5.

Although relying on much of the recent

scholarship on the bison, Lott’s book is a
For questions 1 to 5, select the two answer choices that, when used to distinctly _______________ and even
complete the sentence, fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole and idiosyncratic contribution to the field.
produce completed sentences that are alike in meaning.
A derivative
1. If big sums are to be spent on cleaning up B original
environmental disasters, it is better to spend them on C innovative
unglamorous but ____________ problems such as D imitative
unsanitary water in Third World countries. E insightful
F surprising
A futile
B ephemeral
C pressing
D controversial
E transitory
F critical 6. While not ____________ the arguments in favor of the
proposal for new highway construction, the governor
2. The process of establishing a literary canon is seen by
some as, in part, an attempt by certain scholars to nevertheless decided to veto the proposal.
make their own labors central and to relegate the
work of others to _____________ status. A optimistic about
B convinced by
A orthodox C happy with
B marginal
D sanguine about
C mainstream
D definitive E unsympathetic to
E conditional
F peripheral
7. The children’s ___________ natures were in sharp contrast
3. The mayor is more ideologically consistent than is to the even-tempered dispositions of their parents.
widely believed: her long-term commitment to tax
reform, for example, is not indicative of ______________
A mercurial
.
A perspicacity B blithe
B capriciousness C phlegmatic
C callousness D apathetic
D fickleness E cunning
E clearheadedness
F insensitivity
8. The first major exhibits of modern art left the public (i)
4. At first glance Watkins Park, with its meandering
stream and its thicket of greenery, seems _____________ , its (ii) ___________ intensified by the
______________ ; however, upon closer inspection one is response of art critics, who stooped to vituperation to
quickly reminded that the park is in the middle of a express their disgust with the new art.
major city.
Blank (i) Blank (ii)
A bucolic
B remarkable
C urban A aghast D shock
D noteworthy B bemused E apathy
E pastoral C unsurprised F empathy
F spurious
9. While many outside the company attributed the
company’s success to its president’s (i) __________ ,
insiders realized that this success owed more to the
president’s inflexibility than to any (ii) ____________ that
the president might be supposed to have displayed.

Blank (i) Blank (ii)

A perseverance D obduracy
B popularity E caprice
C prescience F foresight

10. With the rate of technological (i) __________ accelerating

— many people now consider a personal computer
(ii) __________ after three years — the question of how to
properly dispose of old equipment is no small matter.

Blank (i) Blank (ii)

A affordability D outdated
B complexity E familiar
C obsolescence F inestimable

11. In the nineteenth century the (i) __________ advanced

mechanical printing techniques made it possible for
newspaper owners to print newspapers cheaply and in
mass quantities, but unlike many other mechanized
industries, where machines (ii) ___________ workers, the new
printing machines required trained compositors to run
them, thereby (iii) ____________ the demand for skilled
printing labor.

Blank (i) Blank (ii) Blank (iii)

A wide application of D marginalized G ignoring
B extensive resistance to E intrigued H anticipating
C great expense of F isolated I increasing

12. It may be that a kind of pendulum is built into United

States politics: if a particular interest group scores a
major victory, its supporters (i) _______________ and its
adversaries (ii) __________ their efforts, so that the victory is
soon (iii) ______________ .

Blank (i) Blank (ii) Blank (iii)

A consider new possibilities D abandon G reversed
B grow complacent E redouble H augmented
C become even more focused F defend I institutionalized
 apathetic: indifferent and unenergetic
cunning: crafty and deceitful / cleverly thought
1. futile: having no practical effect or useful result / out / cute
lacking serious value, substance, or a sense of
responsibility 8. vituperation: outburst of abuse
ephemeral: short-lived aghast: horrified
pressing: urgent / very persistent bemuse: bewilder / to absorb the attention of
transitory: not permanent or lasting somebody
empathy: understanding of another's feelings
2. canon: principle / general rule
relegate: demote somebody or something / exile
9. perseverance: determined continuation with
somebody
orthodox: following the established or traditional something
rules of a political or religious belief, a philosophy, or obdurate: stubborn
a way of life caprice: impulsive tendency
marginal: in margin / irrelevant / very low prescience: advance knowledge of things
mainstream: the ideas, actions, and values that are foresight: ability to think ahead
most widely accepted by a group or society, e.g. in
politics, fashion, or music
definitive: conclusive and final / most authoritative 10. dispose of: get rid of something
peripheral: at edge / not significant obsolesce: become obsolete
inestimable: incalculable / having a worth
3. perspicacity: acuteness of discernment or perception that is so great that a value cannot be
capricious: given to sudden changes placed upon it
callous: showing no concern that other people are or
might be hurt or upset
11. intrigue: interest somebody / scheme
fickle: changeable
clearheaded: able to think clearly and decisively
12. pendulum: hanging weight / something that
4. meander: follow twisting route / wander slowly and changes regularly
aimlessly adversary: opponent
thicket: thick growth of bushes complacent: satisfied / eager to please
bucolic: of countryside augment: increase
pastoral: rural / of clergy
institutionalize: put somebody into institution /
spurious: not genuine / illegitimate
make something into or like institution
5. bison: a large hairy animal resembling an ox but with
a massive head and shoulders and a humped back.
Native to: North America, Europe.
Idiosyncratic: (quirk) a way of behaving, thinking, or
feeling that is peculiar to an individual or group,
especially an odd or unusual one
derivative: unoriginal
imitative: attempting to copy something

6. nevertheless: in spite of that

sanguine: confident

7. disposition: personality/ behavioral tendency

mercurial: lively and unpredictable
blithe: cheerful and carefree / casual
phlegmatic: generally unemotional and
difficult o arouse
Questions 13 to 15 are based on this passage.

For the following question, consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.
Questions 16 to 19 are based on this passage.
Question 20 is based on this passage.
Questions 21 to 23 are based on this passage.
21 D 4 AE
9 CF 1 CF
6 E 23 B
12 BEG 10 CD
20 B 15 E
2 BF 13 AB
16 E 17 C
11 ADI 7 A
18 A 22 A
8 AD 5 BC
19 B 14 B
3 BD