Direction:Each sentence below has one blank, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words. Choose the word for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

1. The symphony’s performance was nothing short of ____________, leaving the audience spellbound by the extraordinary harmonies and musical precision.

(a) pedestrian  

(b) transcendental  

(c) mundane  

(d) capricious  

(e) arbitrary

2. His ____________ knowledge in the realm of biology enabled him to make groundbreaking discoveries that propelled the field forward.

(a) cursory  

(b) encyclopedic  

(c) fallacious  

(d) ephemeral  

(e) parochial

3. The legal contract was so ____________ with technical jargon that it was almost impossible for a layperson to comprehend its implications.

(a) imbued  

(b) bereft  

(c) saturated  

(d) devoid  

(e) punctuated

4. The ____________ terrain made the hiking experience extremely challenging, testing the endurance and determination of the most seasoned adventurers.

(a) undulating  

(b) arduous  

(c) pristine  

(d) voluptuous  

(e) auspicious

5. The painting conveyed a sense of ____________, representing the chaos and unpredictability inherent in human existence.

(a) entropy  

(b) symbiosis  

(c) lucidity  

(d) plenitude  

(e) alacrity

6. The professor’s ____________ explanation clarified the complex theory, enabling students to grasp the underlying principles with ease.

(a) obfuscated  

(b) elucidated  

(c) nebulous  

(d) truncated  

(e) beleaguered

7. The sudden, ____________ decision to change the company’s direction left the employees bewildered and uncertain about the future.

(a) judicious  

(b) capricious  

(c) propitious  

(d) equanimous  

(e) cogent

8. The novel was a(n) ____________ tapestry of interwoven narratives, each contributing to the complex and multifaceted storyline.

(a) inchoate  

(b) monolithic  

(c) labyrinthine  

(d) unilateral  

(e) palliative

9. Her ____________ approach to solving problems often led to innovative solutions and strategies that were both effective and efficient.

(a) dogmatic  

(b) orthodox  

(c) heuristic  

(d) myopic  

(e) draconian

10. The scientist’s ____________ observations laid the foundation for a hypothesis that would later revolutionize the field of genetics.

(a) cursory  

(b) meticulous  

(c) harried  

(d) platitudinous  

(e) querulous

ANSWERS AND SOLUTION

1.

Solution: (b) transcendental  

The context suggests a performance that was extraordinary and beyond ordinary experiences, making “transcendental” (going beyond ordinary limits) the most suitable choice.  

– Pedestrian and mundane both mean ordinary or common, not fitting the extraordinary context.  

– Capricious and arbitrary imply randomness or lack of predictability, which doesn’t align with the precision mentioned.

2.

Solution: (b) encyclopedic  

“Encyclopedic” means comprehensive and all-encompassing, aligning with the idea of having enough knowledge to make groundbreaking discoveries.  

– Cursory (superficial), fallacious (false), ephemeral (short-lived), and parochial (narrow-minded) all contradict the idea of depth and breadth in knowledge.

3.

Solution: (c) saturated  

“Saturated” indicates that the contract was filled or loaded with technical jargon.  

– Imbued implies being filled with particular qualities, bereft and devoid mean lacking, and punctuated implies interruptions or breaks, none of which align with the excess of jargon described.

4.

Solution: (b) arduous  

“Arduous” refers to something hard to traverse or difficult, aligning with the challenging hiking experience described.  

– Undulating refers to a terrain having a wavy surface, pristine indicates pure or unspoiled, voluptuous doesn’t suit the context, and auspicious means favorable, which contradicts the difficulty mentioned.

5.

Solution: (a) entropy  

“Entropy” signifies disorder or chaos, fitting the description in the context.  

– Symbiosis indicates mutual relationships, lucidity clarity, plenitude abundance, and alacrity eagerness or readiness—all not aligning with chaos and unpredictability.

6.

Solution: (b) elucidated  

“Elucidated” means made clear, aligning with the clarification of a complex theory.  

– Obfuscated means confused, nebulous vague, truncated shortened, and beleaguered troubled—all implying a lack of clarity.

7.

Solution: (b) capricious  

“Capricious” indicates sudden changes in behavior or mood, fitting the abrupt decision described.  

– Judicious means wise, propitious favorable, equanimous calm, and cogent clear or logical—all not aligning with the sudden and unexplained nature of the decision.

8.

Solution: (c) labyrinthine  

“Labyrinthine” suggests complexity and the intricacy of interweaving paths or narratives, fitting the description.  

– Inchoate means not fully formed, monolithic unified or solid, unilateral one-sided, and palliative soothing without curing, all of which do not suit the intricate and multifaceted description.

9.

Solution: (c) heuristic  

“Heuristic” indicates a practical, experiential, or experimental approach to problem-solving, aligning with innovation and effectiveness.  

– Dogmatic, orthodox, and draconian imply rigidity or strictness, and myopic means short-sighted, none of which align with innovation and effectiveness.

10.

Solution: (b) meticulous  

“Meticulous” indicates careful and detailed observations, aligning with the foundational and revolutionary impact described.  

– Cursory means superficial, harried rushed, platitudinous commonplace, and querulous complaining—all contrasting with the careful and impactful nature of the observations described.