Chapter 6
Each Verbal Reasoning section features approximately four Sentence Equivalence questions. In each sentence, one word will be missing, and you must identify two correct words to complete the sentence. The correct answer choices, when used in the sentence, will result in the same meaning for both sentences. This question type tests your ability to figure out how a sentence should be completed by using the meaning of the entire sentence.
The directions for Sentence Equivalence will look like this:
A Sentence Equivalence question will look like this:
Now let’s discuss how the Kaplan Method will help you answer these questions correctly.
STEP 1As you read the sentence, pay attention to the part of speech that the answer choice will be and compare it with the answer choices. Also look for specific words in the sentence that will help you to understand its meaning. These are called “key words” or “road signs”—descriptive phrases or contextual clues that suggest the meaning of the missing word.
Words that connect one part of a sentence to another (“straight-ahead” road signs) include the following:
| And | Likewise |
| Since | Moreover |
| Also | Similarly |
| Thus | In addition |
| Because | Consequently |
| ; (semicolon) | |
Words that indicate one part of the sentence contradicts another part of the sentence (“detour” road signs) include these:
| But | Although |
| Despite | While |
| Yet | On the other hand |
| However | Unfortunately |
| Unless | Nonetheless |
| Rather | Conversely |
Being aware of these road signs will help you to figure out the meaning of the sentence and the relationship of the missing word to other ideas in the sentence.
STEP 2Once you have read the sentence and identified clues to words that will complete the sentence, predict an answer. Your prediction should be a word that you choose on your own before you look at the answer choices. The prediction word should also be a simple word that logically completes the sentence.
STEP 3Quickly review the six answer choices and choose the two words that, when plugged into the sentence, most closely make the intended meaning of the sentence match your prediction. Eliminate the answer choices that do not fit your prediction. Sometimes you will need to adjust your prediction in order to find two answer choices that match each other.
STEP 4Read the sentence with each answer choice plugged in to check that you have selected the correct answers. Make sure that both answer choices make sense in the context of the sentence. Pay close attention to the charge of a word’s meaning. For example, “dislike” and “despise” both mean the same thing, but “despise” has a much stronger degree of charge to that meaning. Each sentence should have the same meaning. If one or both of your answers do not make sense when you reread the sentence, revisit the question and repeat Steps 1, 2, and 3.
Now let’s apply the Kaplan Method to a Sentence Equivalence question.
She volunteered to work in a soup kitchen because of her nature.
STEP 1One way to determine the correct answer in this sentence is to figure out the part of speech of the missing word. The missing word in this sentence is an adjective because it modifies the noun “nature.” Another clue in this sentence is the key word “volunteer.” A volunteer is someone who offers her time or skills without pay. The blank will be an adjective with a positive connotation that describes the type of person who volunteers.
STEP 2Knowing that the blank must describe someone who offers her time or skills without pay, you can predict that the correct answer will be similar to “helpful.”
STEP 3Quickly review the six answer choices to see which two words most closely match “helpful,” which in this case are choice (C) altruistic and choice (F) benevolent.
STEP 4Plug each answer choice into the sentence to see if it matches the context. Make sure that each sentence has the same meaning:
“She volunteered to work in a soup kitchen because of her altruistic nature.”
“She volunteered to work in a soup kitchen because of her benevolent nature.”
Now let’s apply the Kaplan Method to a second Sentence Equivalence question.
While the first speaker at the conference was confusing and unclear, the second speaker was .
STEP 1In this sentence, the clue word “while” is a detour road sign. “While” indicates that the second part of the sentence will mean the opposite of the first part of the sentence. The first speaker was described as “confusing” and “unclear,” which are the key words in this question. The correct answer means the opposite.
STEP 2Knowing that the blank will mean the opposite of “confusing” and “unclear,” you can predict that correct answers will be similar to “clear.”
STEP 3Quickly go through the six answer choices and see which two words most closely match “clear” in the context of speaking. In this case, these are choice (A) articulate and choice (E) eloquent.
STEP 4Plug each answer choice into the sentence to see if it matches the context. Make sure that each sentence has the same meaning:
“While the first speaker at the conference was confusing and unclear, the second speaker was articulate.”
“While the first speaker at the conference was confusing and unclear, the second speaker was eloquent.”