QUESTION: 57

The life of the lightening bug is ____________ to human eyes: They live only twenty-four hours.

ludicrous
ephemeral
epic
ecstatic
incandescent

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

A life that only lasts 24 hours is what in comparison to a normal human life? It is short. Which of the answer choices contains the notion of shortness in its meaning? (B), ephemeral, does.

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QUESTION: 58

The kangaroo species ____________ in the new environment where there was an abundant supply of food and a(n) ____________ of predators.

stagnated. .excess
bolstered. .paucity
exploded. .abundance
flagged. .absence
flourished. .dearth

Answer(s): E

Explanation:

What is a species likely to do in an environment? It either grows in number or diminishes in number. Each of the first words, except in (B), could mean one of those things. Eliminate (B). When you discover that there is an abundance of food, you know that the first word will suggest that the kangaroos increased in numbers. Eliminate A. and (D). Now you need the second part of the sentence. To grow in numbers, the kangaroos will need an absence or near absence of predators. Eliminate (C). You are left with (E).

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QUESTION: 59

With her speech, the politician attempted to ____________ the fears of the ____________ citizens.

intensify. .disingenuous
ignore. .alarmed
assuage. .concerned
quell. .disaffected
exploit. .serene

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The best clue in this sentence is "fears." Citizens with fears can only be concerned or alarmed. That leaves B. and (C). It's not particularly logical to say that a speech is designed to ignore something. On the other hand, it is common to use assuage with fears. The best answer is C.

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QUESTION: 60

The fencing champion was ____________ with her rapier, but in most other sports she was rather ____________.

adroit. .awkward
adept. .lithe
tenacious. .passable
incompetent. .clumsy
deft. .skillfu

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Let's attack the first blank. If the female is a fencing champion then she must be skillful with her rapier (her sword). Which of the first answer choices matches skillful? Choices (A), (B), and E. do. C. is possible but not likely. As for the second blank, the conjunction but indicates that her skillfulness in fencing is in contrast to her lack of skill in other sports. Which of the remaining second answer choices matches with this pre-guess? Only awkward, choice (A), does.

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Free PSAT-READING Exam Braindumps (page: 15)

QUESTION: 57

Explanation:

QUESTION: 58

Explanation:

QUESTION: 59

Explanation:

QUESTION: 60

Explanation: