquitted
b.  steadfast
c.  tenuous
d.  complicit
e.  nullified

20.   The authorities, fearing a ______ of their power, called for a
military state in the hopes of restoring order.
a.  subversion
b.  premonition
c.  predilection
d.  infusion
e.  inversion

21.   The story's bitter antagonist felt such great ______ for all of the other
characters that as a result, his life was very lonely and he died alone.
a.  insurgence
b.  malevolence
c.  reciprocation
d.  declamation
e.  preference


22.   It is difficult to believe that charging 20% on an outstanding credit
card balance isn't ______!
a.  bankruptcy
b.  usury
c.  novice
d.  kleptomania
e.  flagrancy

23.   The ______ weather patterns of the tropical island meant tourists
had to carry both umbrellas and sunglasses.
a.  impertinent
b.  supplicant
c.  preeminent
d.  illustrative
e.  kaleidoscopic

24.   Wedding ceremonies often include the exchange of ______ rings
to symbolize the couple's promises to each other.
a.  hirsute
b.  acrimonious
c.  plaintive
d.  deciduous
e.  votive

25.   Kym was ______ in choosing her friends, so her parties were
attended by vastly different and sometimes bizarre personalities.
a.  indispensable
b.  indiscriminate
c.  commensurate
d.  propulsive
e.  indisputable


Answers

1.   c.  Ravenous (adj.) means extremely hungry.

2.   a.  Vulgarity (n.) means offensive speech or conduct.

3.   b.  Magisterial (adj.) means overbearing or offensively self-assured.

4.   c.  Punctual (adj.) means arriving exactly on time.

5.   b.  To provoke (v.) is to incite anger or resentment; to call forth a
feeling or action.

6.   c.  To scintillate (v.) means to emit or send forth sparks or little
flashes of light, creating a shimmering effect; to sparkle.

7.   d.  To necessitate (v.) means to make necessary, especially as a result.

8.   c.  To abet (v.) means to assist, encourage, urge, or aid, usually an
act of wrongdoing.

9.   d.  Prolific (adj.) means abundantly creative.

10.   c.  Galling (adj.) means irritating, annoying, or exasperating.

11.   c.  To abdicate (v.) means to formally relinquish or surrender power,
office, or responsibility.

12.   d.  Volition (n.) means accord; an act or exercise of will.

13.   a.  Malodorous (adj.) means having a foul-smelling odor.

14.   e.  Fetid (adj.) means having a foul or offensive odor, putrid.

15.   e.  Irreverent (adj.) means lacking respect or seriousness; not
reverent.

16.   b.  Keen (adj.) means being extremely sensitive or responsive;
having strength of perception.


17.   b.  Nefarious (adj.) means wicked, vicious, or evil.

18.   a.  Maudlin (adj.) means excessively and weakly sentimental or
tearfully emotional.

19.   d.  Complicit (adj.) means participating in or associated with a
questionable act or a crime.

20.   a.  Subversion (n.) means an overthrow, as from the foundation.

21.   b.  Malevolence (n.) means ill will or malice toward others; hate.

22.   b.  Usury (n.) is the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates.

23.   e.  Kaleidoscopic (adj.) means continually changing or quickly
shifting.

24.   e.  Votive (adj.) means dedicated by a vow.

25.   b.  Indiscriminate (adj.) means not discriminating or choosing
randomly; haphazard; without distinction.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 2

Chapter 2
26.   Phillip's ______ tone endeared him to his comical friends, but
irritated his serious father.
a.  aloof
b.  jesting
c.  grave
d.  earnest
e.  conservative

27.   Brian's pale Irish skin was ______ to burn if he spent too much
time in the sun.
a.  prone
b.  urbane
c.  eminent
d.  erect
e.  daunted


28.   A fan of historical fiction, Joline is now reading a novel about
slavery in the ______ South.
a.  decorous
b.  rogue
c.  droll
d.  antebellum
e.  onerous

29.   Over the years the Wilsons slowly ______ upon the Jacksons'
property, moving the stone markers that divided their lots farther
and farther onto the Jacksons' land.
a.  encroached
b.  jettisoned
c.  conjoined
d.  repudiated
e.  teemed

30.   Mary became ______ at typing because she practiced every day for
six months.
a.  proficient
b.  reflective
c.  dormant
d.  redundant
e.  valiant

31.   To find out what her husband bought for her birthday, Susan
attempted to ______ his family members about his recent shopping
excursions.
a.  prescribe
b.  probe
c.  alienate
d.  converge
e.  revere


32.   Juan's friends found him in a ______ mood after he learned he
would be homecoming king.
a.  jovial
b.  stealthy
c.  paltry
d.  gullible
e.  depleted

33.   His suit of armor made the knight ______ to his enemy's attack,
and he was able to escape safely to his castle.
a.  vulnerable
b.  churlish
c.  invulnerable
d.  static
e.  imprudent

34.   Choosing a small, fuel-efficient car is a ______ purchase for a
recent college graduate.
a.  corrupt
b.  tedious
c.  unhallowed
d.  sardonic
e.  judicious

35.   Such a ______ violation of school policy should be punished by
nothing less than expulsion.
a.  copious
b.  flagrant
c.  raucous
d.  nominal
e.  morose

36.   With all of the recent negative events in her life, she felt ______
forces must be at work.
a.  resurgent
b.  premature
c.  malignant
d.  punctilious
e.  antecedent


37.   The ______ rumors did a great deal of damage even though they
turned out to be false.
a.  bemused
b.  prosaic
c.  apocryphal
d.  ebullient
e.  tantamount

38.   When her schoolwork got to be too much, Pam had a tendency to
______, which always put her further behind.
a.  dedicate
b.  rejuvenate
c.  ponder
d.  excel
e.  procrastinate

39.   Racha's glance was a ______ invitation to speak later in private
about events of the meeting.
a.  trecherous
b.  scintillating
c.  tactful
d.  tacit
e.  taboo

40.   She reached the ______ of her career with her fourth novel, which
won the Pulitzer Prize.
a.  harbinger
b.  apogee
c.  metamorphosis
d.  dictum
e.  synthesis

41.   The ______ townspeople celebrated the soldier's return to his
home by adorning trees with yellow ribbons and balloons.
a.  somber
b.  jubilant
c.  pitiless
d.  cunning
e.  unsullied


42.   The governor-elect was hounded by a group of ______ lobbyists
and others hoping to gain favor with her administration.
a.  facetious
b.  abstruse
c.  magnanimous
d.  fawning
e.  saccharine

43.   The mock graduation ceremony—with a trained skunk posing as
the college president—was a complete ______ that offended many
college officials.
a.  tempest
b.  epitome
c.  quintessence
d.  travesty
e.  recitative

44.   The busy, ______ fabric of the clown's tie matched his oversized
jacket, which was equally atrocious.
a.  mottled
b.  bleak
c.  credible
d.  malleable
e.  communicable

45.   Kendrick's talent ______ under the tutelage of Anya Kowalonek,
who as a young woman had been the most accomplished pianist in
her native Lithuania.
a.  bantered
b.  touted
c.  flourished
d.  embellished
e.  colluded


46.   The children were ______ by the seemingly nonsensical clues until
Kinan pointed out that the messages were in code.
a.  censured
b.  striated
c.  feigned
d.  prevaricated
e.  flummoxed

47.   As the ______ in Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is a hero able to
capture the audience's sympathy by continually professing his love
for Juliet.
a.  protagonist
b.  enigma
c.  facade
d.  activist
e.  catechist

48.   The chess master promised to ______ havoc upon his opponent's
pawns for taking his bishop.
a.  wreak
b.  warrant
c.  ensue
d.  placate
e.  endow

49.   I have always admired Seymour's ______; I've never seen him
rattled by anything.
a.  aplomb
b.  confluence
c.  propriety
d.  compunction
e.  nostalgia

50.   The soldiers received a military ______ to inspect all their vehicles
before traveling.
a.  allotment
b.  dominion
c.  affectation
d.  calculation
e.  mandate



Answers

26.   b.  Jesting (adj.) means characterized by making jests; joking;
playful.

27.   a.  Prone (adj.) means a tendency or inclination to something.

28.   d.  Antebellum (adj.) means belonging to the period before a war,
especially the American Civil War.

29.   a.  To encroach (v.) means to gradually or stealthily take the rights
or possessions of another; to advance beyond proper or formal
limits; trespass.

30.   a.  Proficient (adj.) means well versed in any business or branch of
learning; adept.

31.   b.  To probe (v.) is to examine thoroughly; tentatively survey.

32.   a.  Jovial (adj.) means showing hearty good cheer; marked with the
spirit of jolly merriment.

33.   c.  Invulnerable (adj.) means incapable of being damaged or
wounded; unassailable or invincible.

34.   e.  Judicious (adj.) means being wise or prudent; showing good
judgment; sensible.

35.   b.  Flagrant (adj.) means conspicuously and outrageously bad,
offensive, or reprehensible.

36.   c.  Malignant (adj.) means disposed to cause distress or inflict
suffering intentionally; inclining to produce death; an injurious
infiltration.

37.   c.  Apocryphal (adj.) means of questionable authenticity or doubtful
authority; fictitious, false.

38.   e.  To procrastinate (v.) is to put off from day to day.


39.   c.  Tacit (adj.) means unspoken yet understood.

40.   b.  Apogee (n.) means the highest or farthest point, culmination; the
point in its orbit where a satellite is at the greatest distance from
the body it is orbiting.

41.   b.  Jubilant (adj.) means rejoicing; expressing joyfulness; exulting.

42.   d.  Fawning (adj.) means attempting to win favor or attention by
excessive flattery, ingratiating displays of affection, or servile
compliance; obsequious.

43.   d.  Travesty (n.) means a parody; a grotesque imitation with the
intent to ridicule.

44.   a.  Mottled (adj.) means blotched or spotted with different colors or
shades.

45.   c.  To flourish (v.) is (of artists) to be in a state of high productivity,
excellence, or influence; to grow luxuriously, thrive; to fare well,
prosper, increase in wealth, honor, comfort or whatever is
desirable; to make bold, sweeping movements.

46.   e.  To flummox (v.) is to confuse, perplex, bewilder.

47.   a.  A protagonist (n.) is the main character in a drama.

48.   a.  To wreak (v.) means to inflict, as a revenge or punishment.

49.   a.  Aplomb (n.) is self-assurance, composure, poise, especially under
strain.

50.   e.  Mandate (n.) is a command or authoritative instruction.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 3

Chapter 3
51.   As ______ beings we live each day conscious of our shortcomings
and victories.
a.  sensational
b.  sentient
c.  sentimental
d.  static
e.  senile

52.   The curious crowd gathered to watch the irate customer ______
about the poor service he received in the restaurant.
a.  antiquate
b.  trivialize
c.  rant
d.  placate
e.  fetter


53.   The man's ______ driving resulted in a four-car pile-up on the
freeway.
a.  burdensome
b.  charismatic
c.  exceptional
d.  boastful
e.  negligent

54.   Ron didn't know the rules of rugby, but he could tell by the
crowd's reaction that it was a critical ______ in the game.
a.  acclamation
b.  conviction
c.  juncture
d.  enigma
e.  revelation

55.   My ancestor who lost his life in the Revolutionary War was a
______ for American independence.
a.  knave
b.  reactionary
c.  compatriot
d.  nonconformist
e.  martyr

56.   The ______ sound of the radiator as it released steam became an
increasingly annoying distraction.
a.  sibilant
b.  scintillating
c.  diverting
d.  sinuous
e.  scurrilous

57.   It is helpful for salesmen to develop a good ______ with their
customers in order to gain their trust.
a.  platitude
b.  rapport
c.  ire
d.  tribute
e.  disinclination


58.   In such a small office setting, the office manager found he had
______ responsibilities that required knowledge in a variety of
different topics.
a.  heedless
b.  complementary
c.  mutual
d.  manifold
e.  correlative

59.   David's ______ entrance on stage disrupted the scene and caused
the actors to flub their lines.
a.  untimely
b.  precise
c.  lithe
d.  fortuitous
e.  tensile

60.   The settlers found an ideal location with plenty of ______ land for
farming and a mountain stream for fresh water and irrigation.
a.  candid
b.  provincial
c.  arable
d.  timid
e.  quaint

61.   The ______ seventh-grader towered over the other players on his
basketball team.
a.  gangling
b.  studious
c.  mimetic
d.  abject
e.  reserved


62.   Carson was at first flattered by the ______ of his new colleagues,
but he soon realized that their admiration rested chiefly on his
connections, not his accomplishments.
a.  reprisal
b.  adulation
c.  bulwark
d.  rapport
e.  retinue

63.   For a(n) ______ fee, it is possible to upgrade from regular gasoline
to premium.
a.  nominal
b.  judgmental
c.  existential
d.  bountiful
e.  jovial

64.   Searching frantically to find the hidden jewels, the thieves
proceeded to ______ the entire house.
a.  justify
b.  darken
c.  amplify
d.  ransack
e.  glorify

65.   The ______ deer stuck close to its mother when venturing out into
the open field.
a.  starling
b.  foundling
c.  yearling
d.  begrudging
e.  hatchling


66.   The police officer ______ the crowd to step back from the fire so
that no one would get hurt.
a.  undulated
b.  enjoined
c.  stagnated
d.  permeated
e.  delineated

67.   Jackson's poor typing skills were a ______ to finding employment
at the nearby office complex.
a.  benefit
b.  hindrance
c.  partiality
d.  temptation
e.  canon

68.   Through ______, the chef created a creamy sauce by combining
brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a pan and cooking them over
medium-high heat.
a.  impasse
b.  obscurity
c.  decadence
d.  diversion
e.  liquefaction

69.   The defendant claimed that he was innocent and that his
confession was ______.
a.  coerced
b.  flagrant
c.  terse
d.  benign
e.  futile


70.   Harvey was discouraged that his visa application was ______ due to
his six convictions.
a.  lethargic
b.  immeasurable
c.  nullified
d.  segregated
e.  aggravated

71.   The rebel spies were charged with ______ and put on trial.
a.  sedition
b.  attrition
c.  interaction
d.  reiteration
e.  perdition

72.   Keith was ______ in his giving to friends and charities throughout
the year, not just during the holidays.
a.  munificent
b.  portly
c.  amphibious
d.  guileful
e.  forensic

73.   Calvin reached the ______ of his career in his early thirties when
he became president and CEO of a software company.
a.  zephyr
b.  plethora
c.  vale
d.  nocturne
e.  zenith

74.   Although I'd asked a simple "yes" or "no" question, Irfan's reply
was ______, and I didn't know how to interpret it.
a.  prodigal
b.  irate
c.  equivocal
d.  voracious
e.  harrowing


75.   The high-profile company CEO was given an ______ for speaking
at the monthly meeting of the area business leaders' society.
a.  expiation
b.  honorarium
c.  inoculation
d.  interpretation
e.  inquisition

Answers

51.   b.  Sentient (adj.) means possessing the power of sense or sense-
perception; conscious.

52.   c.  To rant (v.) means to speak loudly or violently.

53.   e.  Negligent (adj.) means to habitually lack in giving proper care or
attention; having a careless manner.

54.   c.  Juncture (n.) is a point of time, especially one that is at a critical
point.

55.   e.  A martyr (n.) is one who sacrifices something of supreme value,
such as a life, for a cause or principle; a victim; one who suffers
constantly.

56.   a.  Sibilant (adj.) means characterized by a hissing sound.

57.   b.  A rapport (n.) is a relationship that is useful and harmonious.

58.   d.  Manifold (adj.) means many and varied; of many kinds; multiple.

59.   a.  Untimely (adj.) means happening before the proper time.

60.   c.  Arable (adj.) means suitable for cultivation, fit for plowing and
farming productively.

61.   a.  Gangling (adj.) means awkward, lanky, or unusually tall and thin.

62.   b.  Adulation (n.) means strong or excessive admiration or praise;
fawning flattery.

63.   a.  Nominal (adj.) means small, virtually nothing, or much below
the actual value of a thing.

64.   d.  To ransack (v.) means to thoroughly search, to plunder, pillage.


65.   c.  A yearling (n.) is a young animal past its first year but not yet
two years old.

66.   b.  To enjoin (v.) means to issue an order or command; to direct or
impose with authority.

67.   b.  Hindrance (n.) is an impediment or obstruction; a state of being
hindered; a cause of being prevented or impeded.

68.   e.  Liquefaction (n.) is the process of liquefying a solid or making a
liquid.

69.   a.  To coerce (v.) is to force to do through pressure, threats, or
intimidation; to compel.

70.   c.  To nullify (v.) means to make invalid or nonexistent.

71.   a.  Sedition (n.) means resistance, insurrection; conduct directed
against public order and the tranquility of the state.

72.   a.  Munificent (adj.) means extremely generous or liberal in giving;
lavish.

73.   e.  Zenith (n.) means the highest point of any path or course.

74.   c.  Equivocal (adj.) means open to two or more interpretations,
ambiguous and often intended to mislead; open to question,
uncertain.

75.   b.  Honorarium (n.) is payment or reward for services for which
payment is not usually required.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 4

Chapter 4
76.   Zachary was doomed to a miserable life, for no matter how much
he had, he always ______ the possessions of others.
a.  protracted
b.  exalted
c.  engendered
d.  coveted
e.  filibustered

77.   Sheila's grueling hike included passing through numerous ______.
a.  terrariums
b.  neoprene
c.  jurisdictions
d.  ravines
e.  belfries


78.   The college professor was known on campus as a ______
character—bland but harmless and noble in his ideals.
a.  staid
b.  stagnant
c.  auspicious
d.  sterile
e.  dogmatic

79.   Because he was so ______, the athlete was able to complete the
obstacle course in record time.
a.  belligerent
b.  nimble
c.  demure
d.  volatile
e.  speculative

80.   The toy store's extensive inventory offered a ______ of toys from
baby items to video games for teenagers.
a.  manifold
b.  lexicon
c.  burrow
d.  gamut
e.  motif

81.   With sunscreen and a good book, April ______ by the pool in her
lounge chair while the children swam.
a.  ensconced
b.  sustained
c.  expelled
d.  transcended
e.  lolled


82.   NaQuan had a terrible habit of boasting so much about his
smallest accomplishments that his ______ became renowned
throughout the small college campus.
a.  vainglory
b.  timidity
c.  diffidence
d.  tempestuousness
e.  mockery

83.   Only a small number of people in the audience laughed at the
comic's ______ sense of humor, while the rest found him to be too
sarcastic.
a.  consequential
b.  avaricious
c.  venturous
d.  dauntless
e.  mordant

84.   He has long been a(n) ______ of year-round school, believing it
would significantly improve learning and ease the burden on
working parents.
a.  advocate
b.  levity
c.  detractor
d.  epiphany
e.  connoisseur

85.   Tired of hearing the child whine for more candy, the babysitter
finally ______ and offered him a piece of chocolate.
a.  relented
b.  abated
c.  rendered
d.  placated
e.  enumerated


86.   Dogs growl and show their teeth in an attempt to ______ the
animal or person they perceive as a threat.
a.  bolster
b.  waylay
c.  cow
d.  exacerbate
e.  appease

87.   In biology class, Sabine observed the slug's ______, its barely
discernible movement in the tank.
a.  parody
b.  prescience
c.  torpor
d.  insight
e.  vigor

88.   The ______ instinct of a watchdog is to attack strangers who enter
its home.
a.  judicious
b.  intimate
c.  pragmatic
d.  melancholy
e.  primal

89.   The battalion's ______ was a well-fortified structure near the
enemy lines.
a.  labyrinth
b.  summary
c.  villa
d.  vinculum
e.  garrison

90.   Much to my surprise, my teenage daughter was ______ to the idea
of going out with me on Friday night instead of with her friends.
a.  contrite
b.  impartial
c.  partisan
d.  deferential
e.  amenable


91.   The enormous waves forced the lobster boat to ______ heavily to
the starboard side, causing crates of lobsters to topple and fall into
the ocean.
a.  trifle
b.  degenerate
c.  list
d.  expedite
e.  disseminate

92.   Walking through the ______ forest in spring was a welcome escape
from the cold, gray winter we had spent in the city.
a.  pliant
b.  verdant
c.  factious
d.  bland
e.  innocuous

93.   Nina called the humane society when she saw her neighbor ______
his dog.
a.  mandate
b.  forebode
c.  maltreat
d.  stipulate
e.  peruse

94.   Meredith used the ______ to steer the horse and keep him in line.
a.  jolt
b.  bristle
c.  chine
d.  quirt
e.  hearth

95.   Oliver was unable to ______ himself from the difficulties he had
caused by forging the documents.
a.  reprove
b.  pique
c.  oust
d.  extricate
e.  broach


96.   The ______ of our expedition was still so far away that I felt we
would never get there.
a.  nadir
b.  terminus
c.  speculation
d.  apex
e.  dungeon

97.   If he expected to ______ as a doctor, Lou knew he would have to
study hard in medical school and work long hours to gain
experience and skill.
a.  perpetrate
b.  palliate
c.  palpitate
d.  prosper
e.  mediate

98.   Doc Wilson grew up in Florida and was not prepared to face the
______ climate of the Alaskan winter.
a.  freshwater
b.  gelid
c.  compendious
d.  subsidiary
e.  improvident

99.   Marvin's ______ prevented him from finishing his work and was
evidenced in his large phone bills.
a.  loquacity
b.  heroism
c.  decadence
d.  depreciation
e.  rescission
3 2


501 Sentence Completion Questions

100.   The graph clearly showed the company reaching the ______ in
profits during the 1980s when the economy was in a boom period.
a.  narthex
b.  gullet
c.  gamut
d.  quiescence
e.  vertex


Answers

76.   d.  To covet (v.) is to wish or long for; to feel immoderate desire for
that which belongs to another.

77.   d.  A ravine (n.) is a deep narrow canyon.

78.   a.  Staid (adj.) means of a steady and sober character; prudently
reserved and colorless.

79.   b.  Nimble (adj.) is quick and light in movement, to be agile.

80.   d.  A gamut (n.) is an entire range or a whole series.

81.   e.  To loll (v.) is to lean, recline, or act lazily or indolently; lounge.

82.   a.  Vainglory (n.) means excessive, pretentious, and demonstrative
vanity.

83.   e.  Mordant (adj.) means bitingly sarcastic or harshly caustic.

84.   a.  An advocate (n.) is one who argues for a cause, a supporter or
defender; one who pleads on another's behalf.

85.   a.  To relent (v.) means to yield or comply.

86.   c.  To cow (v.) is to intimidate, frighten with threats or show of
force.

87.   c.  Torpor (n.) means extreme sluggishness; lethargy or apathy;
dullness.

88.   e.  Primal (adj.) means primary, the first in order or the original;
primitive.

89.   e.  A garrison (n.) is a fort or outpost where troops are stationed;
any military post.


90.   e.  Amenable (adj.) means disposed or willing to comply; responsive,
willing; responsible to a higher authority, accountable.

91.   c.  To list (v.) (related to a vessel) is to incline or to cause to lean to
one side.

92.   b.  Verdant (adj.) means green with vegetation.

93.   c.  To maltreat (v.) means to treat poorly; abuse.

94.   d.  A quirt (n.) is a riding whip with a short handle and braided
rawhide leash.

95.   d.  To extricate (v.) is to release from an entanglement or difficulty,
disengage.

96.   b.  The terminus (n) is the final point or goal; the final stop on a
transportation line.

97.   d.  To prosper (v.) means to be successful.

98.   b.  Gelid (adj.) means icy or extremely cold; possessing a cold or
unfriendly manner.

99.   a.  Loquacity (n.) is talkativeness; the state of continual talking.

100.   e.  Vertex (n.) means the highest point of anything; the apex or
summit.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 5

Chapter 5
101.   Amie agrees with the ______ that the grass is always greener on
the other side of the fence.
a.  perpetuity
b.  penchant
c.  maxim
d.  conformation
e.  fortitude

102.   Victor Frankenstein's creature was a(n) ______, detested by
everyone he met.
a.  itinerant
b.  anathema
c.  cosmopolitan
d.  mercenary
e.  anomaly


103.  Jack Nicholson was at the ______ of his career when he received
the Oscar for Best Actor.
a.  detriment
b.  pinnacle
c.  oligarchy
d.  rogue
e.  repose

104.   Ariana was outstanding as the moderator; she handled the
intensely heated debate with great ______, diplomatically and
tactfully keeping the conversation fair and on track.
a.  finesse
b.  pretentiousness
c.  prowess
d.  succor
e.  aversion

105.   The class endured a loud and lengthy ______ by the teacher on the
subject of submitting written work on time.
a.  guile
b.  polemic
c.  bravado
d.  tirade
e.  heresy

106.   Lauren's ______ features, what you first noticed about her, were
her stunning black hair and large, dark eyes.
a.  savvy
b.  affluent
c.  predominant
d.  universal
e.  malicious


107.  Whenever Tom and I would argue he would ______ with his hands
and body to accentuate his point.
a.  interject
b.  infuse
c.  gesticulate
d.  conjure
e.  encumber

108.   Must we be subjected to your ______ complaints all day long?
a.  tiresome
b.  fearsome
c.  awesome
d.  gleesome
e.  wholesome

109.   The new political candidate refused to print ______ about her
aggressive opponent, but that did not stop him from printing lies
about her.
a.  dispensation
b.  assignation
c.  rendition
d.  libel
e.  compunction

110.   Awkwardly tall and prone to tripping over her own feet, Grace felt
her name was truly a ______.
a.  misnomer
b.  preoccupation
c.  universality
d.  garrulity
e.  benevolence


111.  Although the villagers' lives were profoundly different from her
own, Jing-Mae felt a deep ______ for the people when she served
in the Peace Corps.
a.  reparation
b.  affinity
c.  injunction
d.  exigency
e.  analogy

112.   Sometimes late at night Sharon would gaze joyfully at her children
as they slept and ______ in their innocence.
a.  sneer
b.  ostracize
c.  revel
d.  repudiate
e.  antiquate

113.   In the famous balcony scene, Romeo ______ Juliet's beauty in one
of the most romantic soliloquies ever written.
a.  sanctions
b.  extols
c.  peruses
d.  beguiles
e.  fetters

114.   It was ______ to think that it could possibly snow in the middle of
the desert.
a.  advantageous
b.  philosophical
c.  eroding
d.  preventative
e.  preposterous


115.   Every evening at the restaurant, the reporter would eavesdrop on
the Mayor's conversations in order to ______ any information that
could make headlines.
a.  ignore
b.  glean
c.  extol
d.  extend
e.  narrate

116.   The surgeon placed a ______ on the femoral artery to bind it
during the long and exhausting surgery.
a.  ligature
b.  doctrine
c.  premise
d.  synopsis
e.  degeneration

117.   By sheer ______ force, the men pushed the truck to the side of the
road and out of danger.
a.  virile
b.  persnickety
c.  meticulous
d.  suave
e.  contentious

118.   Based on his recent poor decisions, it was obvious that Seth lacked
even a ______ of good sense.
a.  debasement
b.  diversion
c.  disapprobation
d.  submission
e.  modicum


119.   To settle the dispute, the students elected a faculty member to
serve as a(n) ______.
a.  maverick
b.  dystopia
c.  arbiter
d.  fiduciary
e.  martyr

120.   The ______ newspaper accounts of the city scandal caused some
readers to question the truth of the stories.
a.  lurid
b.  vivacious
c.  blithesome
d.  prolific
e.  amicable

121.   The ______ man with amnesia was unable to recognize where
he was.
a.  endogenous
b.  euphoric
c.  nonplussed
d.  amicable
e.  pliable

122.   Justin's ______ solution to the problem revealed that he did not
spend much time considering the consequences.
a.  facile
b.  obsolete
c.  resilient
d.  pristine
e.  ardent

123.   The events of the evening ______ without difficulty despite the
lack of planning on the part of the host.
a.  expired
b.  transpired
c.  retired
d.  ensured
e.  extorted

124.   It is every American person's ______ to live the life he or she
chooses.
a.  composite
b.  eloquence
c.  prerogative
d.  allusion
e.  demise

125.   After the boisterous customers left the café without tipping, Carlos
______ at them through the restaurant's front window.
a.  interjected
b.  jostled
c.  glowered
d.  emulated
e.  skulked


Answers

101.   c.  Maxim (n.) is an established principle or a general truth, often a
condensed version of a practical truth.

102.   b.  An anathema (n.) is one who is detested or shunned; one who is
cursed or damned; a curse or vehement denunciation; a formal
ban, curse, or excommunication.

103.   b.  A pinnacle (n.) is the highest level or degree available.

104.   a.  Finesse (n.) is the subtle, skillful handling of a situation,
diplomacy, tact; refined or delicate performance or execution.

105.   d.  A tirade (n.) is a long and blusterous speech given especially
when the speaker is denouncing someone or something.

106.   c.  Predominant (adj.) means most dominant, common, or frequent;
to have surpassing power, influence, or authority.

107.   c.  To gesticulate (v.) means to use gestures or make motions;
express through motion, especially while speaking.

108.   a.  Tiresome (adj.) means causing to be weary.

109.   d.  Libel (n.) is defamatory writing; misrepresentative publication
(writing, pictures, signs) that damages a person's reputation.

110.   a.  Misnomer (n.) is a misnaming of a person or place; a wrong or
unsuitable name.

111.   b.  An affinity (n.) is a natural attraction or liking; a feeling of
kinship, connection or closeness, similarity; relationship by
marriage.

112.   c.  To revel (v.) is to take great pleasure or delight.

113.   b.  To extol (v.) means to praise highly, exalt, glorify.


114.   e.  Preposterous (adj.) means contrary to common sense or utterly
absurd.

115.   b.  To glean (v.) means to gather or collect slowly; to learn or
discover bit by bit.

116.   a.  A ligature (n.) is something that ties or binds up, such as a
bandage, wire, or cord.

117.   a.  Virile (adj.) means having masculine strength; vigorous or
energetic.

118.   e.  Modicum (n.) is a small or token amount.

119.   c.  An arbiter (n.) is one selected or appointed to judge or decide a
disputed issue, an arbitrator; someone with the power to settle
matters at will.

120.   a.  Lurid (adj.) means glaringly sensational or vivid; shocking.

121.   c.  Nonplussed (adj.) means greatly perplexed, filled with
bewilderment.

122.   a.  Facile (adj.) means arrived at or achieved with little difficulty or
effort, thus lacking depth, superficial; performing or speaking
effectively with effortless ease and fluency, adroit, eloquent.

123.   b.  To transpire (v.) means to come to pass, to occur.

124.   c.  Prerogative (n.) means an exclusive or special right or privilege.

125.   c.  To glower (v.) means to stare angrily or sullenly, to look intently
with anger or dislike.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 6

Chapter 6
126.   People often referred to Noelle as ______ because she trusted
everyone and even slept with her doors unlocked.
a.  naïve
b.  elevated
c.  boastful
d.  panoramic
e.  elated

127.   Kinnel's re-election is being threatened by a growing ______ of
disgruntled union members.
a.  rogue
b.  faction
c.  pariah
d.  guise
e.  anathema


128.   The peasants passed their weary days in much ______ and little
comfort.
a.  pertinence
b.  renown
c.  travail
d.  exile
e.  repose

129.   Lyasia is a ______ of the clarinet; she has performed solos with
many orchestras and bands around the world.
a.  neophyte
b.  novice
c.  virtuoso
d.  termagant
e.  plethora

130.   The children knew that once their father made his decision, the
new rule would be ______ because he would never change his mind.
a.  irrevocable
b.  articulate
c.  premeditated
d.  serried
e.  discourteous

131.   The haunted house displayed ______ scenes in every room,
causing squeamish visitors to scream.
a.  preparatory
b.  archaic
c.  macabre
d.  precocious
e.  impetuous

132.   The concert audience was frustrated by the poor ______ of the
sounds coming from the speakers.
a.  modulation
b.  recrimination
c.  terminus
d.  dissidence
e.  assertion


133.   Please don't ______ me my success—I've worked hard to earn this
promotion!
a.  renege
b.  begrudge
c.  excise
d.  staunch
e.  vaunt

134.   With an ______ blow of the whistle, the meddling parent
interrupted the game to reiterate the rules of the tournament.
a.  industrious
b.  illustrious
c.  eloquent
d.  officious
e.  enviable

135.   The candidate's inappropriately sexist remark was met with a
______ of denunciations from the angry crowd.
a.  bastion
b.  fusillade
c.  mélange
d.  dichotomy
e.  solecism

136.   The ______ employee decided to complain publicly about the
unacceptable working conditions.
a.  discreet
b.  prudent
c.  precarious
d.  malcontent
e.  stupendous

137.   The medicine man applied a sweet smelling ______ to the young
brave's wounds.
a.  triad
b.  corrosive
c.  parcel
d.  unguent
e.  pungent


138.   The judge dismissed the extraneous evidence because it was not
______ to the trial.
a.  pertinent
b.  pretentious
c.  synonymous
d.  abject
e.  inalienable

139.   The ______ nature of the song is supposed to be reminiscent of
shepherds calling to their flocks at night.
a.  vocative
b.  endemic
c.  surreptitious
d.  preternatural
e.  inane

140.   The ______ child caused great difficulties for her parents and
teachers because she refused to correct her bad behavior even in
the face of punishment.
a.  adorable
b.  sincere
c.  incorrigible
d.  lamentable
e.  demure

141.   The internist decided to treat the ______ with medication, but also
recommended rest and proper nutrition.
a.  malady
b.  nonentity
c.  missive
d.  repository
e.  nonchalance


142.   It was such a beautiful day that I decided to go for a ______ on my
bike down to the local park.
a.  expedition
b.  jaunt
c.  pilgrimage
d.  repast
e.  intimation

143.   The castaway's hut was ______ by the natives curious to see who
the intruder was upon their island.
a.  beset
b.  surmised
c.  precluded
d.  garnered
e.  lauded

144.   Sometimes my grandmother would ______ all different types of
thread so she could include more colors in the clothes she sewed.
a.  daunt
b.  raddle
c.  scrabble
d.  thrush
e.  empower

145.   The defense attorney's choice of words ______ that there were
other possible versions of the crime, but the jury was unconvinced.
a.  pervaded
b.  insinuated
c.  discounted
d.  imposed
e.  ensconced

146.   Ted's enthusiasm for becoming a professional drum player ______
when he realized he would have to practice several hours a day.
a.  waxed
b.  waned
c.  deranged
d.  flouted
e.  preempted


147.   Some would say Muzak is a(n) ______ form of music, a kind of
background noise designed to be heard but not listened to.
a.  arable
b.  degenerate
c.  volatile
d.  pivotal
e.  exemplary

148.   The teacher was dismissed for the ______ act of helping his
students cheat on the exam.
a.  steadfast
b.  meritorious
c.  unconscionable
d.  pristine
e.  fortuitous

149.   The reformed criminal could not forget his guilty past; he was in a
living state of ______.
a.  perdition
b.  tact
c.  composure
d.  principle
e.  veracity

150.   The ______ yoga instructor waited patiently for her students to
find the proper pose, which she performed with ease.
a.  unabashed
b.  lissome
c.  cosmopolitan
d.  sneering
e.  disparaging

Answers

126.   a.  Naïve (adj.) means lacking worldly experience; possessing a
childlike innocence or simplicity.

127.   b.  A faction (n.) is a group or clique within a larger group, usually a
minority, acting in unison in opposition to the larger group;
internal dissension, conflict within an organization, nation, or
other group.

128.   c.  Travail (n.) means hard or agonizing labor.

129.   c.  Virtuoso (n.) means a master in the technique of some particular
fine art.

130.   a.  Irrevocable (adj.) means irreversible; not able to be revoked or
recalled.

131.   c.  Macabre (adj.) means ghastly, horrible, or gruesome.

132.   a.  Modulation (n.) a regulation by or adjustment to a certain
measure, such as in music or radio waves.

133.   b.  To begrudge (v.) means to envy the possession or enjoyment of;
to give or allow with reluctance.

134.   d.  Officious (adj.) means marked by excessive eagerness in offering
unwanted services or advice to others; unofficial.

135.   b.  A fusillade (n.) is a barrage; a rapid discharge of firearms,
simultaneously or in rapid succession.

136.   d.  Malcontent (adj.) means dissatisfied, uneasy or discontent; a
rebel.

137.   d.  An unguent (n.) is any soothing or healing ointment or lubricant
for local application.


138.   a.  Pertinent (adj.) means applicable, related to the subject matter at
hand.

139.   a.  Vocative (adj.) means pertaining to the act of calling.

140.   c.  Incorrigible (adj.) means bad to the point of being beyond
correction; uncontrollable; impervious to change.

141.   a.  Malady (n.) is a disease or disorder.

142.   b.  A jaunt (n.) is usually a short journey taken for pleasure.

143.   a.  To beset (v.) means to surround on all sides; to annoy or harass
persistently; to decorate with jewels.

144.   b.  To raddle (v.) means to twist together, to intertwine.

145.   b.  To insinuate (v.) is to hint or suggest; to intimate.

146.   b.  To wane (v.) means to diminish in intensity or size.

147.   b.  Degenerate (adj.) means having declined in quality or value,
reduced from a former or original state, to degrade.

148.   c.  Unconscionable (adj.) means not restrained by conscience;
unscrupulous.

149.   a.  Perdition (n.) the most modern use of the word means eternal
damnation, or a hell.

150.   b.  Lissome (adj.) means lithe or lithesome, usually related to the
body; moving or bending easily or limber.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 7

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 7

Chapter 7
151.   When we first meet Romeo, he is ______ over his unrequited love
for Rosaline.
a.  brooding
b.  ogling
c.  meandering
d.  embellishing
e.  groveling

152.   Because it had been worn and washed so often, Linus's favorite t-
shirt was tattered and ______ with holes.
a.  salvaged
b.  circulated
c.  riddled
d.  emulated
e.  congregated


153.   Henley's ______ remarks about my presentation did not bother me
because I knew I'd done a good job.
a.  derogatory
b.  voracious
c.  tactile
d.  capricious
e.  amiable

154.   Eels swim using a rapid ______ motion that propels them through
the water.
a.  dissipating
b.  undulating
c.  eradicating
d.  objurgating
e.  irritating

155.   Sick and tired of her boring job, Cecilia began to ______ what it
would be like to quit.
a.  ponder
b.  disengage
c.  negate
d.  relinquish
e.  alleviate

156.   The way my father likes to ______with any salesperson to see if he
can bargain for a lower price is embarrassing.
a.  striate
b.  variegate
c.  capitulate
d.  teem
e.  wrangle

157.   The ______ construction crew built large new buildings all over the
East Coast, wherever the demand for qualified workers took them.
a.  laconic
b.  irresolute
c.  itinerant
d.  parietal
e.  peremptory


158.   The CEO's large expense accounts proved she was a ______
spender with the company's money.
a.  injurious
b.  ineffectual
c.  liberal
d.  malignant
e.  insolvent

159.   Daniela found the unchanging rhythm of the musical piece to be
annoyingly ______.
a.  recusant
b.  monotonous
c.  irreverent
d.  coherent
e.  redolent

160.   The young, thin boy surprised his wrestling opponent with his
______ strength.
a.  fraudulent
b.  wiry
c.  frolicsome
d.  pretentious
e.  endemic

161.   The new actress's talents were severely ______ by the local critics;
she went on to be a distinguished member of a well-respected
acting company.
a.  underrated
b.  berated
c.  placated
d.  dissuaded
e.  interred


162.   To hide his insecurity, Barton often acted like a ______ so that he
could make people laugh.
a.  buffoon
b.  martyr
c.  neophyte
d.  plebian
e.  wraith

163.   When Arnold's grandmother began to complain about the
excruciating pain in her knees and legs, she was referred to an
______ specialist for a diagnosis.
a.  optical
b.  oral
c.  archeological
d.  osteopathic
e.  psychological

164.   Charlie's ______ behavior made it clear that he had been highly
educated in matters of etiquette.
a.  decorous
b.  surreptitious
c.  erratic
d.  caustic
e.  irksome

165.   Staring at the ______ crystal blue water of the sea, Eileen thought
she had never seen anything so beautiful.
a.  flamboyant
b.  appalling
c.  devious
d.  pristine
e.  fiery


166.   Wearing the designer's latest fashions, the ______ clothing model
sashayed down the runway.
a.  jaunty
b.  tranquil
c.  fanatical
d.  recessive
e.  contemplative

167.   Given his ______ nature, it was appropriate that he decided to be a
trial lawyer after law school.
a.  lackluster
b.  engrossed
c.  penitent
d.  litigious
e.  obsolete

168.   After her relationship ended, Patty, feeling ______, insisted on
playing sad love songs repeatedly.
a.  infallible
b.  plausible
c.  formative
d.  mawkish
e.  persuasive

169.   Sanji went abroad as a ______ young man; when he returned two
years later, he seemed like an experienced man of the world.
a.  sardonic
b.  egalitarian
c.  reticent
d.  callow
e.  loquacious


170.   Normally distinguished and reserved, Robert would act ______
when he joined his friends to cheer for their old high school team
at annual the homecoming game.
a.  indignant
b.  oafish
c.  poignant
d.  reputable
e.  obdurate

171.   The protesters were concerned that the proposed legislation would
have a(n) ______ effect on the state's nature preserves.
a.  scintillating
b.  deleterious
c.  insipid
d.  punctilious
e.  parsimonious

172.   Not swayed by his student's ______ flattery, the professor told him
that his grade would not be changed.
a.  forlorn
b.  striated
c.  undulating
d.  unctuous
e.  frowsy

173.   Tonya found Isaac's public declarations of his love for her ______
and embarrassing.
a.  necrotic
b.  intriguing
c.  witless
d.  malodorous
e.  pliant

174.   The young kitten had a ______ look on its face when it noticed the
menacing dog entering the yard.
a.  servile
b.  diligent
c.  scornful
d.  pavid
e.  optimistic

175.   According to pirate lore, a terrible ______ would follow whoever
opened the treasure chest.
a.  precursor
b.  precession
c.  rendition
d.  insurgence
e.  malediction


Answers

151.   a.  To brood (v.) is to be in deep thought, to think moodily or
anxiously about something; to cover over, as with wings, in
order to protect; to hang over, as of something threatening,
dark, or menacing, to loom; to be silent or sullen, sulk; to sit on
or hatch eggs.

152.   c.  To riddle (v.) means to pierce with many holes.

153.   a.  Derogatory (adj.) means tending to lessen in value, to detract or
diminish; disparaging, belittling, injurious.

154.   b.  Undulating (adj.) means characterized by a wavelike motion.

155.   a.  To ponder (v.) is to weigh carefully in the mind.

156.   e.  To wrangle (v.) means to bicker, dispute, create a noisy
argument.

157.   c.  Itinerant (adj.) means traveling from one place to another,
usually on a planned course; working in one place for a short
while before moving onto another place to work; wandering.

158.   c.  Liberal (adj.) means characterized by generosity or a willingness
to give freely in large amounts; untraditional or broad-minded
in beliefs.

159.   b.  Monotonous (adj.) means tediously lacking in variety; unvarying;
repetitious.

160.   b.  Wiry (adj.) means thin, but tough and sinewy.

161.   a.  Underrated (adj.) means undervalued.

162.   a.  A buffoon (n.) is a ludicrous or bumbling person, a fool; someone
given to clowning and amusing others through ridiculous
behavior; a clown or jester.


163.   d.  Osteopathic (adj.) means a system of medicine pertaining to the
bone and skeletal system.

164.   a.  Decorous (adj.) means characterized by good taste in manners
and conduct, exhibiting propriety or decorum, proper.

165.   d.  Pristine (adj.) means pure, fresh and clean, as if new; original or
primitive.

166.   a.  Jaunty (adj.) means sprightly in manner; stylish or smart in
dress.

167.   d.  Litigious (adj.) means inclined to disagree or dispute, especially
in lawsuits; argumentative.

168.   d.  Mawkish (adj.) means characterized by excessive sentimentality;
overly emotional.

169.   d.  Callow (adj.) means lacking maturity or experience; immature,
naïve.

170.   b.  Oafish (adj.) means acting stupid, goofy, or clumsy.

171.   b.  Deleterious (adj.) means having a harmful or adverse effect;
destructive, hurtful, noxious.

172.   d.  Unctuous (adj.) means characterized by insincere earnestness;
oily or fatty in appearance.

173.   c.  Witless (adj.) means foolish, indiscreet, or silly.

174.   d.  Pavid (adj.) means timid or fearful.

175.   e.  Malediction (n.) is a curse or a proclaiming of a curse against
someone; an imprecation.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 8

Chapter 8
176.   A(n) ______ spirit only causes more stress and strife; it is better to
forgive and forget.
a.  apathetic
b.  restorative
c.  flaccid
d.  vindictive
e.  fortuitous

177.   When we were renovating the old house, we found a(n) ______ of
$10 and $20 bills hidden inside the old laundry chute.
a.  odyssey
b.  matrix
c.  lament
d.  fodder
e.  cache
6 5


501 Sentence Completion Questions

178.   Even though the pilot promised it was safe, Neil was ______ to fly
during a snowstorm.
a.  habitual
b.  overzealous
c.  pavid
d.  reluctant
e.  salacious

179.   Ron has few friends because he is ______ and cares only about
himself.
a.  mundane
b.  intrepid
c.  garrulous
d.  voracious
e.  egocentric

180.   The workers attempted to ______ the supervisor's authority by
negotiating terms with the clients themselves.
a.  contradict
b.  instigate
c.  resonate
d.  placate
e.  undermine

181.   The student failed his research paper because he chose to ______
material from a another author's work.
a.  authorize
b.  stimulate
c.  overrule
d.  plagiarize
e.  meditate

182.   The ______ old cowboy had a complexion that spoke of many
years in the desert sun, rounding up wild horses.
a.  secular
b.  suave
c.  turgid
d.  wizened
e.  truant


183.   The swimmer's back injury ______ his prospects for a gold medal
at the world championship competition.
a.  compelled
b.  advanced
c.  jeopardized
d.  maintained
e.  expounded

184.   As Ramiro strolled through his old neighborhood, he noticed
sounds and smells that were ______ of his childhood.
a.  belligerent
b.  malleable
c.  reminiscent
d.  recondite
e.  incessant

185.   Lynette had to learn the ______ of the insurance profession before
she felt comfortable describing products to her clients.
a.  lexicon
b.  classicism
c.  juncture
d.  cessation
e.  asperity

186.   Marta had to pay off her ______ to the credit card company before
she could get a mortgage.
a.  stipend
b.  liability
c.  remuneration
d.  concession
e.  consolidation

187.   The local high school issued a ______ on field trips until the bus
was repaired; then traveling could begin again.
a.  indispensability
b.  divergence
c.  moratorium
d.  subjection
e.  compulsion


188.   With Justine's ______ nature and passion for art, she would make
an excellent tour guide for the museum.
a.  volatile
b.  congenial
c.  servile
d.  fledgling
e.  trite

189.   Patrice was a(n) ______  girl when she was teenager—long-limbed
and constantly tripping over her own feet.
a.  blithe
b.  resolute
c.  ungainly
d.  preternatural
e.  conducive

190.   The employee's claim of being out with the flu did not seem very
______ because he returned from sick leave with a deep tan.
a.  inattentive
b.  inarticulate
c.  tactful
d.  plausible
e.  vulnerable

191.   The con man used his ______ to convince the elderly woman to
sign over her life savings to him.
a.  estuary
b.  melee
c.  flagrancy
d.  malleability
e.  wile

192.   Mike proved to be ______ throw after throw, hitting the carnival
dart game's bull's eye every time.
a.  sedentary
b.  temporal
c.  mediocre
d.  infallible
e.  infeasible

193.   Patrick, who was always joking, added ______ to the formal dinner,
which his sedate employer did not appreciate.
a.  contemplation
b.  ordinance
c.  tutelage
d.  levity
e.  sincerity

194.   Sunlight shining through a window was an obvious ______ in the
nearly every one of the artist's works.
a.  disjunction
b.  hindrance
c.  repugnance
d.  motif
e.  variance

195.   I like listening to Wesley go on about politics and social issues; his
opinions are ______ with my own beliefs.
a.  latent
b.  explicit
c.  consonant
d.  ensconced
e.  rife

196.   Most people will find the film silly and childish in its humor; the
most ______ viewers will find it downright crass and offensive.
a.  servile
b.  petulant
c.  fastidious
d.  arcane
e.  boisterous

197.   Even though he wanted to win the game, the coach felt that he
would be ______ if he let the injured quarterback continue to play.
a.  contentious
b.  remiss
c.  erudite
d.  stringent
e.  reputable


198.   The goal of any company is to have its product name become
______—constantly at the forefront of the consumer's mind.
a.  garrulous
b.  unctuous
c.  tremulous
d.  ubiquitous
e.  portentous

199.   During the holiday season, the ______ theme is "Peace on Earth,
Goodwill Toward All."
a.  mitigated
b.  arrogant
c.  controversial
d.  prevalent
e.  prestigious

200.   Our cottage by the sea offers many days of relaxation with warm
sunshine and soothing ______.
a.  zephyrs
b.  dervishes
c.  stanchions
d.  ebbs
e.  torques


Answers

176.   d.  Vindictive (adj.) means revengeful, hateful.

177.   e.  A cache (n.) is a hiding place for storing or concealing provisions
or valuables; a secret store of valuables or money, a stash.

178.   d.  Reluctant (adj.) means unwilling to do what one is being called
to do.

179.   e.  Egocentric (adj.) means caring only about or interested only in
oneself or one's needs.

180.   e.  To undermine (v.) means to subvert in an underhanded way.

181.   d.  To plagiarize (v.) is to steal thoughts or words in literary
composition.

182.   d.  Wizened (adj.) means withered or dry, especially with age.

183.   c.  Jeopardize (v.) means to put in jeopardy or at risk; a hazard or
danger.

184.   c.  Reminiscent (adj.) means calling to mind or remembering.

185.   a.  Lexicon (n.) is the vocabulary used in a language, profession,
class, or subject.

186.   b.  Liability (n.) is a debt or obligation; something for which one is
liable.

187.   c.  Moratorium (n.) is a temporary suspension or postponement of a
planned activity.

188.   b.  Congenial (adj.) means having a friendly or pleasant disposition,
sociable; having similar tastes, habits, or temperament; suitable
to one's needs or nature.

189.   c.  Ungainly (adj.) means clumsy or awkward.


190.   d.  Plausible (adj.) means apparently worthy of belief or praise.

191.   e.  Wile (n.) means an act or a means of cunning deception.

192.   d.  Infallible (adj.) means not fallible; completely trustworthy;
certain.

193.   d.  Levity (n.) is an inappropriate lack of seriousness or lightness of
manner; frivolity.

194.   d.  Motif (n.) is a recurrent theme or form in an artistic or literary
work.

195.   c.  Consonant (adj.) means in agreement or accord, harmonious;
having similar sounds.

196.   c.  Fastidious (adj.) means paying careful attention to detail,
meticulous; difficult to please, exacting; extremely sensitive,
squeamish, especially in regard to matters of cleanliness or
propriety.

197.   b.  Remiss (adj.) means careless in performing duties.

198.   d.  Ubiquitous (adj.) means being present everywhere.

199.   d.  Prevalent (adj.) means widespread or widely accepted;
predominant or extensive.

200.   a.  A zephyr is a soft, gentle breeze; a breeze that blows from the
west.

Sentence Completion Questions Chapter 9

Chapter 9
201.   When Melinda arrived in the impoverished city, she was
immediately ______ by bands of children begging for food.
a.  bedraggled
b.  accosted
c.  infiltrated
d.  rebuked
e.  exacerbated

202.   According to the terms of the agreement, if Nicole defaulted on
her loan, she would have to ______ her house and car, both which
would become property of the bank.
a.  usurp
b.  evince
c.  debut
d.  forfeit
e.  stigmatize


203.   Tony was tired of roommate's petty ______ about his personal life,
so he moved out.
a.  appeasements
b.  quips
c.  quotas
d.  rallies
e.  iniquities

204.   The food at the buffet table was a ______ array of delights that
even the most disciplined dieter would find difficult to resist.
a.  tempestuous
b.  tantamount
c.  truculent
d.  temporal
e.  tantalizing

205.   After fighting the five-alarm fire, the ______ firefighter could not
relax enough to unwind and get some rest.
a.  amicable
b.  treacherous
c.  pliable
d.  durable
e.  overwrought

206.   For years Henry bore the ______ of being the only man in five
generations of his family not to make the varsity baseball team.
a.  stigma
b.  brunt
c.  treatise
d.  scintillation
e.  punctiliousness


207.   Tabitha found an overpriced dining table at the antique shop and
tried to ______ with the shopkeeper, but he refused to lower the
price.
a.  haggle
b.  stipulate
c.  annunciate
d.  ruminate
e.  confer

208.   The firefighter was ______ in the news for his heroic rescue of a
child from a burning house.
a.  mandated
b.  inferred
c.  reconstituted
d.  augmented
e.  lauded

209.   Although she was on a diet, Hannah intended to ______ in the
feast of Thanksgiving.
a.  dilate
b.  enervate
c.  expunge
d.  nullify
e.  partake

210.   The villagers locked their doors when they heard about the pirates
who were ______ unprotected villages along the island's coastline.
a.  reforming
b.  marauding
c.  reclaiming
d.  conceding
e.  recapitulating


211.   I could tell by Angelica's ______ tone that she was still very angry
with me.
a.  ingratiating
b.  adjacent
c.  oblique
d.  acerbic
e.  eloquent

212.   After years of living at a(n) ______ pace, Paola decided it was time
to slow down and learn how to relax.
a.  frenetic
b.  pedestrian
c.  pretentious
d.  colloquial
e.  insipid

213.   The hospital had an outbreak of chicken pox and was forced to
______ all patients and staff to prevent more infected victims.
a.  clandestine
b.  saturate
c.  germinate
d.  quarantine
e.  aggregate

214.   Living on several acres of land dotted with oak and maple trees
makes autumn leaf-raking a ______ task.
a.  fatuous
b.  toilsome
c.  tardy
d.  obsequious
e.  fawning

215.   Acting in the high school play served to ______ Ander's appetite
for professional acting.
a.  satiate
b.  whet
c.  purport
d.  incriminate
e.  corral


216.   It would take many hours of cleaning and repairing for the young
family to transform the ______ into a clean and comfortable little
cottage.
a.  territory
b.  manor
c.  hovel
d.  demesne
e.  hacienda

217.   Ms. Lu allowed her son a great deal of ______ in spending his
birthday money, because she believed it should be his decision.
a.  injunction
b.  assimilation
c.  latitude
d.  declamation
e.  stimulus

218.   It was once believed that alchemists could ______ common metals
to gold.
a.  transmute
b.  commute
c.  execute
d.  repute
e.  denote

219.   The close-up of the actor drinking the popular brand of cola in the
movie was a ______ display of commercialism.
a.  dispassionate
b.  languid
c.  apathetic
d.  gratuitous
e.  unpunctual


220.   Juneod was ______ after his alibi proved that he could not have
committed the crime.
a.  acquitted
b.  protracted
c.  derided
d.  denounced
e.  acquainted

221.   This summer's movies are ______ for audiences of escape-the-heat
mindless entertainment—not one film offers a substantive or even
plausible plot.
a.  privation
b.  dulcet
c.  jargon
d.  fodder
e.  germane

222.   The dictator used propaganda and intimidation to ______ the
revolution.
a.  prelude
b.  intimate
c.  congregate
d.  irradiate
e.  quell

223.   Standing on the ______, the preacher greeted the parishioners
every Sunday morning.
a.  steeple
b.  pillar
c.  parvis
d.  manifestation
e.  sensor


224.   Simona's ______ with her money caught up with her when she
didn't have the resources to buy a badly needed new car.
a.  miserliness
b.  thriftiness
c.  wantonness
d.  intuition
e.  predilection

225.   The architect designed the ceiling using wood ______ that would
remain uncovered, creating a rustic ambience in the living room.
a.  pediments
b.  joists
c.  mullions
d.  banisters
e.  abutments


Answers

201.   b.  To accost (v.) means to approach and speak to someone, usually
in a bold and aggressive manner as with a demand.

202.   d.  To forfeit (v.) means to be deprived of or lose the right to by the
act of a crime, offense, fault, breach, or error.

203.   b.  A quip (n.) is a sarcastic or cutting jest; a witty remark.

204.   e.  Tantalizing (adj.) means tempting, attractive, often via the
senses.

205.   e.  Overwrought (adj.) means labored to excess; anxious, agitated.

206.   a.  Stigma means a mark of infamy or token of disgrace.

207.   a.  To haggle (v.) means to bargain, such as over a price, or dispute
in a petty way; to wrangle.

208.   e.  To laud (v.) is to praise, honor, or glorify.

209.   e.  To partake (v.) is to have a share or take part.

210.   b.  To maraud (v.) is to rove and raid in quest of plunder.

211.   d.  Acerbic (adj.) means sour or bitter in taste; sharp or biting in
tone, character, or expression.

212.   a.  Frenetic (adj.) means wildly excited or agitated, frenzied, frantic.

213.   d.  To quarantine (v.) means to restrict the entrance to and exit from
any place under observation for infectious disease.

214.   b.  Toilsome (adj.) means laborious or hard work.

215.   b.  To whet (v.) means to make more keen or eager.


216.   c.  A hovel (n.) is a small crude house; a filthy or disorganized hut
or shed.

217.   c.  Latitude (n.) is freedom from normal limitations or restraints in
conduct; an angular distance from a plane of reference.

218.   a.  To transmute (v.) means to change in nature, substance, or form.

219.   d.  Gratuitous (adj.) means unjustified or unnecessary; of no cost.

220.   a.  To acquit (v.) means to free or clear from an accusation or
charge; to release or discharge from a duty, obligation, or debt;
to behave oneself in a certain manner.

221.   d.  Fodder (n.) is a consumable, often inferior resource or item, high
in demand and usually abundant in supply.

222.   e.  To quell (v.) means to cease or suppress.

223.   c.  A parvis (n.) is the porch or area before a building (as a church).

224.   c.  Wantonness (n.) means recklessness; bawdy; merciless.

225.   b.  Joist (n.) is a small, horizontal beam that supports a ceiling or
floor, usually made of wood, reinforced concrete, or steel.