Test: Sentence Equivalence - 2 - GRE MCQ

“Suspect” and “mere” imply that the speaker has a less than positive opinion of the subject. A more negative description of joyousness would be fatuity or imbecility. The answer is (A) and (E).

Meanings for the words given in this question are provided in the table. Before going through the detailed explanation, check whether you are able to arrive at the answer after knowing meanings for the words.

Let us begin by focusing on the keyword, which in this sentence is “even though”. “Even though” indicates that there is a contrast between the first part (which informs us that Magellan died), and the second part (nothing was ___ on the day of the departure). Even though means “regardless of -”.

If we have to construct this sentence using simple words, we might say for example - “even though Magellan would die on this trip, on the first day nothing seemed to be wrong.”

So nothing seemed wrong on Day 1 of that trip. The bad things would come only later. So, the answer options have to be words that mean “wrong or bad”.

Both "stellar" and "exceptional" convey the meaning of being outstanding or extraordinary.

If a mother must “endlessly endure” something, she would require patience and determination. The answer is (A) and (D).

Meanings for the words given in this question are provided in the table. Before going through the detailed explanation, check whether you are able to arrive at the answer after knowing meanings for the words.

This is an easy sentence because the word “but” draws out a simple contrast between the evolution of hardware and software. “But” implies an opposing relationship between the two parts of the sentence, so while hardware has become smaller and simpler, computer programs have gone in the opposing direction – they have become larger and more unwieldy. Answer options C and E fit the best.

For something to be scientifically valuable, it must be proven through several experiments. Look for words that mean “proven.” The answer is (B) and (D).

Meanings for the words given in this question are provided in the table. Before going through the detailed explanation, check whether you are able to arrive at the answer after knowing meanings for the words.

The definition has to be expanded and extended to include a new group of people.

"The company's rapid growth was due to the hard work and dedication of its employees."
"The company's accelerated growth was due to the hard work and dedication of its employees."

Abjuring carnal pleasures means becoming less worldly and practicing self-restraint and self-denial. If you don’t recognize some of the answer choices, eliminate the ones you know don’t fit. The answer is (b) and (e).

Both "opaque" and "obscure" convey the meaning of being difficult to understand or not clear.

Burnt hair smells terrible. If you don’t know this, the key phrase is “unpleasant result.” You might come up for a word to fit the blank such as “nasty.” The answer is (D) and (E).

Both "democratic" and "inclusive" describe a decision-making process that involves input from others and values their opinions.

The clue to this sentence is the word “dulcet,” which means gentle and soothing. The phrase “One wouldn’t expect…to be anything but” indicates that the blank will support the positive connotation of “dulcet.” The answer is (A) and (E).

Meanings for the words given in this question are provided in the table. Before going through the detailed explanation, check whether you are able to arrive at the answer after knowing meanings for the words.

Let us understand the story behind the sentence. Jeff was cheated by an online credit card scam. He lost money to a fraud scheme and he is feeling hurt because of that. But, the loss of money is not the most hurtful thing. What could hurt him more than that? It could be the feeling of being cheated.

The best answer options are duplicity and deception. A credit-card fraud is essentially a deception and a duplicity. Jeff feels worse about that than actually losing money.

Explanation:

The sentence describes weather that makes it difficult for hikers to predict the conditions they will encounter. The words "capricious" (which means unpredictable or subject to sudden changes) and "changeable" (which means likely to change) both convey this idea of unpredictability.

Other options like "stable" and "constant" suggest the opposite—conditions that are steady and unchanging, which do not fit the context of the sentence. "Mercurial" typically refers to unpredictable moods or personalities, and while it can sometimes describe weather, it is less appropriate here compared to "capricious" and "changeable."