Verbal (Critical Reading)

This section analyzes your vocabulary and reading comprehension strengths and weaknesses.  Try to complete this section in 7 minutes.

Sentence Completions

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate choice:

 1.  The instructor displayed extreme stubbornness; although he ______ the logic of the student's argument, he _______ to acknowledge her conclusion as correct.

A) accepted...refused
B) concluded...consented
C) denounced...declined
D) asserted...acceded
E)  rejected...preferred

A) You are right. I hope you watched for key words like "although" that signal opposites. "Accepted" and "refused" are opposites. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.

B) "Concluded" does not sound right or make sense here. Choice A is correct. Watch for key words like "although" that signal opposites. "Accepted" and "refused" are opposites. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.

C) "Denounced" is OK, but the word "although" signals an opposite and "declined" would not be an opposite of "denounced." Choice A is correct. Watch for key words like "although" that signal opposites. "Accepted" and "refused" are opposites. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.

D) "Although" signals opposites—"asserted" and "accepted" are not opposites. Choice A is correct. Watch for key words like "although" that signal opposites. "Accepted" and "refused" are opposites. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.

E) You are close. "Although" signals opposites. However, "rejected" and "preferred" are not strong opposites as are "accepted" and "refused" in Choice A which is correct. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.