“While” sets up a contrast; Lee Krasner is not well known to the public, but one group of people, described by the missing word, respected her work. There’s a further clue after the semicolon: her work has been featured in a prominent museum. Thus, you can predict that the blank must mean something like “art experts.”
(C) the cognoscenti and (D) connoisseurs both mean “experts,” especially in connection to the arts, so they are the two correct answers. (B) neophytes and (F) the uninitiated are the opposite of what’s needed; both refer to novices or those who are untrained. (A) detractors (”those who disparage or criticize”) and (E) malcontents (”rebels” or “troublemakers”) are both too negative to fit the context of the sentence.
The missing word describes Don Quixote’s relation to Western literature. The fact that it is sometimes called the first novel implies that it holds a special place in Western literature, so you can predict that the blank will mean something like “important.”
(A) seminal, meaning “influential,” and (D) canonical, meaning “recognized” or “time-honored,” both match this prediction and are correct. (B) derivative would imply that Don Quixote is based on modern novels; this is the opposite of their actual relationship. (C) uninspired means “dull” or “uninteresting” and is again the opposite of what you need. (E) serial, or “arranged in a series,” doesn’t fit the context as there is no indication that Don Quixote was published as a series of chapters. Finally, (F) antithetical means “opposite.” Since the sentence indicates that Don Quixote is an early modern novel, this choice can be eliminated.
Taken as a whole, the sentence provides a reason why human infants might be born in a state that is less developed than that of other animal species. Indeed, “barely developed“ would be a good prediction to complete the sentence. Both (C) inchoate and (E) incipient mean “just beginning to develop” and are the correct answers.
(A) impetuous means ”impulsive,” which does not fit the context of the sentence at all. (B) consummate, as an adjective, means “complete” or ”perfect,” and is the opposite of the meaning of the missing word; this word would be more appropriate in describing the other animal species discussed in the sentence. (D) sedentary means “sitting” or “not moving around” and would imply that human infants avoid moving because they are lazy. Finally, (F) volatile means “changeable” or “explosive” and can be eliminated because, while the infants are still developing, there is no indication that they are changing unpredictably or dangerously.
There’s a somewhat subtle contrast clue here. One of the firefighters is rushing into a burning building to rescue children, while others are “more wary” of the structure. The blank must describe why the firefighters are concerned the building is dangerous; a good prediction would be “unsafe.” Evaluate the choices to find two matches for the prediction. (B) precarious and (E) tottering both mean “unstable,” so they’re the correct answers.
(A) stalwart and (C) stout are the opposite of the prediction; they both mean “sturdy.” (D) irrefragable means “impossible to refute,” while (F) fecund means “fertile.”
The first part of the sentence explains that there are multiple definitions of “happiness,” while the second part highlights two of those definitions. The first definition, which contains the blank, describes a type of “emotion” that can only be experienced “momentarily.” You can predict that the blank means something like “temporary.”
Evaluate the answer choices to find two words that are close in meaning to your prediction. Choices (C) a transient and (F) an ephemeral both mean “short-lived” or “fleeting” and are therefore the correct answers. (A) a coincidental would refer to something that happens to occur at the same time as something else, not something that passes quickly, so it is incorrect. (B) an inherited refers to a trait passed down from one’s parents, and (D) an incessant describes something that is unceasing, so both are closer in meaning to “fixed” than to “fleeting.” Similarly, (E) an intrinsic describes a trait that is part of one’s very nature, rather than a state that is temporary.
To determine the meaning of the missing word, analyze the word charge of the context clues that relate to or describe the blank. In this sentence, the words “honor,” “moving,” and “beauty” have a positive word charge, indicating that the poet wrote a poem that praised his native country. You can, therefore, predict that the missing word will be similar in meaning to the word “tribute.” This prediction matches both (B) paean and (D) panegyric, each of which means “an expression of praise.”
The other answer choices may have been tempting as each is related to speech or the use of words. Choice (A) elocution is the manner in which one pronounces words, but it does not refer to the content of a text. Similarly, (C) oratory means “the art of public speaking,” but it does not refer to the text of a speech. Choices (E) diatribe and (F) harangue are synonyms, but both mean “a critical and aggressive speech,” which is the opposite of the blank’s predicted meaning.
The detour road sign “While” indicates that the “taint of scandal” followed the executive in spite of the ethics committee’s actions. Since the second half of the sentence has a negative tone and is set up to contrast with the first half, you can infer that the ethics committee did something positive for the executive who was accused of a scandal. A strong prediction for the missing word would be “acquitted” or “cleared of wrongdoing.” This prediction matches (D) exculpated, which means “to have blame removed,” and (F) exonerated, which means “to have one’s innocence proven.”
Choices (A) discharged and (C) dismissed may have been tempting answer choices since they are synonyms. However, both words mean “to be relieved of duty,” which would be a negative act against the executive rather than the positive act indicated. Choice (B) repudiated means “rejected,” which also has a negative charge. (E) lionized is a positive word that means “celebrated,” but no clues in the sentence indicate that the executive deserved praise, and no other answer choice has a synonymous meaning.
The phrase “no matter how hard” at the beginning of the sentence acts as a detour road sign, indicating that Benjamin’s efforts to get the kitten off the branch were unsuccessful. The word “remained” is a straight-ahead road sign that implies the kitten had been clinging to the branch for a while. You can predict that the missing word, which describes the kitten, means something like “stubborn.” This prediction matches (A) intractable and (C) obstinate, both of which mean “stubborn” or “immovable.”
Choices (B) enervated and (F) incapacitated might have been tempting since they are synonyms, but both mean “weakened” and, therefore, do not match the prediction. Choice (D) diffident, which means “shy,” might be a tempting word to use when describing a kitten, but the context clues do not support this meaning. Similarly, (E) lackadaisical, which means “lazy,” would contrast with the description of the kitten, which was hanging on “with all of its strength.”
Several clues point to the meaning of the blank. “Despite” and “hardly” indicate that the missing word contrasts with the expectation of George Washington’s character. The story about his being “unable to lie” is “apocryphal” or unlikely to be true, and the second sentence states that Washington was actually “shrewd,” using “deception and misdirection.” A great prediction for the blank would be “honest.” This would contrast with what the sentence claims to be Washington’s true “shrewd” nature.
(B) guileless and (E) artless both mean “honest and innocent,” and are thus correct. Be careful with (C) duplicitous and (F) mendacious, which are synonyms but mean “deceptive,” which is the opposite of the meaning of the blank. (A) hapless, or “unlucky,” and (D) listless, or “lacking energy,” do not fit the meaning of the sentence.