In the Indigenous intercropping system known as the
Three Sisters, maize, squash, and beans form an
_______ web of relations: maize provides the
structure on which the bean vines grow; the squash
vines cover the soil, discouraging competition from
weeds; and the beans aid their two “sisters” by
enriching the soil with essential nitrogen.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?

The instructor displayed extreme stubbornness;
although he_________the logic of the student’s argument, he________ to acknowledge her conclusion
as correct.

Since the entire family has a(an) ______
for watching a broad spectrum of
movies, a home theater was ______
welcomed by all family members.

So that you don’t get stuck in the mud
and get your trousers wet, I suggest that
you ______ the small boggy area and try
to avoid the larger quagmire up ahead.

Some economic historians _______ that late
nineteenth- and early twentieth-century households
in the United States experienced an economy of scale
when it came to food purchases—they assumed that
large households spent less on food per person than
did small households. Economist Trevon Logan
showed, however, that a close look at the available
data disproves this supposition.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?

Despite ______ technological innovations, including cell-phone cameras,
pagers, hand-held computers, and a
multitude of other devices intended to
streamline and ease our hectic lives, life
does not seem to be getting simpler.

The second-grader uses a copious supply of sculpting gel on his hair each and every morning before school, leaving an________residue of green goop in the restroom sink.

Mindful that his hardworking parents_____________
to give him an education, Lopez, now wealthy,
contributes_____________ to scholarship funds for the
needy.

In spite of the________ of his presentation, many
people were______ with the speaker’s concepts
and ideas.

To balance her sons’ _________ schedules that include an endless bustle of
schoolwork, sports, religion, and play
dates, as well as a bevy of birthday parties, Susie tries to foster “down time”
during the week.

Regardless of a weekend of ceaseless fiascos, one _________ relentlessly following
the next until her problem-solving
energy was completely ______, Ava
remained sanguine.

Peter is sprightly and jovial, even though
his closest friends describe his disposition
as ______ and ______.

Richard Wagner was frequently intolerant; more-over, his strange behavior caused most of his
acquaintances to ___________the composer whenever
possible.

Having written 140 books to date, he may well be
considered one of the most___________ novelists of
the century.

Equipped with a large air hockey table,
billiards, foosball, and table tennis, the
recreation room provides myriad ways for
the children to ______ themselves.

Instead of elucidating the complex
process of wiring an eleven-room home
for ceiling speakers and the Internet, Jack
paints an incomprehensible picture of a
“smart home” and further ______ the
intricacies of home-networking.

It takes an incisive sense of direction and
a clarity of mind to navigate the tortuous, mazelike corridors of the medieval
palace, whose floor plan is nothing short
of ______.

To cultivate a diverse and edifying experience for her children during July and
August, Mrs. Aidan avoided conflicts that
would preclude her from scheduling
______ summer activities that included,
among other enriching activities, golf,
tennis, and a multisport camp.

Far from exciting and novel, ______
household tasks include taking out the
garbage, washing the dinner dishes, and
folding the laundry.

Overwhelming desk clutter and towering
piles of paper make it difficult to find relatively ______ items such as earring backs
and electronic discs the size of dimes.

Gabriella’s ______ sense is so keen that,
in one whiff, she can detect whether the
goat cheese is topped with mango chutney or pineapple salsa.

The candidate’s speech was filled with
______ instead of substance; Alexa’s oratory was crafted ______, veiling the little
straightforward information that her
speech contained.

A parasitic relationship is between two __________of the
organisms benefits while the other is harmed. Parasitic relationships are
often associated with internal parasites like worms or some species of
mites, but parasitic relationships are not limited to organisms residing
within a host.

Because the majority of the evening cable TV
programs available dealt with violence and sex, the
parents decided that the programs were_______________
for the children to watch.

Though Paul’s view of the world was softened by ______, he quickly became
______ when he attended an urban college campus and experienced the cynical
nature of many of his peers.

The articles that he wrote ran the gamut from the
serious to the lighthearted, from objective to the
_____________, from the innocuous to the ____________.

After much soul searching and ______,
Pamela realized that she is predominantly self-serving and self-indulgent,
the ______ of June, who epitomizes
altruism.

The novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which effectively__________
the unfairness toward black people,
was a major influence in _____________the antislavery
movement.

Located on the lower level, the guest
quarters were not only ______ but also
______; they were spacious and roomy
enough to feel comfortable while being
small and intimate enough to feel snug.

Often late to the workplace or downright absent, Hal found his job as widget- maker neither diverting nor enlightening; in fact, he perceived it as an anathema, and he transparently ________his job