GRE Text Completion MCQs

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Text Completion is a core component of the GRE Verbal Reasoning section, designed to test a candidate’s ability to interpret, analyze, and synthesize incomplete prose. Comprising sentences or short passages with one, two, or three blanks, these questions require test-takers to decode contextual clues, recognize structural transition words, and select precise vocabulary that maintains logical and stylistic coherence. Unlike simple vocabulary tests, GRE Text Completion demands rigorous critical reasoning to map how modifying clauses and conjunctions shift the meaning of a sentence. Regular practice with targeted multiple-choice questions enables aspirants to master blank-solving strategies and improve accuracy under timed conditions.

1. In a Text Completion question, what is the first crucial step before looking at the answer choices?

a) Guessing randomly
b) Predicting your own word for the blank based on context clues
c) Choosing the longest word
d) Translating the sentence into Latin
Correct Answer: b) Predicting your own word for the blank based on context clues
Explanation:
Predicting a word prevents you from being swayed by trap answers and helps you focus strictly on the context provided.

2. Which of the following transition words indicates a contrast or shift in a sentence?

a) Furthermore
b) Consequently
c) However
d) Additionally
Correct Answer: c) However
Explanation:
Words like 'however', 'although', and 'despite' signal a contrast or shift in the meaning of a sentence.

3. What is the primary function of a colon (:) in a Text Completion sentence?

a) To signal a total contradiction
b) To introduce an explanation, definition, or elaboration of the preceding clause
c) To end the sentence abruptly
d) To indicate a mathematical equation
Correct Answer: b) To introduce an explanation, definition, or elaboration of the preceding clause
Explanation:
A colon indicates that the text following it will explain or define what came before it, acting as a strong context clue.

4. In a single-blank Text Completion question, how many answer choices are provided?

a) Three
b) Four
c) Five
d) Six
Correct Answer: c) Five
Explanation:
Single-blank Text Completion questions provide five answer choices, whereas multi-blank questions provide three choices per blank.

5. In a Text Completion question with two blanks, how many answer choices are provided per blank?

a) Three
b) Four
c) Five
d) Six
Correct Answer: a) Three
Explanation:
For Text Completion questions with two or three blanks, each blank has exactly three independent answer choices.

6. What does a 'positive or negative charge' strategy refer to in Text Completion?

a) Measuring electrical current in the testing center
b) Determining whether the missing word requires a good (positive) or bad (negative) connotation
c) Evaluating the emotional state of the test-taker
d) Checking for grammatical tense agreement
Correct Answer: b) Determining whether the missing word requires a good (positive) or bad (negative) connotation
Explanation:
Assigning a '+' or '-' charge to a blank based on context clues helps you quickly eliminate options with the wrong connotation.

7. How should you approach a triple-blank Text Completion question?

a) Always solve the first blank first in strict order
b) Find the blank with the strongest context clues and solve it first, regardless of order
c) Guess all three blanks simultaneously
d) Skip the question entirely
Correct Answer: b) Find the blank with the strongest context clues and solve it first, regardless of order
Explanation:
Blanks do not need to be solved sequentially. Start with the easiest blank, as solving it often unlocks clues for the remaining blanks.

8. If a sentence reads, 'Unlike his usually ____ brother, John was extremely talkative,' what must the blank mean?

a) Talkative
b) Quiet
c) Angry
d) Intelligent
Correct Answer: b) Quiet
Explanation:
The word 'Unlike' signals a contrast. If John is talkative, the brother must be the opposite, which is quiet.

9. Which conjunction typically signals a cause-and-effect relationship?

a) Although
b) Despite
c) Because
d) However
Correct Answer: c) Because
Explanation:
Words like 'because', 'since', and 'therefore' indicate that one part of the sentence is the cause of another part.

10. If you do not know the definition of a specific word in the Text Completion options, what is the best strategy?

a) Immediately eliminate it
b) Always choose it because the GRE loves obscure words
c) Evaluate the words you do know; if they don't fit, the unknown word might be correct by elimination
d) Panic and close the testing window
Correct Answer: c) Evaluate the words you do know; if they don't fit, the unknown word might be correct by elimination
Explanation:
Do not eliminate a word just because you don't recognize it. Use the Process of Elimination on the words you do know first.

11. What is the final step you should perform after selecting your answer(s) for a Text Completion question?

a) Click next immediately to save time
b) Reread the entire sentence with your chosen word(s) inserted to ensure grammatical and logical flow
c) Change your answer to the second-best choice just in case
d) Look for a synonym in the previous passage
Correct Answer: b) Reread the entire sentence with your chosen word(s) inserted to ensure grammatical and logical flow
Explanation:
Re-reading the completed sentence is crucial to catching subtle logical contradictions your brain might miss while focusing on individual blanks.

12. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The politician's speech was so ____ that even his most loyal supporters grew bored and restless.'

a) laconic
b) prolix
c) lucid
d) cogent
Correct Answer: b) prolix
Explanation:
Prolix means protracted or unnecessarily wordy, which explains why supporters grew bored and restless.

13. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'Despite the clear evidence presented by the audit, the CEO remained ____ in her denial of any wrongdoing.'

a) compliant
b) obdurate
c) vacillating
d) amenable
Correct Answer: b) obdurate
Explanation:
Obdurate means stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action, matching the refusal to accept clear audit evidence.

14. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The scientist's novel hypothesis was initially met with ____, but over time, extensive experimentation proved its validity.'

a) acclamation
b) skepticism
c) endorsement
d) applause
Correct Answer: b) skepticism
Explanation:
The contrast word 'but' paired with 'proved its validity later' shows that the initial reaction was doubtful or skeptical.

15. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'Rather than offering a straightforward explanation, the director chose to ____, using ambiguous language to avoid answering the journalist's direct question.'

a) clarify
b) equivocate
c) elucidate
d) proclaim
Correct Answer: b) equivocate
Explanation:
Equivocating means using ambiguous language intentionally to conceal the truth or avoid commitment.

16. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The critic praised the novel for its ____ style, noting that every single word served a purposeful narrative function without any unnecessary fluff.'

a) garrulous
b) laconic
c) rambling
d) loquacious
Correct Answer: b) laconic
Explanation:
A laconic style uses very few words, matching the description of having no unnecessary fluff.

17. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'Because the museum director was famously ____ about artifact preservation, even microscopic dust particles on the display cases were unacceptable.'

a) lax
b) fastidious
c) negligent
d) heedless
Correct Answer: b) fastidious
Explanation:
Fastidious means very attentive to and concerned about accuracy, detail, and cleanliness.

18. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The dictator expected absolute obedience and treated any form of dissent with ____ cruelty.'

a) lenient
b) merciful
c) punitive
d) benevolent
Correct Answer: c) punitive
Explanation:
Punitive means inflicting or intended as punishment, fitting the harsh treatment of dissent.

19. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The startup's financial situation was precarious; its survival depended entirely on the ____ injection of capital from venture capitalists.'

a) ephemeral
b) timely
c) deleterious
d) harmful
Correct Answer: b) timely
Explanation:
A timely injection of capital saves a precarious startup from failure.

20. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The comedian's humorous remarks provided a welcome ____ during an otherwise tense and somber corporate meeting.'

a) catalyst
b) levity
c) gravity
d) solemnity
Correct Answer: b) levity
Explanation:
Levity refers to humor or lightness treated lightly, providing relief in a tense situation.

21. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'Far from being ____, the artist's intricate paintings required months of painstaking labor and intense concentration.'

a) meticulous
b) cursory
c) thorough
d) diligent
Correct Answer: b) cursory
Explanation:
The contrast 'Far from being' paired with 'months of painstaking labor' means the opposite of cursory (hasty and superficial).

22. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The historical document was so heavily damaged and faded that portions of the text remained entirely ____.'

a) legible
b) illegible
c) lucid
d) perspicuous
Correct Answer: b) illegible
Explanation:
Damaged and faded text cannot be read, making it illegible.

23. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The new employee's ____ behavior—constantly flattering the senior executives while ignoring his peers—disgusted the rest of the team.'

a) supercilious
b) obsequious
c) altruistic
d) independent
Correct Answer: b) obsequious
Explanation:
Obsequious describes someone who is obedient or attentive to an excessive, fawning degree to gain favor.

24. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The economic forecast was deeply pessimistic, predicting a severe and prolonged ____ rather than a quick market recovery.'

a) boom
b) recession
c) surge
d) inflation
Correct Answer: b) recession
Explanation:
A recession represents an economic downturn, fitting a pessimistic forecast.

25. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The scientist was known for her ____ research methods, double-checking every calculation and leaving no room for human error.'

a) sloppy
b) meticulous
c) hasty
d) erratic
Correct Answer: b) meticulous
Explanation:
Meticulous means showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

26. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The tropical storm lost its strength rapidly once it made landfall, finally ____ into a mild rain shower.'

a) intensifying
b) abating
c) escalating
d) flourishing
Correct Answer: b) abating
Explanation:
Abating means subsiding or becoming less intense, matching the storm losing strength.

27. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The CEO's public apology appeared insincere; it was dismissed by critics as a mere ____ designed to placate angry shareholders.'

a) subterfuge
b) panacea
c) vindication
d) tribute
Correct Answer: a) subterfuge
Explanation:
Subterfuge refers to deceit used in order to achieve one's goal, fitting a superficial apology.

28. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The novelist's latest book is a ____ masterpiece that weaves together multiple historical eras and dozens of complex characters.'

a) paltry
b) sweeping
c) narrow
d) confined
Correct Answer: b) sweeping
Explanation:
Sweeping describes something wide in range or scope, fitting a complex multi-era novel.

29. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The tropical heat was so intense and oppressive that the travelers felt completely ____, drained of all physical energy.'

a) invigorated
b) enervated
c) stimulated
d) refreshed
Correct Answer: b) enervated
Explanation:
Enervated means drained of energy or vitality.

30. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'Unlike her predecessor, who was charismatic and gregarious, the new manager was notoriously ____ and rarely spoke to anyone outside of meetings.'

a) effusive
b) reticent
c) garrulous
d) loquacious
Correct Answer: b) reticent
Explanation:
Reticent means reserved or reluctant to reveal one's thoughts, acting as a contrast to gregarious.

31. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The community center was built through the generous donations of anonymous ____ who cared deeply about local youth programs.'

a) misanthropes
b) philanthropists
c) malefactors
d) saboteurs
Correct Answer: b) philanthropists
Explanation:
Philanthropists are people who seek to promote the welfare of others, typically through generous donations.

32. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The defense attorney argued that the police interrogation methods were coercive and designed to ____ a false confession from an exhausted suspect.'

a) prevent
b) elicit
c) suppress
d) withhold
Correct Answer: b) elicit
Explanation:
To elicit means to evoke or draw out a response or confession.

33. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The professor's lecture was criticized for being overly ____, drifting endlessly into unrelated historical anecdotes instead of staying on topic.'

a) concise
b) digressive
c) succinct
d) focused
Correct Answer: b) digressive
Explanation:
Digressive means tending to depart from the main subject, matching the endless drifting into anecdotes.

34. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The new regulations are intended to ____ corporate transparency, ensuring that all financial transactions are publicly disclosed.'

a) undermine
b) bolster
c) obscure
d) hinder
Correct Answer: b) bolster
Explanation:
Bolster means to support or strengthen, fitting the goal of increasing transparency.

35. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The critique was so ____ that the young artist felt entirely demoralized and considered giving up painting altogether.'

a) laudatory
b) scathing
c) complimentary
d) supportive
Correct Answer: b) scathing
Explanation:
Scathing means severely critical, explaining why the artist felt demoralized.

36. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The mountain path was treacherous and steep, requiring hikers to exercise extreme caution to avoid a fatal ____.'

a) ascension
b) precipice
c) descent
d) plateau
Correct Answer: b) precipice
Explanation:
A precipice is a very steep rock face or cliff, posing a danger of falling.

37. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The detective found several ____ clues at the crime scene, but none of them pointed clearly toward a single suspect.'

a) conclusive
b) equivocal
c) definite
d) unequivocal
Correct Answer: b) equivocal
Explanation:
Equivocal means open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous, fitting clues that do not point clearly to a suspect.

38. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The scientist's theory was revolutionary, yet it was surprisingly ____, capable of being explained to a layperson in just a few minutes.'

a) convoluted
b) accessible
c) abstruse
d) esoteric
Correct Answer: b) accessible
Explanation:
Accessible means able to be easily understood or appreciated, contrasting with revolutionary complexity.

39. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The company's rapid expansion led to bureaucratic inefficiency, creating a morass of ____ rules that slowed down decision-making.'

a) streamlined
b) stifling
c) efficient
d) agile
Correct Answer: b) stifling
Explanation:
Stifling rules inhibit growth and decision-making, fitting bureaucratic inefficiency.

40. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The author's essay was praised for its ____ prose, delivering complex philosophical concepts in clear, crystalline language.'

a) muddy
b) lucid
c) opaque
d) turbid
Correct Answer: b) lucid
Explanation:
Lucid means expressed clearly and easy to understand.

41. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus, climate change denial remains a ____ viewpoint in certain political circles.'

a) fringe
b) mainstream
c) universal
d) standard
Correct Answer: a) fringe
Explanation:
A fringe viewpoint is unconventional, peripheral, or held by a small minority despite scientific consensus.

42. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The ancient castle stood in ruins, its crumbling stone walls serving as a ____ reminder of a bygone feudal era.'

a) fleeting
b) poignant
c) joyful
d) merry
Correct Answer: b) poignant
Explanation:
Poignant means evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret, fitting crumbling castle ruins.

43. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The committee's decision was ____; all twelve members voted in favor of the proposal without a single dissenting voice.'

a) divided
b) unanimous
c) contentious
d) disputed
Correct Answer: b) unanimous
Explanation:
Unanimous means fully in agreement.

44. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The speaker's argument was built on a flawed premise, rendering her entire conclusion fundamentally ____.'

a) sound
b) tenuous
c) robust
d) solid
Correct Answer: b) tenuous
Explanation:
Tenuous means very weak or slight, fitting an argument built on a flawed premise.

45. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The manager's leadership style was remarkably ____; she gave her team members complete autonomy to execute projects without micromanaging.'

a) authoritarian
b) laissez-faire
c) despotic
d) tyrannical
Correct Answer: b) laissez-faire
Explanation:
Laissez-faire describes a policy of minimum governmental or managerial interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society.

46. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The art critic dismissed the minimalist painting as mere ____, arguing that it lacked any genuine artistic depth or emotional resonance.'

a) masterpiece
b) artifice
c) genius
d) authenticity
Correct Answer: b) artifice
Explanation:
Artifice refers to clever tricks or cunning devices, often used to imply artificiality or a lack of genuine depth.

47. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The diplomat's ____ handling of the delicate international crisis averted a potential armed conflict.'

a) maladroit
b) adroit
c) clumsy
d) inept
Correct Answer: b) adroit
Explanation:
Adroit means clever or skillful, fitting a successful diplomatic resolution.

48. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The documentary provided a ____ examination of corporate corruption, exposing unethical practices that went unchecked for decades.'

a) superficial
b) penetrating
c) cursory
d) shallow
Correct Answer: b) penetrating
Explanation:
Penetrating implies sharp, deep insight and thoroughness.

49. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The architect's design was praised for its innovative use of space, blending modern minimalism with ____ elements from classical Greek architecture.'

a) futuristic
b) derivative
c) avant-garde
d) novel
Correct Answer: b) derivative
Explanation:
Derivative elements borrow from or imitate classical models.

50. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The team's unexpected victory was a ____ achievement, securing their place in sports history after years of consecutive losses.'

a) trivial
b) monumental
c) insignificant
d) negligible
Correct Answer: b) monumental
Explanation:
Monumental means great in importance, extent, or size.

51. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The philosopher argued that human morality is not ____, but rather a social construct that evolves alongside civilization.'

a) mutable
b) immutable
c) variable
d) fluid
Correct Answer: b) immutable
Explanation:
Immutable means unchanging over time or unable to be changed, contrasting with a social construct that evolves.

52. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The novel's plot was so ____ that readers often needed to consult a family tree chart just to keep track of the character relationships.'

a) straightforward
b) labyrinthine
c) simple
d) linear
Correct Answer: b) labyrinthine
Explanation:
Labyrinthine means like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting, highly complex and intricate.

53. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The scientist's rigorous methodology ensured that her experimental findings were fully ____ by independent laboratories worldwide.'

a) refuted
b) corroborated
c) invalidated
d) debunked
Correct Answer: b) corroborated
Explanation:
Corroborated means confirmed or supported with additional evidence or independent testing.

54. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The city council's decision to demolish the historic theater provoked a wave of ____ public outrage across the community.'

a) apathetic
b) fervent
c) indifferent
d) lukewarm
Correct Answer: b) fervent
Explanation:
Fervent means having or displaying a passionate intensity, fitting widespread public outrage.

55. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The author's tone throughout the memoir was remarkably ____, reflecting objectively on past mistakes without self-pity or defensiveness.'

a) hysterical
b) dispassionate
c) melodramatic
d) emotional
Correct Answer: b) dispassionate
Explanation:
Dispassionate means not influenced by strong emotion, rational, and impartial.

56. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The detective was praised for his ____ observation skills, noticing subtle details at the crime scene that everyone else had overlooked.'

a) obtuse
b) perceptive
c) blind
d) vacant
Correct Answer: b) perceptive
Explanation:
Perceptive means having or showing sensitive and keen insight.

57. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The economic downturn proved to be ____, lasting only a single quarter before the market rebounded strongly.'

a) permanent
b) ephemeral
c) perpetual
d) enduring
Correct Answer: b) ephemeral
Explanation:
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time.

58. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The billionaire's philanthropic foundation donated millions of dollars to eradicate disease, driven by a genuine sense of ____.'

a) malevolence
b) altruism
c) selfishness
d) greed
Correct Answer: b) altruism
Explanation:
Altruism is selfless concern for the well-being of others, fitting massive charitable donations.

59. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The company's marketing campaign relied on ____ claims that exaggerated the health benefits of the product without scientific backing.'

a) verifiable
b) specious
c) authentic
d) legitimate
Correct Answer: b) specious
Explanation:
Specious means superficially plausible, but actually wrong or deceptive.

60. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The historian's new biography provides a ____ portrait of the president, revealing both his brilliant political triumphs and his deep personal flaws.'

a) one-sided
b) nuanced
c) simplistic
d) flat
Correct Answer: b) nuanced
Explanation:
Nuanced describes a presentation characterized by subtle shades of meaning and balanced complexity.

61. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The ancient manuscript was written in an obscure dialect, making it virtually ____ to modern linguists without a translation key.'

a) accessible
b) inscrutable
c) transparent
d) comprehensible
Correct Answer: b) inscrutable
Explanation:
Inscrutable means impossible to understand or interpret.

62. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The prosecutor presented a ____ case against the defendant, leaving the jury with no reasonable doubt regarding his guilt.'

a) flimsy
b) cogent
c) weak
d) fallacious
Correct Answer: b) cogent
Explanation:
Cogent means clear, logical, and convincing.

63. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The artist's style was highly ____, drawing inspiration from classical mythology, pop culture, and futuristic science fiction.'

a) monolithic
b) eclectic
c) uniform
d) homogeneous
Correct Answer: b) eclectic
Explanation:
Eclectic derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

64. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The diplomat's remarks were carefully calibrated to avoid offending either nation, reflecting a masterclass in political ____.'

a) tactlessness
b) tact
c) rudeness
d) bluntness
Correct Answer: b) tact
Explanation:
Tact is adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.

65. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The tropical rainforest is home to a ____ array of plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth.'

a) paucity
b) plethora
c) dearth
d) scarcity
Correct Answer: b) plethora
Explanation:
A plethora is a large or excessive amount of something, fitting a rich rainforest ecosystem.

66. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The athlete's recovery was remarkably swift, defying the team doctor's initial prediction that her injury would be ____.'

a) temporary
b) debilitating
c) fleeting
d) brief
Correct Answer: b) debilitating
Explanation:
Debilitating means tending to weaken or disable, contrasting with a swift recovery.

67. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The professor's lecture was so ____ that half the auditorium fell asleep before he even reached the second slide.'

a) riveting
b) soporific
c) engaging
d) captivating
Correct Answer: b) soporific
Explanation:
Soporific means tending to induce drowsiness or sleep, explaining why people fell asleep.

68. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The startup company's innovative software solution proved to be a ____, revolutionizing the entire digital marketing industry.'

a) flop
b) panacea
c) failure
d) setback
Correct Answer: b) panacea
Explanation:
A panacea is a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases, fitting a revolutionary software solution.

69. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The politician's promises of tax cuts were dismissed by fiscal experts as mere ____ designed to win votes rather than workable policy.'

a) substance
b) grandstanding
c) reality
d) truth
Correct Answer: b) grandstanding
Explanation:
Grandstanding involves action that is intended to make a good impression on others rather than display genuine care.

70. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The ancient ruins were remarkably well-preserved, offering archaeologists a ____ window into daily life during the Roman Empire.'

a) distorted
b) window
c) opaque
d) cloudy
Correct Answer: b) window
Explanation:
Well-preserved ruins offer a clear window into the past.

71. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The novelist's prose is characterized by ____ economy; she manages to convey profound emotional depth in just a few sparse sentences.'

a) wasteful
b) Spartan
c) excessive
d) flamboyant
Correct Answer: b) Spartan
Explanation:
Spartan means showing or characterized by austerity or a lack of comfort or luxury, fitting sparse sentences.

72. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The revolutionary medical treatment proved ____, curing patients who had previously been given only weeks to live.'

a) ineffectual
b) efficacious
c) futile
d) useless
Correct Answer: b) efficacious
Explanation:
Efficacious means successfully producing the desired result; effective.

73. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The city's transit system is notoriously ____; buses and trains rarely arrive according to the published schedule.'

a) punctual
b) unreliable
c) dependable
d) consistent
Correct Answer: b) unreliable
Explanation:
Vehicles that rarely arrive on schedule are unreliable.

74. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The art collector spent decades acquiring rare masterpieces, assembling an ____ gallery that was the envy of museums worldwide.'

a) unremarkable
b) impeccable
c) flawed
d) inferior
Correct Answer: b) impeccable
Explanation:
Impeccable means faultless, perfect, and beyond criticism.

75. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The physicist's groundbreaking theory challenged established dogma, sparking a ____ debate among academics across the globe.'

a) tame
b) contentious
c) peaceful
d) harmonious
Correct Answer: b) contentious
Explanation:
Contentious means causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

76. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The novel's protagonist is an ____ hero, stumbling from one mistake to another yet ultimately managing to save the day through sheer luck.'

a) idealized
b) inept
c) flawless
d) omnipotent
Correct Answer: b) inept
Explanation:
Inept means having or showing no skill; clumsy or bumbling, fitting a character who stumbles from mistake to mistake.

77. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The board of directors acted with ____ speed, approving the merger agreement within minutes of receiving the final paperwork.'

a) glacial
b) celerity
c) sluggish
d) tardy
Correct Answer: b) celerity
Explanation:
Celerity means swiftness of movement or action.

78. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The journalist's investigative report was remarkably ____, leaving no stone unturned in exposing the financial scandal.'

a) superficial
b) comprehensive
c) cursory
d) sketchy
Correct Answer: b) comprehensive
Explanation:
Comprehensive means complete including all or nearly all elements or aspects.

79. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The environmentalist warned that unchecked industrial pollution would cause ____ damage to the fragile local ecosystem.'

a) reversible
b) irreparable
c) repairable
d) correctable
Correct Answer: b) irreparable
Explanation:
Irreparable means impossible to repair or mend, fitting severe environmental damage.

80. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The philosopher's writing style is notoriously dense and ____, requiring multiple readings to grasp even the basic thesis.'

a) pellucid
b) involutional
c) simple
d) straightforward
Correct Answer: b) involutional
Explanation:
Dense and difficult writing is characterized by intricate complexity or involution.

81. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The entrepreneur's business venture failed because she relied on ____ assumptions rather than thorough market research.'

a) empirical
b) unfounded
c) proven
d) tested
Correct Answer: b) unfounded
Explanation:
Unfounded assumptions lack a basis in fact or evidence.

82. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The dictator's regime was characterized by ruthless oppression and a total lack of ____ regard for fundamental human rights.'

a) scrupulous
b) scruple
c) ethical
d) moral
Correct Answer: b) scruple
Explanation:
A scruple is a moral qualm or hesitation that prevents certain actions, fitting a regime's lack of conscience.

83. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The musician's performance was breathtakingly virtuosic, showcasing a ____ command of the violin.'

a) flawed
b) masterful
c) deficient
d) shoddy
Correct Answer: b) masterful
Explanation:
A virtuosic performance demonstrates a masterful command of an instrument.

84. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The historical records were fragmented and contradictory, presenting researchers with an ____ puzzle.'

a) easily solvable
b) insoluble
c) transparent
d) obvious
Correct Answer: b) insoluble
Explanation:
Insoluble means impossible to solve or explain.

85. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The city planners sought to ____ the decaying downtown district by funding new parks, businesses, and cultural centers.'

a) blight
b) revitalize
c) ruin
d) demolish
Correct Answer: b) revitalize
Explanation:
Revitalize means to imbue something with new life and vitality.

86. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The academic paper was criticized for being overly ____, hiding simple ideas behind a wall of pretentious, academic jargon.'

a) plainspoken
b) pedantic
c) transparent
d) accessible
Correct Answer: b) pedantic
Explanation:
Pedantic involves excessive concern with minor rules and displaying academic learning ostentatiously.

87. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The charity organization operates with complete transparency, publishing detailed financial reports to reassure donors that their funds are spent ____.'

a) wastefully
b) wisely
c) recklessly
d) foolishly
Correct Answer: b) wisely
Explanation:
Transparent charities want to reassure donors that funds are spent wisely.

88. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The explorer's journal detailed his arduous journey across the desert, enduring blistering heat and a ____ lack of water.'

a) surplus
b) paucity
c) abundance
d) profusion
Correct Answer: b) paucity
Explanation:
Paucity means the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities; scarcity.

89. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The scientific community greeted the unorthodox claim with widespread ____, demanding replicated trials before accepting the results.'

a) credulity
b) skepticism
c) acceptance
d) faith
Correct Answer: b) skepticism
Explanation:
Skepticism involves a skeptical attitude demanding proof before belief.

90. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The legal contract was drafted with such deliberate ambiguity that it left room for ____ interpretations by opposing attorneys.'

a) singular
b) divergent
c) identical
d) unified
Correct Answer: b) divergent
Explanation:
Divergent interpretations tend to be different or develop in different directions.

91. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The company's CEO attempted to ____ blame for the accounting scandal, pointing fingers at lower-level subordinates.'

a) accept
b) evade
c) welcome
d) embrace
Correct Answer: b) evade
Explanation:
To evade blame means to escape or avoid taking responsibility.

92. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The art historian argued that the painting's vibrant colors were not accidental, but rather a ____ choice intended to evoke a sense of urgency.'

a) haphazard
b) calculated
c) random
d) accidental
Correct Answer: b) calculated
Explanation:
A calculated choice is done with full awareness of the likely consequences.

93. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The novelist's style is marked by ____ descriptions, painting vivid pictures of landscapes using only a few well-chosen words.'

a) verbose
b) economical
c) wordy
d) redundant
Correct Answer: b) economical
Explanation:
Economical prose uses no unnecessary words to achieve maximum effect.

94. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The nation's fragile peace was threatened by ____ ethnic tensions that had simmered beneath the surface for decades.'

a) dormant
b) latent
c) manifest
d) obvious
Correct Answer: b) latent
Explanation:
Latent tensions exist hidden or dormant but may develop or be brought to light.

95. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The policy change proved ____, failing to achieve its intended goals while inadvertently creating new economic problems.'

a) successful
b) counterproductive
c) beneficial
d) advantageous
Correct Answer: b) counterproductive
Explanation:
Counterproductive means having the opposite of the desired effect.

96. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The scientist's meticulous experiments were designed to ____ the validity of the prevailing theoretical model.'

a) disprove
b) test
c) ignore
d) conceal
Correct Answer: b) test
Explanation:
Experiments are designed to test the validity of models.

97. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The comedian's sharp wit and ____ humor kept the audience laughing throughout the entire show.'

a) dull
b) facetious
c) serious
d) solemn
Correct Answer: b) facetious
Explanation:
Facetious means treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor.

98. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The diplomat's ____ response avoided taking a definitive stance on the controversial treaty.'

a) direct
b) noncommittal
c) definitive
d) categorical
Correct Answer: b) noncommittal
Explanation:
A noncommittal response does not show preference or definite commitment to a particular view.

99. Choose the word that best fits the blank: 'The ancient kingdom's power was built on military conquest, but its cultural legacy proved far more ____ than its armies.'

a) transitory
b) enduring
c) fleeting
d) ephemeral
Correct Answer: b) enduring
Explanation:
Enduring means lasting over a long period, contrasting with military conquest.
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