Sentence Completion Practice Flashcards by Andrew Cohen

His assigned 60-page graduate thesis was a ________ task, since he’d never written a paper a quarter the size.

A) odious

B) prolonged

C) jocular

D) daunting

E) sober

D) daunting

Clues: never written, a quarter the size

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David, wanting to find Mr. Rankeillor’s house, is willing to ________ a stranger on the street to help him identify it.

A) provoke

B) castigate

C) accost

D) interrogate

E) irritate

C) accost

Clues: find house, stranger

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When Billy ________ the vat of soup and expects a harsh punishment, the tough master-at-arms merely ________ him in a way that puzzles the foretop man.

A) dislogdes…hastens

B) overturns…chides

C) upsets…chastises

D) reconnoiters…admonishes

E) topples…promulgates

B) overturns…chides

Clues: vat of soup, expects punishment, merely

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The professor of medieval studies had a most ________ collection of office furniture selected from Danish, Spanish, Italian and Hungarian styles of ________ and even a piece from the Ikea catalogue.

A) comprehensive…authenticity

B) variegated…morbidity

C) eclectic…antiquity

D) scintillating…carpentry

E) exquisite…novelty

C) eclectic…antiquity

Clues: medieval, collection, Danish, Spanish, Italian, Hangarian, Ikea

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The law school professor clearly ________ the boundaries of First Amendment rights as pertaining to ________ and slander.

A) demarcated…rumors

B) explored…slights

C) blurred…calumny

D) delineated…libel

E) deprecated…reputations

D) delineated…libel

Clues: boundaries, First Amendment

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Though he undoubtedly shared the defensive plans at West Point to an enemy commander, Gen. Benedict Arnold certainly saw his actions as less ________ than the treason ________ in his court-martial.

A) problematic…cited

B) olfactory…implied

C) perfidious…alleged

D) nefarious…posed

E) notorious…defamed

C) perfidious…alleged

Clues: though, enemy commander, treason

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The prisoners of war became ________ at ________ the rules of the camp, so that tunnels could be dug for escape.

A) pliant…molding

B) deft..circumventing

C) adroit…overslawing

D) adept…proscribing

E) obstreperous…respecting

B) deft…circumventing

Clues: prisoners, so that, tunnels, for escape

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Catching and holding a frog from the water is challenging because its ________ skin allows it to slip away from a person’s grasp.

A) unctuous

B) lithe

C) pithy

D) malleable

E) arid

A) unctuous

Clues: catching, frog, challenging, because, skin, slip away

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Though Rachel had just been informed by her mother that her dear dog was dead, she managed her job with remarkable ________ so that no one realized that she was heartbroken.

A) callousness

B) stoicism

C) nubility

D) equanimity

E) aplomp

D) equanimity

Clues: Though, dear dog dead, managed her job, no one realized, heartbroken

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Since no one saw the crime committed, the physical evidence which identified the accused was the ________ of the prosecution’s case.

A) canopy

B) basement

C) crowbar

D) rudder

E) linchpin

Clues: Since, no one saw, physical evidence, case

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A successful teacher must maintain a good ________ with his or her students; they must understand and trust one another.

A) didacticism

B) deference

C) rapport

D) ingenue

E) verisimilitude

C) rapport

Clues: successful teacher, maintain, good understand and trust

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When Jarmel found the Mirror of Happenstance, he could see all the moments of his day at rising and avoid those ________ that would bring him unhappiness.

A) serendipities

B) vicissitudes

C) carnivores

D) blandishments

E) probabilities

B) vicissitudes

Clues: see all moments of the day, avoid

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Skipper and Brick shared ________ each other that Maggie found threatening to her marriage.

A) an ambivalence for

B) a symbiosis with

C) an affinity for

D) an animosity for

E) a bathyshpere with

C) an affinity for

Clues: each other, found threatening, marriage

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Without a doubt, the ________ of his life occurred when his drug addiction caused in rapid ________ the loss of his business, his marriage, and, from an overdose, almost his life.

A) prophecy…sequence

B) nadir…succession

C) apex…confluence

D) perogee…momentum

E) stasis…episodes

B) nadir…succession

Clues: loss, business, marriage, overdose, life

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The witch, instead of being a ________ crone, was a striking beauty, and Bernard thought that maybe he’d been totally misled as to the nature of the ________.

A) wizened…species

B) grotesque…genre

C) sagacious…breed

D) defaced…genus

E) unsightly…spectre

A) wizened…species

Clues: witch, instead, beauty, nature

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Convinced that her children had robbed her of a career on Broadway, Sylvia began to display an open _______ toward those whom she should naturally love and nurture.

A) ambivalence

B) antipathy

C) disregard

D) neglect

E) apathy

B) antipathy

Clues: robbed her, should, love and nuture

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Dr. Kolsky’s ________ manner demonstrated his wide knowledge of physics as well as metaphysical philosophy, and made him a well-respected member of the prestigious university’s faculty.

A) opulent

B) equestrian

C) respective

D) erudite

E) cantankerous

D) erudite

Clues: wide knowledge, member prestigious, faculty

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Having just won the highest ________ in acting, with offers on the table for movies that paid really well and gave her a chance to work with the best directors, she was at the ________ of her career.

A) notoriety…pinnacle

B) accolade….zenith

C) bauble…nadir

D) commendation…midpoint

E) demerit…apex

B) accolade…zenith

Clues: highest, offers, paid well, best directors

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Though Miquel had excellent skills in soccer, his constant boasting, _________ and other _________ behaviors convinced the coaches that he threatened team chemistry and kept him off the varsity squad.

A) harranging…mature

B) bellowing…infantile

C) bragging…competitive

D) grousing…fractious

E) bleating…amusing

D) grousing…fractious

Clues: boasting, kept him off the squad

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The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once ________ upon hearing his friend, Ralph Abernathy, introduce him that it was so ________ he wondered who he was talking about.

A) gesticulated…cross

B) joked…laudatory

C) punned…laborious

D) quipped…enamored

E) posited…confused

B) joked…laudatory

Clues: introduce him, wondered who he was talking about

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Hester Prynne runs afoul of the ________ edict against adultery and thus is sentenced to wear the red letter.

A) pelted

B) ornery

C) proscribed

D) antiquated

E) concomitant

C) proscribed

Clues: edict

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George’s natural modesty meant that all ________ he perceived as undeserved.

A) criticism

B) promises

C) platitudes

D) superlatives

E) adulation

Clues: modesty, undeserved

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Roderick Usher, much ________ by the illness of his sister, Madeleine, retired to his room for the afternoon and returned to me at dinner somewhat ________.

A) enervated…refreshed

B) dilapidated…dismal

C) mollified…rejuvenated

D) frayed…glutted

E) anxious…fatigued

A) enervated…refreshed

Clues: illness of his sister, retired to his room

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While Jared’s eyes rolled throughout the ________ movie, he wondered at the taste of his friend, Luna, as she sat dabbing her eyes at the sentimental ________.

A) maudlin…hoke

B) insipid…protagonist

C) dramatic…schlock

D) riveting…drivel

E) caustic…plot

A) maudlin…hoke

Clues: rolled his eyes, wondered at taste, dabbing her eyes, sentimental

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Members of the media took immediate ________ at the use of word "legitimate" in that context, though the junior representative explained that within the context that he did not mean to insult anyone. A) enervation B) braggadocio C) umbrage D) salutation E) somnolence

C) umbrage ## Footnote Clues: many took, insult

The professor couldn’t hide his surprise that his students were so ________ toward learning beyond scoring high on the tests. A) apathetic B) fatalistic C) punctilious D) trenchant E) myopic

A) apathetic ## Footnote Clues: surprised, toward learning, beyond, tests

Theresa rescued ________ cats that she found in a small ________ outside her home, but, when she got them home, they attacked her domesticated cats and finally bolted out an open window. A) salvage...hedge B) dehydrated...thicket C) famished...dale D) feral...copse E) endangered...arboretum

D) feral...copse ## Footnote Clues: rescued, outside her home, domesticated

My boss has an annoying tendency to ________ on big decisions, which he calls “giving everything careful thought”, but it leaves the team less time to actually execute the decision. A) ponder B) vacillate C) cogitate D) pontificate E) litigate

B) vacillate ## Footnote Clues: annoying, decisions, calls "giving careful thought", less time

With all the ________ of cancer weighing down his soul, the patient waited for the tumor to be tested to see if the growth was malignant or \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) anxiety...frivolous B) tension...trivial C) laxity...palliative D) fragility...threatening E) apprehension...benign

E) apprehension...benign ## Footnote Clues: cancer, weighing down, tumor, malignant

Her neighbor was so ________ a simple moment’s “hello” in the grocery could lengthen into ________ 25 minute gab session. A) unguarded...an extended B) noisome...a prolonged C) loquacious...a truncated D) garrulous...an interminable E) contentious...an atrophied

D) garrulous...an interminable ## Footnote clues - so, moment's hello, lengthen

The spy, code-named “the Blank”, had ________ features and passed unrecognized through heavy surveillance areas. A) hideous B) pallid C) disgruntled D) nondescript E) adamant

D) nondescript ## Footnote Clues: passed unrecognized

In an age in which the rich seem to need to ________ their wealth, Warren Buffet maintains a lifestyle almost devoid of ________ trappings. A) flaunt...affluent B) understate...pricey C) infuse...luxuriant D) ply...influential E) augment...tasteful

A) flaunt...affluent ## Footnote Clues: rich, lifestyle, devoid of,

The price to buy into the condominium was fairly low, because residents were ________ by ________ service and ground management fees. A) bilked...minuscule B) flim-flammed...piddling C) burdened...exorbitant D) encumbered...measly E) succoured...munificent

C) burdened...exorbitant ## Footnote Clues: fairly low, but, fees

Benedick was sure he would be ridiculed for ________ he was in love for he had ________ for so long against marriage. A) declaring...palavered B) denying...bantered C) signifying...sallied D) proclaiming...railed E) billowing...decried

D) proclaiming...railed ## Footnote Clues: sure, be ridiculed, in love, against marriage

During the business pitch, she ________ all of the positives aspects of her firm’s service and ________ all the negative aspects. A) accentuated...downplayed B) emphasized...highlighted C) glossed over...ran down D) polished...buffed out E) glitzed up...intensified

A) accentuated...downplayed ## Footnote Clues: positive aspect's, her, negative aspects

While other Supreme Court Justices ________ their decisions in legalese, Justice Parker wrote ________ opinions that most non-lawyers could readily understand. A) inculcated...salient B) couched...lucid C) ensconced...various D) founded...oblique E) based...straightforward

B) couched...lucid ## Footnote Clues: while others, legalese, most non-lawyers understand

The ________ between the two sisters, perhaps began long ago in some forgotten sibling \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, but it surfaced at the reading of their father’s will. A) empathy...satiety B) antipahty...harmony C) acrimony...rivalry D) aversion...cacophony E) insipidity...rancor

C) acrimony...rivalry ## Footnote Clues: between sister, surfaced, father's will

Despite the school being hard on newbies, Charles was so _______ that he melted every cold shoulder aimed at him. A) sedentary B) cloistered C) tempermental D) caustic E) amiable

E) amiable ## Footnote Clues: despite, hard, newbies, melted cold shoulder

Don Quixote begged a ________ of the innkeeper that the host would officially knight him. A) compensation B) credit C) boon D) inquest E) charlatan

C) boon ## Footnote Clues: begged, host would

Because the conman always sounded so polite and ________ to everyone, he was able to convince them all that he could never do anything ________ with their investment money. A) guiless...scrupulous B) credulous...nefarious C) amiable...advantageous D) dubious...deceptive E) genuine...untoward

E) genuine...untoward ## Footnote Clues: because, conman, polite and, could never do, with money

Once, cellular phones were \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, but now they are so ________ one can find them in the hands of even young children. A) rarefied...casual B) common...prevalent C) dormant...lively D) dull...prominent E) rare...ubiquitous

E) rare...ubiquitous ## Footnote Clues: once, cell phones, one can find, even

By _________ billing records, the firm of Bendini, Lambert and Locke intentionally \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ their clients out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. A) recreating...gored B) falsifying...bilked C) coining...mothballed D) amalgamating...grated E) disseminating...embezzled

B) falsifying...bilked ## Footnote Clues:billing, intentionally, out of, dollars

The ________ over the new formula, which tested very well in all the sample markets, nearly destroyed the company until the _________ of the old recipe brought back many who had abandoned the brand. A) debacle...reintroduction B) confusion...rediscovery C) fiasco...redressing D) hoopla...reintegration D) hullabaloo...reconception

A) debacle...reintroduction ## Footnote Clues: new formula, nearly destroyed, old recipe

Abraham Lincoln suggested that Senator Douglass possessed a political ________ that could have only come from the devil himself. A) aplomp B) gumption C) serum D) guile E) bedlam

D) guile ## Footnote Clues: from the devil

The scene at the mine turned from apprehensive and ________ to relieved and \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, when one-by-one all thirty-three men were rescued. A) procreative...relaxed B) exurberant...gracious C) chary...noncommittal D) steadfast...overjoyed E) expectant...jubilant

E) expectant...jubilant ## Footnote Clues: at the mine, apprehensive, relieved, all were rescued

He faced his personal \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_with dread, because he could either share his feelings with Stephanie and ________ his best friend, Mark, or not tell anyone and continue to suffer not eating or sleeping. A) dilemma...denote B) foibles...inure C) quandary...alienate D) opportunity...betray E) decision...rectify

C) quandary...alienate ## Footnote Clues: personal, either share feelings, and, best friend

Many green soldiers are so ________ at the first sight of battle that it is almost unimaginable that they eventually become brave \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) initiated...neophytes B) elated...warriors C) timorous...veterans D) verdant...specialists E) raw...cadets

C) timorous...veterans ## Footnote Clues: green, first sight of battle

Despite his campaign ________ and the pressures of his own party to end the war, Barack Obama was ________ that the mission should end honorably and acceptably. A) position...lachrymose B) utterances...dissuaded C) rhetoric...adamant D) orations...stultified E) expenditures...resigned

C) rhetoric...adamant ## Footnote Clues: despite, campaign, pressures, should

Surviving such a ______ ordeal as the fire that consumed her house, Regina was quite shaken and \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) terrifying...illuminated B) harrowing...forlorn C) dramatic...reticent D) fortuitous...unnerved E) perfidious...inebriated

B) harrowing...forlorn ## Footnote Clues: fire, shaken

Wallace had ________ cheese, though Grommit didn’t share his enthusiasm for fermented curd. A) a kinship with B) a penchant for C) a regard for D) a disinclination for E) a regimen of

B) a penchant for ## Footnote Clues: cheese, enthusiam

The detective didn’t rely upon ________ answers to the ________ of crimes, because he knew how often there were hidden reasons why people cross the line. A) common...actions B) unidimensional...indiosyncracies C) redemptive...rationale D) pedestrian...forensics E) patent...motivations

E) patent...motivations ## Footnote Clues: rely, hidden reasons why, cross the line

Shooting stars, which are ________ often for less than one second, are the most ________ of all attractions in the night sky. A) exigent...momentary B) transparent...fleeting C) visible...transient D) intense...emphemeral E) present...scintallating

C) visible...transient ## Footnote Clues: shooting stars, less than one second

When the financially ________ car company hired a man who had been fired for a debacle at a rival corporation, it did little to ________ the stockholder’s fears about the future. A) brankrupt...assuage B) posited...readjust C) corroded...palliate D) strapped...allay E) solvent...shatter

D) strapped...allay ## Footnote Clues: financially, had been fired, little

Sarah saw too many of her close friends transform from strong-willed and decisive to utterly ________ as soon as they had serious boyfriends. A) compliant B) adamant C) flexible D) tempermental E) captivated

A) compliant ## Footnote Clues: transform, strong-willed and decisive

Mr. Darcy declares that his temperament is ________ enough to be called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_; he said that once he has lost a good opinion of someone he has lost it forever. A) rigid...nascent B) optimistic...ebullient C) discursive...regressive D) inculcated...embedded E) implacable...resentful

E) implacable...resentful ## Footnote Clues: temperament, lost his good opinion, forever

The ________ believe that the voters are unwilling to select such ________ in foreign policy matters, suggesting that youth, character, education, and energy and no match for experience. A) realists... an expert B) pundits...a neophyte C) veterans...a soldier D) constituents...a dilettante E) incredulous...a greenhorn

B) pundits...neophyte ## Footnote Clues: the voters, unwilling, suggesting, experience

Joe’s sensible but slightly overprotective mother ________ him for not wearing his helmet and pads while skateboarding in the neighborhood. A) exhausted B) pressured C) admonished D) castigated E) censured

C) admonished ## Footnote Clues: sensible, overprotective, not wearing

News and especially rumors of violence ________ by pro-government militias ________ the situation in the square and brought about calls to abandon peaceful demonstrations. A) committed...quelled B) condoned...rallied C) exculpated...intensified D) perpetrated...exacerbated E) mortified...degraded

D) perpetrated...exacerbated ## Footnote Clues: violence, by militias, situation, abandon peaceful

Over the course of thirty years, the castle grew by ________ as the ________ could gather and shape stone enough to continue the project. A) morsels...subjects B) increments...masons C) phases...artisans D) pelts...engineers E) design...adjuncts

B) increments...masons ## Footnote Clues: thirty years, grew by, shape stone

Without a ________ of tact, the waiter pointed out the blood stain on the woman’s skirt, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ her. A) smidgen...gratifying B) whiff...embarassing C) trace...edifying D) plethora...beleaguering E) modicum...mortifying

E) modicum...mortifying ## Footnote Clues: tact, pointed out, stain on skirt

After the incident of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, the captain ________ the chief, who once commanded the crew of the hangar deck, to the duties of the engineer’s mate. A) insubordination..relegated B) incompetence...remonstrated C) negligence...hindered D) inebriation...reassigned E) noncompliance...relocated

A) insubordination...relegated ## Footnote Clues: once commanded the crew, mate

Tailgating in Norman on the lot before the Texas-Oklahoma game, the fans will ________ themselves with sausages, meatballs and barbeque. A) satiate B) irrigate C) confuscate D) lacerate E) mitigate

A) satiate ## Footnote Clues: tailgating, sausages, meatballs, barbeque

Darlene, reserved and demure, was the ________ to her sister Peggy, free-spirited and \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) prototype...austere B) antithesis...assertive C) ying...humble D) ingenue...successive E) paragon...corpulent

B) antithesis...assertive ## Footnote Clues: reserved and demure, free-spirited

Some coaches rely on praise to motivate their players and rarely ________ them for mistakes. A) address B) berate C) commend D) ostracize E) ignore

B) berate ## Footnote Clues: rely on praise, and rarely, for mistakes

Agatha Christie’s critically unsuccessful last novel that she wrote at 82 years-old is more artifact of the ________ condition of her aged mind than an entertaining mystery. A) tasteless B) unimaginative C) formulaic D) biased E) diffuse

E) diffuse ## Footnote Clues: unsuccessful novel, 82, artifact, condition of aged mind

Prof. Heath, fully ________ of the many students who were plagiarising their assignments from internet sources, ________ the cheating policy and gave a one-time amnesty to those students who confessed. A) reliant on...tightened B) despairing of...abrogated C) cognizant of...reiterated D) candescent of...abandoned E) infuriated by...disseminated

C) cognizant of...reiterated ## Footnote Clues: Prof., plagiarising their assignments, cheating policy

When the drake smelled the human scent upon her eggs, her instinct ________ her to ________ the nest completely. A) repulsed..abandon B) persauded...brood over C) threatened...dismiss D) motivated...purify E) compelled...forsake

E) compelled...forsake ## Footnote Clues: smelled human scent, instinct, the nest

Even with his voice disguised digitally, his friends all recognized him by the ________ phrases which were singularly ________ by his linguistic background. A) idiosyncratic...convoluted B) ornate...overlayed C) grandeloquent...stagnated D) rarefied...combined E) inept...conjured

A) idiosyncratic...convoluted ## Footnote Clues: Even with, voice disguised, recognized, by phrases, singularly, linquistic

The ________ traveler, was forced to take the “Bloody Pass”, so named for its many sharp curves where ________ waited for the unsuspecting. A) canny...hooligans B) plighted...devotees C) ruthless...misfortune D) hapless...highwaymen E) craven...desolation

D) hapless...highwaymen ## Footnote Clues: traveler, forced, Bloody Pass, unsuspecting

Whereas the Mississippi River is earthen brown so that its depth can only be guessed, the Meramec, a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, is so ________ one can see clear to the bottom. A) sustainer...transparent B) tributary...limpid C) rivulet...ruddy D) brook...stagnate E) beneficiary...diaphanous

B) tributary...limpid ## Footnote Clues: whereas, earthen brown, clear

Before the funeral of the old jurist began, with the bell's last \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, it cracked, never to be rung again. A) till B) vibration C) gong D) tine E) knell

E) knell ## Footnote Clues: funeral, bell, rung

Eventually, the food that Laura found ________ when she arrived in Indonesia soon became reasonably \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) revolting...nutritious B) exotic...repugnant C) bland...seasoned D) disgusting...palatable E) gross...negligible

D) disgusting...palatable ## Footnote Clues: eventually, food, became, reasonably

With the battlefield still scattered with the casualties of a week before, the already challenging atmosphere in the trenches grew poisonously \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) opaque B) noisome C) ruddy D) adversarial E) diabolical

B) noisome ## Footnote Clues: battlefield, causualties, trenches, poisonously

Many lenders remain \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, ignoring the call of mercy, and foreclose ruthlessly on the property of many unfortunate people. A) stoical B) obdurate C) calumnious D) impertinent E) buttressed

B) obdurate ## Footnote Clues: ignoring the call of mercy, ruthlessly

Some people believed that the American flag is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, so they ________ a Flag Desecretion Amendment to the Constitution. A) emblematic...opposed B) tainted...supplanted C) burlesque...interjected D) credulous...supported E) sacrosanct...advocated

D) sacrosanct...advocate ## Footnote Clues: American flag, Descretion Amendment

The detective trusted none of her statements but checked every detail against eye-witnesses’ statements for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) veracity B) security C) humility D) infirmity E) consistency

A) veracity ## Footnote Clues: trusted none, checked every detail

For historical fiction, ________ research will help avoid ________ content, which, if noticed, will destroy the verisimilitude and distract the audience. A) thorough...plagaristic B) exhaustive...trivial C) dilatory...inaccurate D) painstaking...anachronistic E) fallible...detrimental

D) painstaking...anachronistic ## Footnote Clues: historical, research, avoid, destroy, and distract

After the wedding, the families and guests ________ late into the night. A) ravelled B) caroused C) gesticulated D) rallied E) catewauled

B) caroused ## Footnote Clues: wedding, families, guests

The ________ defended his seat in office by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, turning the voters away from the challenger with falsehoods. A) veteran...intimidation B) rascal...legerdemain C) incumbent...calumny D) pundit...prestidigitation E) politician...erudition

C) incumbent...calumny ## Footnote Clues: his seat in office, voters, challenger, falsehoods

With his ________ income, Bob was forced to be ________ with his money. A) copious...parsimonious B) slender...frugal C) ample...generous D) meager...effuse E) paltry...stingy

B) slender...frugal ## Footnote Clues: income, was forced, with money

Laura went from ________ about breaking up with her boyfriend to ________ reading the letter of acceptance from her “wish list” college. A) despondency...ebullience B) depression...melancholy C) insurgency...elation D) exigency...euphoria E) pedantry...pinnacle

A) despondency...ebullience ## Footnote Clues: breaking up with boyfriend, reading letter of acceptance

Once they discover her unfortunate family connections, Caroline and Louisa Bingley do everything in their power short of slander to ________ their brother’s emotional attachment to Jane Bennett. A) cogitate B) eliminate C) supplicate D) inhibit E) denigrate

D) inhibit ## Footnote Clues: unfortunate, short of slander, emotional attachment

The quarterback, who ran a dogfighting ring from his property, was convicted of the ________ crime of animal cruelty. A) serpentine B) insipid C) heinous D) arduous E) malodorous

C) heinous ## Footnote Clues: dogfighting ring, animal cruelty

The demolition expert used a ________ putty explosive for the bridge job. A) manipulative B) inconsistent C) malleable D) nebulous E) truncated

C) malleable ## Footnote Clues: demolition, putty

Pollution from the silver mine made the once ________ mountain spring no longer good for hikers to fill their canteens. A) brackish B) pellucid C) bilious D) purified E) potable

E) potable ## Footnote Clues: pollution, made once, mountain spring, no long good

Cher made several arguments to Mr. Hall regarding her marking period grade, but, being a debate teacher, he ________ them all. A) tolerated B) repudiated C) ostracized D) reiterated E) augmented

B) repudiated ## Footnote Clues: Cher, arguments, debate teacher

Gatzby ordered a new dress to ________ for the one torn at the party, but the ________ thought that piece of civility, "suspicious." A) amend...penitent B) replace...innocent C) remedy...ingrate D) compensate...reveler E) appease...snob

D) compensate...reveler ## Footnote Clues: new dress, one torn at the party

The customer was so angered at the quality of the service, that nothing, but a full refund, would ________ him. A) rectify B) appease C) satiate D) irritate E) appropriate

B) appease ## Footnote Clues: so angered, nothing but refund,

The preacher, who staged protest demonstrations against gay marriage at funerals of Gulf War soldiers, created ________ 1st Amendment rights. A) ambivalence about B) irony for C) disinterest in D) adherence toward E) respect for

A) ambivalence about ## Footnote Clues: demonstrations, at funerals

The steady and ________ man was perfectly suited to the ________ university’s provost position. A) stolid...rambunctious B) impassive...unemotional C) decorous...austere D) accomplished...charitable E) fetid...dignified

C) decorous...austere ## Footnote Clues: steady and, perfectly suited, university's

A sizeable portion of the British electorate ________ the public ________ for the royal family. A) acquiesce to...applause B) disdain...expenditures C) equivocate for...regard D) question...scorn E) revile...larceny

B) disdain...expenditures ## Footnote Clues: sizable portion, electorate, for royal family

The negotiations were at a standstill, mostly because the ________ client wanted a price that jeopardized the ________ of the vendor and would simply hear no argument to the contrary. A) unwavering...motivation B) obdurate...reputation C) commodious...byproducts D) intransigent...solvency E) perspicacious...chagrin

D) intransigent...solvency ## Footnote Clues: standstill, client wanted a price, hear no argument

Competitive eaters, like Billy “the Hound” Henderson, may seem \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, but, while not competing, they often have small appetites. A) inedible B) insatiable C) gluttonous D) gelatinous E) ingratiated

B) insatiable ## Footnote Clues: eaters, but, small appetites

Marcus Brutus sees the ghost of Caesar in a ________ moment that predicts the conspirator’s death at Phillipi. A) prescient B) languished C) nascent D) simultaneous E) aggravated

A) prescient ## Footnote Clues: predicts

Though the wreck was only resting on a sandbar in the rising water of the heavy rain, Huck thought of the ________ of Tom Sawyer and demanded Jim to explore it boldly with him. A) temerity B) vainglory C) remedy D) accomodations E) station

A) temerity ## Footnote Clues: Though the wreck was only resting on a sandbar in the rising water = danger, thinking of how Tom Sawyer would face danger, demanded to go into danger

Having seen a bubble or two in the markets before, Hugh allowed his ________ to guide him to responsible investments before and after the crash. A) sanguinity B) timidity C) prudence D) reputation E) avarice

C) prudence ## Footnote Clues: bubble in the market, responsible, crash

Dragged through the rose bush by the dog, the little boy had enough long ________ to make a trip to the emergency room necessary. A) contusions B) maledictions C) lacerations D) fractures E) frescos

C) lacerations ## Footnote Clues: rose bush, emergency room

Henri Poincare in his analytical paper on the “Three-Body Problem” first ________ the properties of chaotic systems in science. A) enamored B) codified C) elucidated D) promulgated E) disseminated

C) elucidated ## Footnote Clues: analytical paper, properties, chaotic systems

When Sir Walter Elliot finds his debts unmanageably high, Lady Russell and Mr. Shepherd try at first to convince him to ________ his spending. A) eliminate B) accelerate C) foster D) loosen E) curtail

E) curtail ## Footnote Clues: when, debts, high, his spending

Though the results are clearly tragic, the source of John Claggart’s ________ towards the man he destroys Melville leaves a mystery. A) affinity B) antagonism C) scruples D) piety E) affluence

B) antagonism ## Footnote Clues: tragic, destroys

Many master craftsmen of the 17th century ________ their apprentices brutally for failing to attend to work. A) regulated B) chided C) mangled D) chastised E) instigated

D) chastised ## Footnote Clues: brutally, failing to attend

Knowing that this task was enormous in ________ and complexity, the board chose the most ________ officer to head the project. A) difficulty...tiresome B) range...bellicose C) detail...assiduous D) serendipity...efficient E) scope...diligent

E) scope...diligent ## Footnote Clues: enormous, and complexity

Unlike laws of society which can be broken or changed on the ________ of those who made them, the laws of physics are \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) whim...immutable B) vascillation...permeable C) platitudes...intransitory D) appetites...mortified E) inclinations...molded

A) whim...immutable ## Footnote Clues: Unlike, can be broken, those who made them, constant

Due to its ________ nature, cleaning “the head” on a naval vessel remains a punishment task for a crewman's minor \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) noisome...calamity B) odious...infraction C) malodorous...commendation D) unctuous...citation E) fractious...demerit

B) odious...infraction ## Footnote Clues: Due to, a punishment task

Some critics dislike the entire ________ of Shakespeare’s *The Taming of the Shrew*, because Petruchio ________ Kate to his will, and destroys her as an interesting character. A) pastiche...dominates B) milieu...ossifies C) tambor...subjugates D) horizon...meditates E) orthodoxy...unifies

C) tambor...subjugates ## Footnote Clues: critics dislike, to his will

The infant sloth must ________ to its mother because the latter moves high in the canopy and needs both hands free. A) plunge B) cleave C) linger D) coo E) skulk

B) cleave ## Footnote Clues: infant, to its mother, moves high, needs both hands free

It is ________ the members of the African Union to speak with one voice in support of ________ goals for the continent. A) located upon...militaristic B) responsible for...unilateral C) gratifying to...narcissistic D) incumbent upon...humanitarian E) monolithic of...altruistic

D) incumbent upon...humanitarian ## Footnote Clues: to speak with one voice, goals

Charles Foster Kane built Xanadu to be his palace, but, though richly adorned, it became his ________ prison. A) decadent B) opulent C) discursive D) dank E) vapid

B) opulent ## Footnote Clues: palace, but, though richly adorned, prison

The president, to some degree, tried to wrap himself in dignity and treat the accusations of ________ as the ________ attempts by his rivals to smear him. A) impropriety...scurrilous B) infamy...arduous C) larceny...reputable D) criminality...irreproachable E) immorality...ponderous

A) impropriety...scurrilous ## Footnote Clues: wrap himself in dignity, treat, rivals, smear him

Joseph Merrick, known commonly as the "Elephant Man", was physically ________ in appearance, but had a ________ and gentle heart. A) repugnant...wily B) deformed...belligerent C) revolting...benevolent D) monstrous...volpine E) prestigious...humane

C) revolting...benevolent ## Footnote Clues: in appearance, but, gentle

The chairman of the department noted the ________ nature of the new professor’s lectures, so he advised him to try to stay on point. A) deft B) predominant C) anticlimactic D) discursive E) lecherous

D) discursive ## Footnote Clues: stay on point

Trying to adapt to the changing marketplace was hard for the fairly ________ company that had had too much success with its enormous yearly catalogue in the past to finally decide to stop publishing it. A) innovative B) plaintiff C) orthodox D) ingenious E) morbid

C) orthodox ## Footnote Clues: trying to adapt, too much success, catalogue

Hugo’s ________ now meant that most chairs would have a fair chance to fail if he tried to sit on them. A) bounty B) corpulence C) plunder D) buttress E) gravity

B) corpulence ## Footnote Clues: most chairs, fail

The ________ nature of the occupation of the lands as it stood meant the cycle of violence would be very hard to break. A) intractable B) unfeasible C) inactive D) unallayed E) disproportionate

A) intractable ## Footnote Clues: occupation of the lands, cycle, hard to break

Madam Izzi, through her ________ senses, predicted both his winning the lottery and his ________ heart attack. A) elevated...recent B) paranormal...concomitant C) imaginary...concurring D) clairvoyant...subsequent E) inordinate...inevitable

D) clairvoyant...subsequent ## Footnote Clues: Madame, senses, predicted, both

For King Henry V, the Battle of Agincourt meant the glory of overcoming overwhelming odds to find victory, but, for the French general, Constable Charles d’Albret, it meant ________ defeat. A) underachieving B) ignominious C) serious D) exasperating E) undeserved

B) ignominious ## Footnote Clues: For Henry, glory, but for French general

The Reverend Mr. Hooper’s sermon, though his most powerful offering from the pulpit, did not meet with much ________ from the congregation who found it a little to close to the bone for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) satisfaction...dismay B) condolence...laudation C) felicity...comprehension D) concern...adulation E) approbation...congratulations

E) approbation...congratulations ## Footnote Clues: sermon, powerful, did not meet, congregation, close to the bone

As soon as the product was launched, the service center got thousands of angry calls from ________ customers. A) enamored B) effusive C) disgruntled D) successful E) nonchalant

C) disgruntled ## Footnote Clues: angry calls

Going from a ________ city like San Francisco to Billings, Montana, Erica found the lack of diversity a hard adjustment. A) heterogeneous B) famous C) storied D) polluted E) entrepreneurial

A) heterogenous ## Footnote Clues: going from, to lack of diversity

Though perhaps essentially well-meaning, Penelope’s advice to his friend on how to handle a girlfriend who has a child was considered \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and he asked her not to mention it again. A) specious B) spurious C) extraneous D) capacious E) officious

E) officious ## Footnote Clues: essentially well-meaning, advice, considered, asked her not to mention it

Though Central High School hadn’t beaten Beaumont in basketball in 16 years, the ________ response of the students when it was announced showed how much school spirit had ________ there. A) perfunctory...waned B) hearty...diminished C) lackluster...increased D) ebullient...plummeted E) tepid...skyrocketed

A) perfunctory...waned ## Footnote Clues: though, hadn't beaten, 16 years, response, showed, school spirit

After drinking deep of the kegs of Henry Hudson, Rip Van Winkle felt the heavy call for ________ which he took under a spreading tree, only to awaken twenty-years later. A) concentration B) meditation C) restitution D) repose E) hibernation

D) repose ## Footnote Clues: drinking, kegs, awaken

Some love the performer for her ________ style, while others consider her shamelessly over-the-top. A) modest B) brazen C) musical D) euphonic E) uncorrupted

B) brazen ## Footnote Clues: Some love, shamelessly over-the-top

He felt nervous watching his daughter approach the ________ to look upon the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) valley...waterway B) railing...artwork C) precipice...gorge D) fence...llamas E) placard...battlefield

C) precipice...gorge ## Footnote Clues: nervous, daughter approach

Whether he was a truly boring teacher was hard to say, but ________ students grew ________ during his period. A) impertinent...sedate B) alert...nubile C) ocular...beady D) perky...somnolent E) dedicated...hapless

D) perky...somnolent ## Footnote Clues: whether boring, but, students, grew

A successful business office usually exhibits a spirit of ________ among the employees. A) kinetics B) camaraderie C) chutzpah D) domesticity E) paucity

B) camaraderie ## Footnote Clues: successful, spirit

After insulting the client, the boss’s son was ________ to work in the mail room. A) outcast B) sequestered C) billeted D) promoted E) consigned

E) consigned ## Footnote Clues: after insulting client, mail room

The jewel heist called for a plan so ________ that it took a team of nine more than 20 hours of practice to attempt. A) duplex B) intimate C) elaborate D) covert E) bestial

C) elaborate ## Footnote Clues: heist, plan, team of nine, 20 hours of practice

The unlucky businessman flying overseas could get no sleep because of the ________ crying of the ________ baby on the lap of the woman in the seat next to him. A) interminable...precocious B) irritating...pacified C) gratiating...inconsolable D) incessant...fussy E) intermittent...intolerable

D) incessant...fussy ## Footnote Clues: unlucky, get no sleep, crying, baby

Holmes meets a village sheriff, whose ________ so ________ him that the famous detective declares that the skill of this parish lawman greatly exceeds his opportunity in such a small and quiet community. A) acumen...annoys B) felicity...adjures C) perspicacity...impresses D) incisiveness...frustrates E) liabilities...amazes

C) perspicacity...impresses ## Footnote Clues: the skill of the parish lawman, exceeds, opportunity

When his license to practice law was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, Gerald had to start a new career again at 45. A) deactivated B) altered C) revoked D) diminished E) denied

C) revoked ## Footnote Clues: license, start a career

Placed in the record’s department where he would never be noticed, he knew his career at that company would \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) percolate B) stagnate C) ossify D) adjudicate E) truncate

B) stagnate ## Footnote Clues: never be noticed

Always selfish as a child, Sophie grew to be ________ by the time she reached college. A) absessed B) meglomanical C) solipsistic D) incarcerated E) obsessed

C) solipsistic ## Footnote Clues: Always selfish, grew

With a ________ hard drive and super fast processor, the average secretary’s computer is more powerful than the ones NASA used to send a man to the moon. A) responsive B) accelerated C) extensive D) elongated E) capacious

E) capacious ## Footnote Clues: hard drive, super fast

The assemblymen could see the benefits of allowing gambling on the riverboats but voiced concerns regarding the ________ increase in prostitution and drug abuse. A) exponential B) incremental C) concomitant D) surreptitious E) provincial

C) concomitant ## Footnote Clues: gambling,

One of the great ________ American history is that a slave-promoting culture clearly also demonstrated a love for freedom. A) consistencies of B) dissonances of C) blemishes on D) achievements of E) denotations of

B) dissonances of ## Footnote Clues: slave-promoting, also, love for freedom

Unlike most instructions for assembling toys, the Phosberry Company’s were so ________ that it rarely got a complaint from any costumer. A) inscrutable B) dictatorial C) pellucid D) clairvoyant E) rectified

C) pellucid ## Footnote Clues: unlike, instructions for assembling, rarely got a complaint

One of the great problems of ________ is that having a large body tends to make a person more \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, since normal activities become more challenging. A) overeating...voracious B) corpulence...energetic C) rotundity...circumspect D) obesity...sedentary E) gluttony...ravenous

D) obesity...sedentary ## Footnote Clues: large body, activites become challenging

For the inexperienced rider, the stable master chooses his most ________ animal, Beauty, to be certain that the young master had no mishaps. A) tractable B) amiable C) admirable D) spirited E) attractive

A) tractable ## Footnote Clues: young master, no mishaps

The interrogation took hours longer than it should have, but the suspect’s ________ eventually led to a full confession. A) gesticulations B) circumlocutions C) languishing D) conversions E) affectations

B) circumlocutions ## Footnote Clues: interrogation, longer, evetually

Despite his dark and often disagreeable subjects of his writings, Edgar Allan Poe had a reputation, as a young man, for being socially ________ and lively. A) congenial B) maladroit C) morbid D) convivial E) macabre

A) congenial ## Footnote Clues: despite, dark disagreeable, lively

Anne could ________ marks of jealousy on the part of Cpt. Wentworth, but he had no ________ of how she really felt toward the attentions of Mr. Elliot. A) detail...description B) infer...notion C) accentuate..awareness D) recognize...inclination E) discern...inkling

E) discern...inkling ## Footnote Clues: marks of jealousy, how she really felt

Although certainly a legendary actor, Elizabeth Taylor will be remembered most affectionately for her ________ efforts, particularly in fundraising for AIDS research. A) omniscient B) egocentric C) philanthropic D) gastronomical E) riveting

C) philanthropic ## Footnote Clues: fundraising for AIDS research

Eleanor reminds Mr. Willoughby that despite his explanation and apology, she still regards his behavior toward her sister as \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) irreproachable B) inconstant C) fickle D) fastidious E) reprehensible

E) reprehensible ## Footnote Clues: despite, softening his guilt

The ________ bell-hop simpered around the hotel lobby, bowing and kowtowing to all the guests. A) immaculate B) punctilious C) grandeloquent D) servile E) officious

D) servile ## Footnote Clues: bell-hop, bowing, kowtowing

Pappy O’Daniel, contradicting the insult that he lacked moral fiber, declared that he practiced ________ and high-mindedness as the foundation of his political career A) rectitude B) solvency C) loftiness D) lassitude E) indolence

A) rectitude ## Footnote Clues: contradicting, lacked moral fiber, high-mindedness

Horace Blanson was a complete ________ and sociopath and would probably commit many other crimes, but the judge was ________ by the law and could only sentence him to three years. A) offender...hindered B) maniac...encouraged C) reprobate...constrained D) delinquent...accosted E) socialite...guided

C) reprobate...constrained ## Footnote Clues: sociopath, commit many other crimes, could only sentence

“Moonlight” Graham, itching to get a true crack in the major leagues, displays considerable ________ when he finds himself at Ray Kinsella’s plate facing “Three-fingered” Brown on the mound. A) acumen B) compassion C) ardor D) psoriasis E) prowess

C) ardor ## Footnote Clues: itching to, get a crack

The late night host's ________ humor and humbly stuttering persona belie ________ self-image. A) sardonic...an insecure B) ironic...a stumbling C) self-effacing...an incongruous D) deprecating...an arrogant E) pompous...a narassistic

D) deprecating...an arrogant ## Footnote Clues: humbly stuttering persona, self-image

The dictator had his men scan the video file for the face of the ________ who started the crowd shouting for the ruler's ________ and would pay with her life for her seditious behavior. A) rebel...malfeasance B) incendiary...ouster C) patriot...impediment D) malcontent...sacrifice E) dissident...reduction

B) incendiary...ouster ## Footnote Clues: dictator, started the crowd shouting, pay for, outrage

Sentence Completion Practice Flashcards

This deck builds the habit of good process and reinforces core vocabulary knowledge. Several passes with this deck and your errors on sentence completion should diminish toward zero. This first completion practice deck is a little easier than the second. (150 cards)