1. Unwilling to admit that they had been in error, the researchers tried to ____ their case with more data obtained from dubious sources.
A. ascertain
B. buttress
C. refute
D. absolve
E. dispute
2. Archaeology is a poor profession; only ____ sums are available for excavating sites and even more ____ amounts for preserving the excavations.
A. paltry - meager
B. miniscule - substantial
C. average - augmented
D. judicious - penurious
E. modest - generous
3. The student was extremely foolhardy; he had the ____ to question the senior professor's judgment.
A. wisdom
B. temerity
C. interest
D. trepidation
E. condescension
4. The formerly ____ waters of the lake have been polluted so that the fish are no longer visible from the surface.
A. muddy
B. tranquil
C. stagnant
D. pellucid
E. rancid
5. After the accident, the nerves to her arm were damaged and so the muscles ____ through disuse.
A. atrophied
B. contracted
C. elongated
D. invigorated
E. dwindled
답안지
1.Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Clue: The researchers were unwilling to admit that they were wrong. Therefore they would try to support (buttress) their arguments.
(ascertain = find out; refute = prove wrong; absolve = forgive)
2.Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
Clue: The part after the semicolon expands upon the first part of the sentence.sat
So, since the first part tells us that there is no money in archaeology, then there will only be small (paltry) amounts for excavating. Also ‘even more’ indicates that another similar word is required. Thus, meager also means small.
(miniscule = tiny; augmented = increased; judicious = wise, just; penurious = poor)
3.Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Clue: The semicolon indicates that the second part is closely related to the first.
So, since the student was foolhardy (reckless) he was doing something unwise. It would be reckless to question the professor’s judgment, and so we can say that he had the temerity (excessive nerve, or daring) to question him.
Note that temerity has a negative connotation.
(trepidation = fear and hesitation; condescension = arrogance)
4.Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Clue: The word ‘formerly’ indicates that once things were different.
So, since now the waters are polluted so that fish cannot be seen, then formerly they must have been unpolluted and clear (pellucid).
(tranquil = peaceful; stagnant = not moving; pellucid = transparently clear; rancid = stale)sat
5.Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
Clue: The sentence states that the muscles were not used and so we would expect them to waste away. Atrophied means wasted away, or withered.
Note that dwindled means grew less but could not be used for muscles.
(invigorated = energized)