The Critical Reading Section in the New SAT: Sentence Completions
Date: May 6, 2005
Terms you'll need to understand:
-
Context clues
-
Synonym
-
Antonym
-
Transitional phrases
-
Root word
-
Prefix
-
Suffix
Techniques you'll need to master:
-
How to determine a word's meaning by breaking it down into individual elements.
-
How to determine a word's meaning using clues, such as synonyms and antonyms.
-
Using the most appropriate and logical word.
The Critical Reading portion of the SAT exam will contain 19 sentence completion questions. These questions test your ability to deduce a word's meaning from its usage. You don't have to have a huge vocabulary to do well on this section, but it helps.
When you encounter a word you don't know, read the sentence carefully first to determine the sentence's purpose. Understanding the sentence will help you choose the most appropriate word or words to complete the sentence. That's the single best piece of advice you'll get in this chapter—read the complete sentence carefully before you do anything else.
The astute reader might notice that we seem to repeat ourselves throughout this chapter. That's partially true, but there's a reason for doing so. On the surface, this entire chapter is about vocabulary, but taking command of new words isn't as simple as memorizing thousands of words. The true strength to acing this section of the exam lies in your ability to use context and reason to determine the meaning of words that may be unfamiliar to you.
Everyone interprets data and learns differently. This section isn't as cut and dry as the others—we can't provide one rule or method that will work for everyone. Therefore, you'll find a few different systems. Each one is unique but similar to the others.
In the end, this is what you'll find. Sometimes it takes the entire sentence to determine the missing word's meaning. Sometimes, the sentence uses specific words to give clues. You'll use both methods on the exam.
Sentence Completion
The sentence completion section of the exam is about vocabulary. This part of the exam tests your ability to understand complex sentences. The test will present a sentence that’s missing one or two words. You’ll be expected to choose the appropriate word or words.
There are two types of sentence completion questions:
Vocabulary-in-context—You’ll discern the missing words by recognizing how the missing words relate to what’s there. By considering the context of their use, you’ll determine the appropriate words.
Logic—You must know the meaning of the missing word, how it’s used within context, and understand the sentence’s purpose.
The two types of questions seem very similar, but there’s a subtle difference. The words in the logic questions are generally simpler words that you probably know well. The question tests your ability to use those words correctly. These questions can be a tad tricky. You must read them carefully to make sure that you respond correctly. The logic questions will help you determine the right word even if you might be unfamiliar with it using methods we’ll discuss later in this chapter.
The General Process
Gleaning the best response isn’t guesswork. As a general rule, we recommend the following process:
Read the entire sentence and actually say "blank" for the missing words. This process helps you integrate the missing word with the rest of the sentence.
If you encounter any unfamiliar words in the actual sentence, try to discern their meanings before attempting to discern the missing word or words.
Before reading the answers, try to fill in the blank using your own words.
After choosing a word of your own, review the answers for a word that’s similar to yours. If you don’t find an exact match, choose the word that’s the closest to your word.
If you don’t find a good match, repeat the sentence and fill in the blank with each response. Be sure to review each response—don’t stop with the first one that seems right.
Let's look at an example:
Alexis' artwork was _____ by those who admired it.
feared
lauded
criticized
purchased
misunderstood
How should you break down this question? The following items will help you:
-
Say the sentence as follows: "Alexis' artwork was blank by those who admired it."
-
More than likely, you probably know all the existing words. If not, take the time right now to look up any unfamiliar words.
-
Before reading the possible responses, can you think of any words that might fill the blank appropriately? The word "admired" is one clue—you can quickly discern that the missing word is most likely a positive word such as complimented.
-
Search the list and see if you can find any word that's close to one of your own. Lauded is a synonym for complimented, so at first guess, that would seem the best choice.
-
If you're still stuck, repeat the sentence using each response. In this case, step 5 isn't necessary.
Answer B is the correct response. Someone who admires artwork might praise or speak well of it. Answers A, C, D, and E are all incorrect because none of them convey the positive tone required by the word admired.
In this case, you must know the meaning of the word "lauded." However, you could, by process of elimination, come to the conclusion that lauded is the correct response. This can be a bit tricky with logic questions. In this example, "purchased" might seem like the right response if you didn't know the meaning of the word lauded. Just remember that you are always looking for the best response, not just any response that fits. You can't assume that every purchaser will admire the artwork. Some might purchase it as an investment or even as a gift—purchased is not the best response.
Using Keywords
Introductory and transitional words are important. They can completely change the sentence's meaning. They can also help you understand the sentence. For instance, the following words indicate a conflict, contradiction, or contrast between the two main thoughts:
-
Although
-
But
-
Even though/so
-
However
-
Yet
Let's cover some examples to solidify this:
Although Alexis sold all of her work, she remained relatively unknown in the art community.
Alexis never received raving reviews in the art periodicals, but she sold all of her work.
Even though Alexis wasn't well known by her peers, she was popular with art collectors.
The art gallery turned down Alexis' request for a showing. However, she sold all of her work through word of mouth.
Alexis hasn't made a name for herself among the elite in the art community, yet she continues to sell every piece almost as soon as the paint dries.
All of these sentences have a similar purpose—to express Alexis' success even though she is not a big name in the art community. The conflict is her seeming monetary success despite the fact that she is not yet a well-known artist. Now, let's take the first sentence and format it as a question.
Although Alexis sold all of her work, she remained relatively _____ in the art community.
unhappy
anonymous
unknown
popular
strange
You already know that C is the correct answer, but let's work through the other possible responses. A is incorrect because it isn't the best choice. Yes, Alexis may be unhappy with her position, or lack of position, in the art community, but that sentiment doesn't match the fact that she's selling all her work. Besides, logically it just isn't a good fit. Answer B is incorrect, although it might fit. It's incorrect because nothing in the first part of the sentence suggests that she's working anonymously. Remember, the clues are in the sentence. Answer D is incorrect because the word "although" suggests a conflict between the two ideas. Hence, the word "popular" simply doesn't make sense. Answer E is like Answer B; it just doesn't fit logically. Answer C is the best choice because it's the best extension of the conflict suggested by the word "although." You know that she's selling her work, despite something.
The following transitional words and phrases indicate the result of the first clause, which will help you determine the most appropriate response:
-
As a result
-
Consequently
-
Resulting in
-
Subsequently
-
Subsequent to
-
Therefore
The following sentences help demonstrate this:
As a result of talent and hard work, Alexis was becoming a successful artist.
Alexis put in long hours at the easel. Consequently, she was quite successful.
Alexis' hard work and talent were resulting in a measured success as an artist.
Alexis put in long hours at the easel. Therefore, she was quite successful.
Like the last example, all of these sentences have a similar purpose—to express Alexis' success. This time instead of conflict, the sentences express the result of her hard work and talent—the result being success. Now, let's turn one of these sentences into an example question.
As a result of talent and hard work, Alexis was becoming a(n) _____ artist.
triumphant
anonymous
successful
profitable
strange
Again, C is the correct answer because it completes the sentence best. Answers A and B are incorrect. Nothing in the sentence logically leads us to the words "triumphant" or "anonymous." Triumphant suggests some kind of battle or fight. Anonymous suggests she remains unknown, which is probably a negative to an aspiring artist, and we know that the sentence's tone is positive. Answer D is incorrect, although it might fit. She may be profitable, but you're assuming that she's selling her work. Success doesn't necessarily mean wealth. Answer E is incorrect because it doesn't logically complete the sentence's purpose.
Most likely, you won't encounter a question in which two answers could fulfill the sentence's purpose so well. In this example, both "successful" and "profitable" could fill the bill, although "successful" does have the edge. Nothing in the sentence implies that she's making money. You'd need more information before you could assume that she's making a profit from her hard work and talent.
Watch for sentences in which one clause negates another. Most negative words are well known to you already: no, not, none, nothing, and so on. However, their use can completely change the meaning of a sentence. Consider the following examples:
Nothing meant as much to Alexis as not having to explain her work.
It can be easy to misconstrue the meaning of such a sentence. Remove the word "not" and the sentence has a completely different meaning—Alexis enjoys talking and explaining her work. When you encounter such a sentence, try removing one of the negative words. Doing so will help you determine the sentence's purpose. In this case, you learn that Alexis doesn't want to explain her work.
Not making a decision is not the same as being _____.
adamant
confused
decisive
indecisive
inconclusive
Answer D is the best response. In a roundabout way, the sentence is defining the word "indecisive." Specifically, the sentence explains that not making a decision isn't a definition of indecisive. Remove the second "not" to read the opposite of what the sentence really means: Not making a decision is the same as being indecisive. Reading the opposite statement will help you find the most appropriate response. Answers A, B, C, and E are incorrect. It doesn't make much sense to use any of these words within the context of "not making a decision."
Such a sentence can be confusing, and truthfully, there are better ways to make this statement. Regardless, you'll probably encounter one on the sentence completion section of the exam. Read carefully.
Employing Elimination
When the sentence requires you to fill in two blanks, you can usually complete the sentence after determining just one of the words. Once you know one of the words, you can determine the other by eliminating the answers that don't correspond appropriately.
Even if you think you've found the right answer, be sure to read all the answers. The exam expects you to choose the best answer, not the first one that you think fits.
Once you settle on an answer, reread the sentence, filling in the blanks accordingly. Sometimes reading the completed sentence will expose mistakes in your logic. Take a look at an example:
The celebrities were accustomed to being chauffeured about at the festival and were understandably _____ when the service was _____.
content . . eradicated
disconcerted . . sporadic
displeased . . unrequited
irritated . . terminated
concerned . . unresolved
Now, let's use the process of elimination to determine the right response. A is out—they wouldn't be content if the service was eliminated. Even if the first word had made sense, eradicated is a rather strong word for this particular sentence. Answer B is a possibility—the celebrities might be confused if the service isn't predictable, but let's continue. There might be a better response. Remember, you are expected to choose the best response, not the first one that might do. Frankly, there are better ways to express that particular sentiment, so that's a clue that there might be a better response. Answer C is incorrect because the word "unrequited" doesn't make sense within the context of the second phrase. Answer D is good—the celebrities would definitely be irritated if the service were terminated. This could be the right answer, but there's one more. Answer E is incorrect. The word "unresolved" doesn't make sense within the context of the second phrase. So far, you've eliminated three responses: A, C, and E. When comparing B and D, you can see that D is definitely the stronger of the two, so D is the correct answer.
Using Logic
By logically dissecting each sentence, you should be able to fill in the blanks. It will help if you can remember that there are four logical relationships in a complex sentence (a sentence with two clauses):
-
Contrast
-
Support
-
Cause and effect
-
Definition
All four relationships are fairly self-explanatory, but recognizing them can help you discern the best answer. Careful reading is imperative.
Some sentences will employ more than one logical relationship. Distinguishing each relationship is critical to picking the right answer. Specific words and phrases can clue you in to the type of relationship in use, such as those found in the following list:
-
Supporting keywords—additionally, also, besides, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly, and so on
-
Contrasting keywords—although, but, conversely, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead of, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, rather, yet, and so on
-
Definition keywords—am, are, as, especially, for example, for instance, including, to be, is, means, refers to, that is, and so on
-
Cause and effect keywords—as a result, because, consequently, due to, if...then, in order to, since, so, subsequently, therefore, and so on
A subcategory of both the supporting and definition relationships is restatement. Sometimes an author will clue you in by restating the word's meaning. More often than not, this type of relationship is supportive, but it can fall into the definition category. Look for the following keywords: that is, or, in other words, in a nutshell, and so on.
Once you've defined the relationship, a little reasoning can usually determine the meaning of any unfamiliar words. Look for the context clues. A synonym is a word that means roughly the same thing and indicates a supportive relationship. Note this in the following example:
The _____ award was a fortunate offering just as the author was looking for a new publisher.
unexpected
prestigious
elite
monumental
auspicious
Answer E is the best answer—it fits without adding any additional nuances to the context. The word "fortunate" is a synonym for auspicious. If you didn't know the meaning of "auspicious," the word "fortunate" would at least point you in the right direction. Answers A, B, and D work, but none is as good a fit as E when considering the relationship between the missing word and the synonym fortunate that further defines it. Answers B and D both imply subtleties that are supported by the sentence. Answer C is incorrect because it just doesn't make sense.
This sentence doesn't use a supportive keyword, but there is a supportive relationship between the missing word and the synonym "fortunate."
An antonym is a word that conveys the opposite meaning and indicates a contrasting relationship.
Despite the child's angelic appearance, she was quite _____.
impish
naughty
wicked
harmless
playful
Answer B is the best response. In this example, angelic is an antonym for naughty. The word "despite" indicates a contrasting relationship, so you know that you're looking for an antonym for "angelic." Answers A and C are incorrect. Either might fit, but answer B is a better fit than both. Answer A implies a playfulness that the sentence doesn't support. Answer C is far too strong. Answers D and E are incorrect because you're looking for an antonym, and both "harmless" and "playful" could be considered synonyms for angelic within the context of the sentence.
A definition relationship offers clues in the form of a literal translation or alternative for the missing word and indicates a defining or a supportive relationship.
_____ is the expensive process of separating the salt from sea water.
Desalinization
Evaporation
Mining
Ionization
Fusion
There are no tricks here. Answer A is the correct response. The word "is" clues you in right away that you're looking at a definition relationship. There are no other clues other than the word's definition. Answers B, C, D, and E are all incorrect because they do not fit the definition.
The cause and effect relationship is usually easy to spot. There's an action and a reaction. You might think of this relationship as a before and after sequence, although you can't take the notion of time literally when doing so. Often, the cause and effect comes in more than one sentence, which is fine in your essay, but you won't run across any two-sentence examples on the exam. When trying to determine the missing word in a cause and effect sentence, think of the natural flow of the sentence's purpose. (Keep in mind that a cause and effect sentence doesn't have to include one of the keywords or phrases listed earlier.)
Poor planning and a lack of resources were at the root of the company's -----.
success
origin
demise
termination
confinement
Answer C is the correct answer. You know right away that something bad happened to the business because "poor planning and a lack of resources" are negative attributes. Something bad happened (effect) to the business as a result of these things (cause). Answer A is incorrect because you know that the missing word should have a negative connotation. Answers B and E are incorrect because they're illogical. Answer D is incorrect even though it might tempt you. Termination carries a strong sense of maliciousness or purpose; the word is simply too strong for this sentence.
When using this method to determine the missing word, read the sentence carefully. Then, use the words around the missing word to help determine the missing word's meaning.
Building an SAT Vocabulary
Easily, the best way to ace this portion of the test is to take as much guesswork out of the process as possible. You can arm yourself by building your vocabulary. This next section contains words that you might encounter on the SAT exam. This list is not comprehensive and should not be your only resource. Instead, we offer the list as a means of introducing you to the process of building a large and flexible vocabulary.
We suggest that you commit a few new words to memory every day. Then, do yourself a big favor—use the words in your daily life. That’s really the only way you can take command of these new words—you must use them!
Along with each new word, we include its pronunciation, a definition, any synonyms (when applicable), and an example sentence. To use the guide, begin by saying the word out loud. If you don’t already know the word, break it down and try to determine its meaning by reviewing its root word, prefix, and suffix. Next, review the actual definition and finally, use the word as much as you can during the next few days.
Word Elements
You can’t possibly memorize every word that might appear on the exam. The next best thing is to be familiar with elements. By elements, we mean the pieces that make up each word, such as the prefix, suffix, and root word. Knowing these elements can help you determine an unfamiliar word’s meaning just by breaking it down into these components. Table 3.1 is a list of the most common elements.
Table 3.1 Common Word Elements
|
a |
without or not |
|
ad |
toward; near |
|
al |
relating or pertaining to |
|
ambi |
both; around |
|
an |
without or not |
|
ance |
state of being full of |
|
ante |
before |
|
arch |
ruler |
|
archy |
one who rules |
|
ate |
make or pertaining to |
|
bi |
two |
|
cata |
down |
|
co |
together |
|
col |
together |
|
con |
together |
|
contr |
against or opposite |
|
corp |
body |
|
counter |
against or opposite |
|
cracy |
government |
|
crat |
a participant or supporter |
|
de |
down, away, or apart |
|
dec |
ten |
|
di |
two; away from |
|
dic |
speak or say |
|
e |
out |
|
ec |
out |
|
em |
out; into or in |
|
en |
into or in; to put in |
|
ence |
state of being full of |
|
ex |
out |
|
fac |
make |
|
fer |
one that bears |
|
her |
to stick |
|
hyper |
over or beyond |
|
hypo |
under or below |
|
ian |
person who |
|
ic |
relating or pertaining to |
|
ify |
make |
|
il |
not; in or into |
|
im |
not |
|
in |
not or in |
|
ir |
not |
|
ion |
act of or state of |
|
intra |
within or into |
|
inter |
between |
|
ist |
person who |
|
ium |
relating or pertaining to |
|
ive |
relating, belonging, or tending to; of |
|
lat |
side |
|
min |
small |
|
mit |
to send |
|
mono |
one |
|
mor |
manners or behavior |
|
mort |
death |
|
non |
not |
|
nov |
new; nine |
|
ology |
the study of |
|
omni |
all |
|
pan |
all; also |
|
pathy |
feelings |
|
ped |
foot; child |
|
penta |
five |
|
philo |
love of |
|
pod |
foot |
|
port |
carry |
|
pre |
before; preceding |
|
quad |
four |
|
re |
back or again |
|
sion |
act of or state of |
|
sive |
relating, belonging, or tending to; of |
|
soph |
wise, wisdom |
|
spec |
see |
|
temp |
time |
|
term |
end |
|
tion |
act of or state of |
|
tive |
taking part |
|
trans |
across or change |
|
tri |
three |
|
un |
not |
|
uni |
one |
|
vi |
life |
|
viv |
life |
Learning Cues
It’s hard to associate a word element with anything meaningful, so using them as clues to discerning the meaning of an unfamiliar word can be difficult. There are a few ways to help commit these elements to memory.
Write each element and then list as many words as you can think of that use this element. You might be surprised how easy this technique is once you get started. Often, what seems unfamiliar really isn’t—it’s just temporarily out of context. In other words, you already use these elements all the time within words. You’re just not used to seeing them by themselves. Once you begin to evaluate these elements individually, you’ll find it easier to dismantle unfamiliar words and determine their meanings by reviewing their individual elements. For example, the element "bi" has some familiar words associated with it.
|
bi- |
two |
|
|
bicycle |
|
|
biped |
|
|
bicep |
|
|
bicentennial |
|
|
biannually |
|
|
bimonthly |
|
|
biweekly |
You probably already know all of these words, but if you didn’t, just knowing that the element "bi" means two would help. For instance, if you know that "bi" means two and "ped" means foot, it’s easy to determine that the elemental definition of the word biped is "two feet."
Use index cards or a dedicated notebook for these lists. Regardless of how you store them, don’t throw these lists away. Once a week, or so, review your lists and add new words as you think of them. Doing so will help further commit these elements to memory.
Some elements can work as a prefix, a suffix, or even a root word. When this is the case, a simple list isn’t always adequate. Write the word in the middle of the index card or notebook page. Then, list the words around the element. The order doesn’t really matter. Visually, what matters is that you see the element surrounded by words.
Vocabulary Words to Learn
To help you in your quest for SAT language mastery, we've supplied some sample words to learn. It's important to realize that this list isn't comprehensive; you'll probably encounter other words on the reading portion of the SAT and use other words in your essay. But we think these words are indicative of the difficulty that the SAT authors will expect you to know. Rather than spend time trying to memorize a list of thousands of vocabulary words, we suggest that you learn a shorter list well and use them where they're appropriate. We italicized sections of some example sentences to help illustrate the word's definition.
aberrant —adjective—irregular, unusual; deviating from what's normally expected or accepted.
Your daughter's aberrant behavior has ostracized her from the entire group.
abridge —verb—shorten, edit, condense; to condense or reduce the length of.
She realized that reading the abridged version of the Dickens classic was a mistake—there were questions on the test she couldn't answer.
accelerate —verb—hasten; to increase speed.
The engines accelerate briefly to change the craft's trajectory.
acute—adjective—keen, discriminating, severe; impossible to ignore.
The stomach pain was so acute she ended up in the emergency room.
adage —noun—saying, proverb, axiom; well-known or recognized saying with a moral connotation.
The teacher preferred to spout old adages to make the kids think instead of preaching literal lessons that the kids often found boring.
adversary —noun—enemy, opponent; someone who opposes you; an enemy.
They are often friendly adversaries in their quest for the perfect chess match.
adversity —noun—difficulty, hard times; a state of hardship or misfortune.
Adversity can build character and integrity—if you survive it.
advocate —noun, verb—supporter, believer, activist; a person who takes up another's cause or lends support to another. The action of taking up another's cause or lending support to.
Family courts have advocates who represent just the children in each case.
The principal advocates free lunches for all school children.
aesthetic —adjective—visual, artistic; concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste.
Her designs were always an aesthetic blend of the client's preferences.
albatross —noun—millstone, burden, impediment; an obstacle.
Once the prospective employer saw her resume, he rescinded his previous offer, calling her an albatross because so many companies she had worked for had gone out of business.
ambiguous —adjective—vague, uncertain; doubtful or uncertain; unclear.
Her feelings were a bit ambiguous and neither fellow was quite sure where he stood.
ambivalent —adjective—undecided, unsure; indecisive; not sure.
Her ambivalent attitude toward the company made her a bad candidate for the management position.
ameliorate —verb—improve, remodel; to improve or make better.
Management ameliorated some of the plant's infrastructure after gaining a new and rather large client.
amoral —adjective—neutral; the state of being neither moral or immoral.
Many New Age philosophers are amoral and deny the existence of good and evil as opposing energies that rule the universe.
analogy —noun—equivalence, parallel, comparison; a statement or story that expresses similar attributes.
He explained how an airplane flies by using an analogy to show how air escaping from a toy balloon propels the balloon through the air.
anarchy —noun—disorder, chaos, lawlessness; the absence of authority.
Anarchy followed on the heels of the retreating soldiers.
annotate —verb—gloss, explain; to add a short explanation or to paraphrase a passage.
I decided to purchase the book after reading the annotations at the beginning of the first few chapters.
apathy —noun—indifference; lack of interest or concern.
Her apathy toward her fellow students eventually made her an outcast.
archetype —noun—prototype, model, epitome; the original model for an accepted or widely used pattern or thought.
Psychologists use symbolic character archetypes to explain dream characters and their actions.
articulate —verb or adjective—eloquent, clear, fluent; the ability to speak clearly, coherently, and enunciate properly; the act of speaking clearly and coherently.
She was an articulate speaker, making her the perfect candidate for the debate team.
bevy —noun—crowd, horde, multitude; a group.
The bevy of shoppers pressed against the door waiting for the shop to open.
catalyst —noun—method, means, mechanism; what causes change.
Her mother's caustic remarks were the catalyst to their estrangement.
caustic —adjective—cutting, sarcastic, biting; harsh or offensive.
Her caustic remarks hurt the child more than a spanking.
celestial —adjective—extraterrestrial, outer space, heavenly; relating to the sky or heavens.
The astronomers studied the newly discovered celestial body to determine if it was a planet or an anomaly.
chronic —adjective—continual, persistent; constant or frequent recurrence.
Chronic back pain kept the old woman in a chair most of the time.
coerce —verb—bully, intimidate, force; to force thought or action through pressure or intimidation.
The gang members coerced the younger neighborhood kids into keeping their secrets.
cognitive —adjective—thinking, aware; being aware of or knowledge.
No one knew that the comatose patient was actually cognitive of his surroundings.
coherent —adjective—consistent, rational, lucid; parts that stick together in a logical, concise order.
The prosecutor presented a coherent story, but the jury still found the defendant innocent.
collaborate —verb—cooperate; to work together; to share information toward a larger goal.
The teams were ordered to collaborate until they found a solution to the company's financial difficulties.
compensate —verb—reimburse, pay; to balance; to allow for.
Her attitude more than compensated for her lack of ability.
comply —verb—obey, conform; to follow a suggested or mandated set of instructions or wishes.
It was easy to comply with her mother because they both wanted the same thing.
component —noun—part, section, piece; a part of a bigger whole.
All the components you need are stored in our warehouse.
connotative —adjective—meaning; the association of a feeling with a word.
The word mother isn't connotative of home, hearth, and apple pie to every one; some of us don't like our mothers.
consolidate—verb—To combine or unite into one group, unit, or system.
The two small companies consolidated their resources against a larger competitor.
contend —verb—compete, challenge; argue, assert; assert something to be true.
The judge contended that the prisoner was innocent and declared a mistrial.
contingent —adjective—dependent, conditional; dependent on circumstances; conditional.
The outdoor wedding is contingent on fair weather.
contrary —adjective—adverse, opposed; opposed to or opposite in position.
She found her new daughter-in-law's behavior very contrary but was gracious nonetheless.
controversy —noun—argument, debate; a serious argument or problem usually in the public domain.
The alderman's stand on polygamy started quite a controversy in the usually quiet community.
counterpart —noun—corresponding, equal; a person performing or serving in a similar role.
Her counterpart at the competition received a higher salary and even had an assistant.
covert —adjective—secret, clandestine, stealthy; concealed or secret.
The elite squad was trained in covert activities.
crucial —adjective—significant, vital; very important; vital or of value to.
Those reports are crucial to the department; they can't be late.
curtail —verb—limit; to cut short or reduce.
He had to curtail his campaigning activities long enough to recover from the flu.
deceptive —adjective—misleading, dishonest; to hide the truth.
The defense lawyer was able to expose her deceptive testimony.
decimate —verb—destroy; to destroy, or use up completely.
The hungry children quickly decimated the plate of Christmas cookies.
decipher —verb—translate, interpret, decode; interpret illegible script.
Deciphering ancient script was the librarian's real expertise.
deem —verb—believe, judge; believe to be true.
Our forefathers deemed that all men were created equal, although they failed to put that belief to practice.
deficit —noun—shortage, arrears; lack of something; having less than required.
The company's third quarter reports showed a deficit, and layoffs would definitely follow.
deleterious —adjective—harmful, deadly, lethal; having a harmful effect.
Bee stings are deleterious to Neal—he might die within seconds if he doesn't receive an antidote.
demeanor —noun—behavior, character; one's behavior or attitude.
Her demeanor was usually childlike, but stomping her feet was immature.
demise —noun—end, death; the death or end of something or someone.
His dreams of being a famous writer came to a quick demise after reading the editor's insulting remarks on his manuscript.
demure —adjective—modest, shy, reserved; modest in behavior and dress.
The demure girl hesitated to remove her hat and gloves in public.
denote —verb—to name, designate, or represent.
John used different colored pushpins to denote sales regions on the map.
depletion —noun—reduction, weakening; a reduced amount or size.
Some environmentalists feel we are depleting our natural resources too quickly.
deride —verb—scoff, mock, disparage; to ridicule or laugh at in a menacing manner.
The editor derided the young author's work, without consideration of the author's lack of experience.
derive —verb—get, obtain; to gain or obtain; to determine.
Deriving his real intent, she soon dropped any hopes of an engagement.
designate —verb—select, delegate, allocate, assign; to indicate or otherwise specify or point out.
The committee designated a student monitor for each hall.
detriment —noun—disadvantage, damage; personal harm or undoing.
To his own detriment, he continued his rant against his boss in front of his colleagues.
disparage —verb—belittle, mock, ridicule; to speak of negatively or disrespectfully.
Disparaging your boss at the weekly meeting is not a good idea, no matter how badly the boss is running things.
disperse —verb—dissolve, separate, diffuse; to distribute or divide.
The remaining funds will be dispersed equally among the departments.
emigrate —verb—To leave your country, move abroad.
Many Russian Jews emigrated from the Pale during the early twentieth century.
Don't confuse emigrate and immigrate. To immigrate means to enter a country legally. Emigrate means to leave a country.
empathy —noun—understanding, sympathy, compassion; sharing feelings through thought or imagination rather than experience.
The nurse was empathic to the victims' pain, and it was difficult for her to maintain her composure during the worst of the disaster.
empirical —adjective—experimental; based on observation or experience.
The theory is backed up by empirical evidence gathered in the field.
endanger —verb—jeopardize, imperil; to put in danger.
Social services felt the mother had endangered her children by leaving them alone.
endorse —verb—support, sanction, approve; to give approval of or support; to recommend.
Our representatives endorsed the new bill, but it still didn't pass.
entrench —verb—establish, embed, ingrain; to take up a strong position.
The EPA protected the entrenched bats, even though they were destroying the historic church.
epidemic —noun—plague, outbreak, scourge; rapid spread or growth.
The flu epidemic during the early twentieth century killed millions of people around the globe but is seldom remembered in historical discussions.
eradicate —verb—eliminate, exterminate; to destroy completely.
The crabgrass was eradicated by the weed killer.
excerpt —noun—passage, extract, selection.
Her performance was predicable, having chosen a well-known excerpt from Shakespeare.
excursion —noun—outing, jaunt, expedition; a short pleasure trip.
The class took an excursion to the community college.
exonerate —verb—absolve, acquit; to clear of wrong doing.
Susie was exonerated when Mikey confessed to eating the cookies.
expertise —noun—skill, proficiency; a high level of knowledge or specific skill.
Her expertise in technical jargon made her a good candidate for documenting the new software.
exuberant —adjective—enthusiastic, excited, lively; very energetic and happy.
Her exuberance was catchy, and soon all of her friends were learning the new dance.
facilitate —verb—help, aid, assist; to make easier or to assist.
The U.S. military was on hand to facilitate food distribution after the hurricane.
fervent —adjective—passionate, zealous; feeling much passion or enthusiasm for.
The beauty queen said her fervent wish was for world peace.
fratricide —noun—killing a sibling.
You might say that Cain invented fratricide when he slew his brother Abel.
fundamental —adjective—basic, essential; relating to the foundation or base; an essential part of something.
Students must learn fundamentals, such as reading and writing, before they can tackle more complicated subjects.
genesis —noun—origin, beginning, birth; the time when something comes into being; the origin.
Listening to my mother sing while she washed dishes was probably the genesis of my love for my music.
genetics —noun—heredity; the study of how characteristics are passed on from the parents to their offspring.
Many doctors and scientists are studying genetics in hopes of someday preventing birth defects.
genocide —noun—killing an entire group or race.
His entire family was gone—victims of genocide during the Civil War.
hierarchy —noun—pyramid, ladder; a serial and ordered group.
Peons are at the bottom of the company's hierarchy.
hone —verb—sharpen; to perfect or complete.
She spent hours on the court, honing her tennis skills.
hyperbole —noun—exaggeration; figure of speech that exaggerates something in order to emphasize or make a point.
A good essay has little room for hyperbole—always use the most accurate and appropriate terms possible.
hypothesis —noun—theory, premise, supposition.
Other experts ridiculed his hypothesis on kinetic energy.
impending —verb—imminent, looming, awaiting, approaching, coming; going to happen soon.
Folks decorated their houses and yards in preparation of the impending festival.
incentive —noun—motivation; expectation that motivates you toward specific action.
Management offered a bonus as incentive for working so much overtime.
incognito —adjective—disguised, undercover, anonymously, secretly.
She slipped into the boardroom incognito; no one suspected a caterer of industrial sabotage.
increment —noun—increase, augment; something added; one of a consecutive series.
Increments of .01 percent will be added to each inoculation until the dosage reaches full potency.
indict —verb—accuse, charge; to accuse of wrongdoing; bring charges against.
After reviewing the evidence, the prosecutor began to suspect that he had indicted the wrong man.
indigenous —adjective—native, aboriginal.
The indigenous people still practice most of their spiritual beliefs, despite centuries of attempts by the conquering government to convert them from their old ways.
indoctrinate —verb—brainwash, persuade; to repeat an idea or belief frequently in order to influence or persuade.
The activist used short films and speeches to indoctrinate his followers.
infanticide —noun—killing an infant or child.
Some tribes still practice infanticide today, especially if the child is a girl.
infer —verb—conclude, deduce, conjecture.
Mikey inferred from his mother's angry glance that he should not have eaten all the cookies.
infiltrate —verb—penetrate; to pass secretly or undiscovered.
Security on the base was so lax that Bill was easily able to infiltrate its deepest sectors.
ingest —verb—eat, swallow, consume; to take food or liquid into the stomach.
You must ingest this medication—you can't take it by injection.
inherent —adjective—natural, intrinsic, innate; a natural and permanent attribute; born with; belonging to from the beginning.
Her inherent ability to see the future had always spooked her friends and family.
insidious —adjective—sinister, dangerous, menacing; spreading harm in a malicious manner.
The cult's insidious influence was victorious, and she broke all ties with friends and family.
insomnia —noun—sleeplessness; the condition of being unable to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Money worries were giving me insomnia at night.
integrate —verb—assimilate, combine; to join or unite.
It was difficult for the drill sergeant to integrate himself with nonmilitary society after he retired.
interim —adjective—interval; the time between two events.
Before getting a real job after graduation, Joe filled the interim by traveling across Europe.
interstate —adjective—involving more than one state.
Interstate issues are usually controlled at the federal level.
intramural —adjective—involving members of one school, college, or university.
She enjoyed intramural sports but never tried out for a conference team.
intrastate —adjective—relating to or existing within the boundaries of one state.
Intrastate issues are usually controlled by state and local governing bodies.
introspection —noun—contemplation; the act of spending time in private thought.
Choosing between the seminary and a state college took months of introspection.
introvert —noun—shy, recluse; a person who's shy and keeps to themselves.
We suspected that she was just an introvert, but many accused her of being conceited.
intuition —noun—perception, insight; the ability to know without reasoning.
My intuition told me that he couldn't be trusted.
irrelevant —adjective—extraneous, unimportant.
Cinderella was irrelevant both in her stepmother's household and in her thoughts.
lateral —adjective—sideways; situated at or on the side.
The restructuring caused lots of lateral personnel changes, but no promotions or demotions.
laudable —adjective—admirable, worthy, commendable; deserving or worthy of praise.
Laudable results were demanded by her talented and successful family.
malice —noun—hatred, malevolence, meanness.
The victim's mother hoped for the death penalty, even though she no longer felt any malice toward the convicted killer.
mandatory —adjective—compulsory, obligatory; required or commanded to comply.
Many thought a mandatory gym class was a waste of time.
maritime —adjective—marine, nautical, naval, sea; relating to the sea.
The maritime unit was on call during the hurricane.
minuscule —adjective—tiny, diminutive; very small.
The raise was miniscule and made the workers angry.
narcissism —noun—vanity, conceit, egotism; excessive love of oneself.
Her narcissism made her a bad candidate for motherhood.
notorious —adjective—well-known in a negative way.
The inspector was notorious for taking bribes to look the other way.
nuance —noun—shade, trace; subtle difference.
The nuances of browns and maroons created a sense of lush comfort.
omnipotent —adjective—all-powerful, invincible, supreme; having unlimited power or authority.
The early Egyptians thought the pharaoh was omnipotent and consequently granted him a godlike status.
omniscient —adjective—all-knowing; knowing all events and decisions in all times.
Sue's omniscient mother always seemed to know about Sue's mistakes before Sue could even confess.
opulent —adjective—luxurious, rich, affluent, wealthy, lavish.
Celebrities often live opulent lifestyles that seem obnoxious and wasteful to many.
overt —adjective—obviously, explicit; not hidden, in the open; obvious.
His overt overtures embarrassed her.
panacea —noun—cure-all, cure, solution, answer; a remedy for all diseases or problems.
Good works aren't a panacea for all the world's problems.
panorama —noun—view, landscape; the unbroken view of the surrounding area.
She bought the old place just for the panorama of the surrounding valleys.
paraphrase —verb—summarize, rephrase; to restate, usually summarizing a passage of text.
It's a good idea to paraphrase a passage when being quizzed on its content.
passive —adjective—submissive, inert; submitting with little or no resistance.
People living under a tyrannical dictatorship are often passive—making no attempt to correct the situation out of fear.
pedestal —noun—dais, platform, podium; a raised and supported area for standing or display.
Elegant pedestals were used to display the antique sculptures.
perceive —verb—distinguish, recognize, identify, sense; to see or become aware of.
I perceive your displeasure, but you brought it on yourself.
perplex —verb—confuse, bewilder, baffle.
She was perplexed to find a sink full of dishes, knowing that she'd just washed them all.
perspective —noun—viewpoint, outlook, side; one particular way of thinking or considering.
From her perspective, the business trip was coming at a bad time.
pervasive —adjective—invasive, persistent.
Bamboo is quite an invasive plant and not recommended for the average backyard.
philosophy —noun—beliefs, viewpoint; the science that deals with life principles.
Great philosophers shake things up too much and, as a result, are seldom appreciated by their peers.
podium —noun—platform, dais, pedestal; a platform used for speaking.
Professor Marks always spoke from a podium, whereas Professor Tatum preferred to walk about the class
precedent —noun—example, model, guide.
Courts give great weight to precedent—using these cases as a template for subsequent trials.
precipitous —adjective—abrupt, steep; to happen suddenly or unexpectedly.
The precipitous phone call was just a warning of things yet to come.
predict —verb—forecast, foresee, foretell; to suggest or know what will happen in the future.
You didn't have to be a psychic to predict Bill's big win after seeing his supporters at the rally.
prejudice —verb, noun—bigotry, chauvinism; 1. To unfairly influence an opinion; 2. A presumed opinion, without evidence.
Many college professors prejudice their impressionable young students against conservative policies.
Her prejudice against the smaller girls on the team was unwarranted as they were great players.
preserve —verb, noun—protect, conserve, save; 1. To prevent decay or damage; to keep something in its original state; 2. A place where natural resources are protected.
She was unable to preserve her seat on the school board.
Hunting on the preserve was prohibited by law.
pristine —adjective—unspoiled, untouched, immaculate; free from change; remaining in its original state without dirt or decay.
Many thought the pristine wilderness was worth saving and worked diligently to see it preserved.
ratify —verb—sanction, authorize.
The legislative body ratified the new bill despite public resistance.
rationalize —verb—deduce, reason; to explain or reason.
Bill was unable to rationalize his need for more office space, so management turned down his request.
relinquish —verb—surrender, renounce; to give back or surrender.
After hearing the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, the father sadly relinquished control of his business to his sons.
repercussion —noun—consequence, effect, outcome, ramification; reaction to or result of.
Failing to study for his midterms had repercussions he hadn't considered.
repudiate —verb—disclaim, renounce, deny; reject as untrue.
The jury repudiated the testimony of the eyewitness after the defense attorney exposed him as a liar.
rural —adjective—country, pastoral, rustic; relating to the country; opposite of urban.
The rural route was a welcome change of scenery after hours on the boring interstate.
sector —noun—segment, area; a group or division.
After the civil unrest, a few sectors of the city remained unstable for a while.
secular —adjective—worldly.
The secular committee refused to accept the minister's nomination on the grounds that he might be religiously biased.
sedentary —adjective—inactive; very little or no physical movement.
The old woman's sedentary lifestyle exasperated her heart condition.
suburban —adjective—suburbs, uptown; relating to a residential district located on the outskirts of an urban area.
Most people tend to move to suburban areas once they gain a little success.
surpass —verb—exceed, outdo; to go beyond the limit; to exceed.
The class far surpassed the teacher's expectations.
temporal —adjective—sequential, of time; referring to a specific time period.
Jules Verne's time machine was a temporal device that carried its passenger into the past or future.
transpire —verb—happen, occur.
The eyewitness told her account of what transpired on the night in question.
ubiquitous —adjective—omnipresent; seeming to be everywhere at once.
We laughed as the exhausted grandmother shared some of her grandson's ubiquitous antics with us.
urban —adjective—city, municipal, inner city; related to a city or city life.
The urban areas had more to offer the immigrants than the countryside.
vehement —adjective—fervent, intense, passionate; strong or forceful feelings.
Mel was vehemently opposed to the new living arrangements.
verbatim —adjective, adverb—precise, word for word; repeating using the exact words.
She was asked to repeat, verbatim, the teacher's instructions before beginning the exam.
verbose —adjective—wordy, talkative; using more words than necessary—wordy.
She was generally a succinct writer and disagreed with the editor's suggestion that she was verbose.
vicarious —adjective—taking part through others' experiences via feelings rather than participation.
Many parents make the mistake of living vicariously through their children when they fail to fulfill their own dreams.
virulent —adjective—contagious, contaminated; capable of causing disease.
Early small pox vaccinations were a virulent inoculation of the live virus.
wallow —verb—surround; to overindulge in or to completely immerse oneself.
Wallowing in self-pity simply distracts from the task at hand—that of fixing the problem.
Learning Cues
The larger your vocabulary, the less time you’ll spend on this section of the exam. There’s simply no substitute for actually knowing the words on the exam. That’s why we’re including the vocabulary list. You can spend a lot of time trying to memorize all these words by rote, but that’s not the best way. The best way to truly integrate these words into your vocabulary is to learn them and use them. To do so, try one of the following methods to help speed things up:
Transfer each word to an index card—that’ll take a bit of work, but the simple process of writing the words and their definitions will go a long way toward committing them to memory. Then, each day, choose a few cards and carry them with you. Review them often and try to use these words in your conversations. Later in the evening, write the words and their meanings without using the index card or the list in this book. Compare your unassisted definition with the index card or the list in this book. Depending on how many words you tackle each day, write a sentence or paragraph that uses each of the new words.
Make an audio tape or CD of the list. Play the tape while riding in the car, waiting in line or at a doctor’s office, or anytime you have a few minutes. Just stop and go as you can. After listening to a new word, try to use it in subsequent conversations. Later in the evening, write the words and their meanings without using the audio aid or the list in this book. Compare your unassisted definition with the audio aid or the list in this book. Depending on how many words you tackle each day, write a sentence or paragraph that uses each of the new words.
As you learn new words, add them to the appropriate elemental lists created in the previous section.
This next cue is for only those students who insist that they learn better if they study while music is playing. When studying your vocabulary words, listen to some of your favorite music. Later, when reviewing the words, listen to the same music. The explanation is more complicated than we have time for here, but it really does work—but only with people who find background music helpful. If you find music or noise distracting, skip this cue.
Don’t stop with our list. Anytime you encounter a word that you don’t know, take the time to learn it. If it isn’t possible to stop right then, jot it down and look it up later. Create an index card for it or add it to your audio aid. Incorporate each new word into your routine using the techniques outlined in this chapter.
Create visual clues to help you remember difficult words. For example, to help you remember the word "abduct," you might visualize a man kidnapping a duck.
Once a week or so, review the words you’ve already tackled. You may find that you’re actually using these words consistently now—they’re no longer mystery words. These new words will probably become part of your everyday vocabulary, and that’s good. When this happens, you have full command of these words and you should have no difficulties if you encounter them on the exam.
On the other hand, don’t worry if you’re not using every new word in everyday conversation—that would be a lot to expect and it just wouldn’t be natural. However, if none of the new words are making their way into your vocabulary, you may not actually be learning them and you may forget them before exam time.
Exam Prep Questions
Each sentence has one or two blanks, representing an omitted word or words. Choose only one of the responses following the sentence to correctly complete each sentence. Remember, choose the best response, not the first response that seems appropriate.
-
The congressman's _____ responses in regards to the missing funds might cost him votes in the _____ election.
-
exemplary . . sector's
-
considerate . . forthcoming
-
impetuous . . special
-
evasive . . subsequent
-
incriminating . . preceding
-
The jury's hasty decision was cause for a(n) _____.
-
reprimand
-
appeal
-
mistrial
-
retrial
-
dismissal
-
Despite _____ odds, Mother Teresa gave aid and comfort to the poor, the sick, the homeless, and the _____.
-
irreversible . . ugly
-
complex . . itinerant
-
strenuous . . destitute
-
challenging . . indigent
-
insurmountable . . disenfranchised
-
The unexpected _____ of the popular actress has driven many of her fans to _____.
-
incarceration . . celebrate
-
demise . . despair
-
emigration . . digress
-
regrets . . reconsider
-
deterioration . . wane
-
The principal preferred to use the _____ retained instead of failed when a student was forced to repeat a grade.
-
synonym
-
phrase
-
eulogy
-
euphemism
-
antonym
-
Despite his _____ contributions to the aviation industry, Chuck Yeager never _____ his dream of flying into space.
-
pioneering . . realized
-
numerous . . accomplished
-
laudable . . disregarded
-
various . . deserted
-
progressive . . tolerated
-
Not admitting your guilt is not the same as being _____.
-
innocent
-
guilty
-
mute
-
virtuous
-
dishonest
-
Pedagogy is a _____ to teaching, but nothing can truly prepare you for the classroom but the act of teaching itself.
-
godsend
-
precursor
-
triumph
-
boon
-
stage
-
After her initial stint in the classroom, she was ready to _____ her pointer and _____ on a new career—any career that didn't include children.
-
surrender . . try
-
renounce . . disembark
-
relinquish . . embark
-
break . . think
-
bronze . . endeavor
-
She thought her cause might be _____, but to the contrary, she found everyone very _____.
-
controversial . . supportive
-
misunderstood . . helpful
-
rejected . . apologetic
-
distracting . . encouraging
-
terminated . . contingent
Answers for Exam Prep Questions
Answer D is the best response. We know that his responses were somehow negative, and the word might indicates that the election is still to come. Answer A is incorrect because "exemplary" would suggest that the congressman answered well, and we know by the tone of the sentence that he did not. We can eliminate that response without even considering the second word, "sector’s." Answer B is incorrect for the same reason—"considerate" simply isn’t a logical choice. Answer C may trip you up a bit, but remember, you’re looking for the best response, not any response that seems to fit. The responses could be rash or hasty—an impetuous response might not be harmful. Answer E is incorrect because "preceding" would imply a past election, and we know the election is still to come.
Answer B is correct. An appeal occurs after the verdict and sentencing and usually is a means of rehearing the case when something went wrong with the first one. Answer A is incorrect. You can’t reprimand a jury after the fact, and it would be irrelevant even if you could. Answer C is incorrect as a mistrial happens before a jury verdict. The sentence indicates that the jury did hand down a verdict. Answer D is incorrect because there really isn’t any such thing. You may see the term retried, or a defendant may get a new trial. Answer E is incorrect for the same reason as C.
Answer E is the best response because both words fit well within the context of the sentence. Answers A and B are both incorrect because none of the words really express the logic of the sentence. Answer C is incorrect; although "destitute" would fit, "strenuous" really doesn’t. Besides, destitute is redundant to poor. Answer D is incorrect. Although "challenging" might fit, it isn’t as good as "insurmountable." In addition, similar to destitute, indigent is redundant to poor.
Answer B is the best response. It’s logical to assume that fans would find the loss of an admired celebrity hard to accept or overcome for a while. Answers A and C are incorrect because they’re totally illogical. Answer D is incorrect. Even though it could be a true statement, nothing really supports it—what were the fans reconsidering? Answer E is incorrect. Although the sentiment might be true, there are certainly better ways to express it. Besides, that statement almost seems incomplete. The statement needs to include just what the fans are waning—their devotion, their support?
Answer D is correct. A "euphemism" is a word or phrase that restates another in a pleasant or inoffensive manner. In this case, the principal wants to avoid using the word "failed" to describe a student that needs to repeat a grade. Answers A, B, C, and E are all incorrect because they are the wrong words.
Answer A is the best response, given the creative nature of the sentence. It also helps to be familiar with Chuck Yeager and his accomplishments, but the hint is in the sentence. Space travel is still on the cutting edge of our technology, so it should be fairly easy to deduce that Chuck Yeager was a pioneer in that industry. Okay, it is a bit of a trick question, but remember, context is everything in this section of the exam. Answer B is incorrect because "numerous" is not a good way to describe his contributions within the context of this sentence. Numerous really doesn’t prepare you for the statement’s dream component; the thoughts aren’t parallel and fail to support one another. Besides, one doesn’t accomplish one’s dream; one realizes a dream. Accomplish simply isn’t the most appropriate word. Answer C is incorrect. Although "laudable" would fit, "disregarded" doesn’t. The two phrases might be correct alone, but they don’t fit well together. Like answer B, they don’t support one another. Answer D is incorrect because it isn’t the best response. Although the words would work logically, they aren’t as expressive as answer A. Answer E is incorrect because "tolerant" isn’t logical within the context of the sentence. Therefore, even though "progressive" might work, the two phases don’t fit together.
Answer A is correct. If you find the sentence confusing, remove one of the negatives: Not admitting guilt is the same as being innocent. You know that statement isn’t true, but it does help clarify the statement’s meaning. In a nutshell, just because you don’t admit something, doesn’t mean that you’re innocent. Answers B, C, and D are all incorrect because they simply don’t express the right sentiment. Answer E is incorrect although you might be fooled by this one. Remember the context and keep the thoughts parallel, and you’ll see that "dishonest" doesn’t fit. The sentence isn’t about honesty, it’s about guilt and innocence. Dishonest isn’t parallel with guilt within the context of this sentence.
Answer B is correct. If you know your elemental components, you can figure this one out even if you don’t know that pedagogy is the study of teaching. You can’t teach until you’ve studied teaching, so "precursor" is the most appropriate choice. The clue is the word "prepare." Answers A, C, D, and E are all incorrect because they are illogical choices.
Answer C is the best response. Both words fit logically within the individual phrases. She wants to quit teaching and do something else. Answer A is incorrect. First, "surrender" has a different connotation than "relinquish"; there’s a sense of force in the word "surrender" that isn’t in "relinquish." In addition, "try" doesn’t fit well grammatically. Although you might say, "try on," the context is wrong for that usage. Answer B is incorrect because "disembark" isn’t logical, with the clue being the word "new" to describe the career. Answer D is incorrect. She might want to break her pointer, but you don’t "think on" a new career. You might consider or think about a new career, but "think on" is bad grammar. Answer E is incorrect. First, "bronze" isn’t logical. You bronze baby shoes—things you treasure. Even if you wanted to use the word humorously or creatively, "endeavor" doesn’t work grammatically.
Answer A is the best response because it presents the most logical statement. The clue is the phrase "to the contrary." This phrase lets you know that everyone’s response is not the one she expected. Answer B is incorrect. People don’t have to fully understand the cause to be helpful; they might help and support her just because they like her, regardless of the actual cause. The statement makes sense, but it is not the best response. Answer C is incorrect. The phrase "to the contrary" makes the statement illogical. Answer D is incorrect. Although that statement might be true, it isn’t the strongest, best response. The fact that her cause is distracting doesn’t really support the statement or why people are encouraging despite the distraction. You’d need more information for this statement to make sense. Answer E is incorrect because you don’t terminate a cause. You might change your mind; you might drop a cause. In addition, "contingent" is just plain wrong in the context of this sentence.