Verbal Practice Questions Answers

1. A: We know that a large appliance should be disposed of properly, but based on its size it will often be difficult. This is the correct answer.

Answer B, reasonably disposing of the refrigerator, does not make sense since it is not clear what reasonably means in this context. This response can be disregarded immediately. Answer C, Diffidently, means quietly or shyly. A refrigerator wouldn't ordinarily be quietly disposed of. Answer D, a refrigerator may need to be disposed of in a satisfactory way, but it is not completely difficult. Rather, it may be difficult at some stages of disposal. Answer E, a refrigerator may be efficiently disposed of, and it is not impossible to do this.

2. C: These leagues became very popular when many men were fighting in World War II. This is the correct answer.

Answer A, erratic means that something is inconsistent. This doesn't describe most sports leagues, so this would not be the best response. Answer B, the leagues were made possible by the absence of male players, but these men were rarely enamored, or charmed, by the military. Answer D, compatible means that the leagues were similar, or well matched. This is an odd way to describe a baseball league. Answer E, sporadic means that something is irregular or happens once in a while. When paired with integral, a word that means vital, this response does not work as well as the first one. Of course, men were vital to the military, but this doesn't explain why the leagues would be sporadic.

3. D: To skulkmeans to move around in a sneaky way, and the word implies the person or thing doing the skulking is trying to hide.

Striding seems to directly contradict that word. Someone who is walking, or , is not usually trying to hide. Look for a pair of words that are in contrast to each other. In answer D, whisper is the opposite of talk. D is the correct answer.

Answer A, bristle is a type of animal hair. Fur has a similar meaning. Answer B, cogitate means to think seriously about something. Mull means almost the same thing. Answer C, to wheedle someone is to try to talk that person into doing something. It is the same as trying to coax someone. Answer E, a precursor is something that happens before something else. This is similar to an antecedent.

4. C: To proselytize means to try to convert a person to a political party or a religion. Induce means to influence or persuade a person. The words mean approximately the same thing. Look for a pair of words that have similar meanings. Displace means to move to a different place. Reposition means to change the place of something. These words are similar. C is the correct answer.

Answer A, to imbibe means to take in or to drink something. This is in contrast to the word remove. Answer B, flummox means to confuse. To explain is to try to make someone less confused. These words are in contrast to each other. Answer D, to be reposed is to be resting. To be agitated is the opposite of being reposed. Answer E, dubious means that one is not sure about something. If someone is decided, they are certainly not dubious.

5. B: The main idea of an article is usually presented in the first few sentences. B expresses the main idea, which is that statins are effective in controlling the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

6. A: The only statement that is alluded to in the article is that statins can save lives since they are able to prevent fatal heart attacks in some people.

7. A: The article details reasons statins can be effective in reducing the amount of cholesterol in the body.

8. D: The theme of the article is that news photographs must tell the story.

9. A: The passage implies that there are many components that go into taking a photo.

10. C: An objective photograph is one that does not reflect personal feelings or biases.

11. B: Priory is a name for a religious residence. Answer B, A depot is a place where things are stored. B is the correct answer. Answer A, residence is a similar word to priory. Answer C, a rectory is a place where priests live. Answer D, a convent is a place where nuns live. Answer D, a monastery is a place where monks live.

12. B: A recreant is a turncoat, a rat, a person who tells secrets. Answer B, a loyalist is one who stays loyal to his organization, a religion, or a particular group. B is the correct answer. Answer A, a turncoat is a person who changes alliances. Answer C, an apostate is one who abandons a previous loyalty - often someone who renounces a religion. Answer D, craven means to lack courage. Answer E, a renegade is a person who deserts his faith or rejects lawful behavior.

13. A: Obliterate means to remove something from existence. Answer A, reinstate means to restore to a previous state. This is the correct answer. Answer B, obscure means to hide from view. Answer C, efface means to erase. Answer D, extirpate means to wipe away or destroy. Answer E, excise means to remove or take away.

14. E: Fabricated means made up. This is the correct answer. Answer A, supercilious means proud or snippy. Answer B, appropriated means took over. Answer C, arresting means exciting. Answer D, insipid means dull or bland.

15. A: Extrapolate means to estimate. This is the correct answer. Answer B, embroider means to overstate. Answer C, equivocate means to misstate. Answer D, acerbate means to exacerbate or make worse. Answer E, hyperbolize means to exaggerate.

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