1.Correct Answer: A

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: Since the driver needs extreme caution, the road must be dangerous. Therefore, the curves could be serpentine, and the road could climb steeply.

　　(serpentine = highly curved; jagged = having rough edges; precipitously = steeply; languidly = in a relaxed manner)

　　2.Correct Answer: C

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: The part after the semicolon gives the clue. It states that they were used to watching things that get over fast, and therefore the cricket match seemed interminable (never ending). None of the other words is about the time factor except ‘evanescent’ which means short-lived and would not fit the sense.

　　(inconsequential = unimportant; implausible = cannot be believed)

　　3.Correct Answer: E

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: ‘unlike’ indicates that the two men are opposites. Since the present accountant has never made a mistake, he is dependable or punctilious or meticulous whereas the previous person was unreliable. Thus, the choice for the second blank fixes the word for the first, and we choose meticulous.

　　(unorthodox = heretical = opposed to tradition or orthodoxy; punctilious = painstaking = meticulous = diligent; asinine = stupid)

　　4.Correct Answer: B

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: Since the refugee can improve rapidly, her poor English is not a major problem. It can be overcome, and is therefore not an insuperable problem.

　　(implausible = cannot be believed; insuperable = cannot be overcome; inconsequential = unimportant; evocative = drawing out ideas etc.; injudicious = unwise)

　　5.Correct Answer: C

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: Since the part of the sentence after the semicolon indicates he ‘wasted no words’, he could be succinct or cogent. We also need a positive word for the second blank since we appreciated his summary. Therefore we eliminate ‘direfully’, and choose persuasively.

　　(succinct = short and well expressed; direfully = dreadfully; cogent = clear and persuasive; verbose = using too many words; concise = short and to the point; grandiloquent = pretentious; eloquent = able to speak well)

　　6.Correct Answer: B

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: The second part of the sentence explains or amplifies the part before the semicolon. Since his recordings range widely, his tastes could be described as wide-ranging, or eclectic.sat

　　(eclectic = taking things from diverse sources; antediluvian = old fashioned; sonorous = full of sound)

　　7.Correct Answer: B

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: The sentence states that the early death of Persius prevented him from properly finishing his work, hence it is likely that the author of the preface would regret (lament) that fact. [Note that the tone of the sentence is important; positive words would not fit the sense. Also ‘commenting’ or ‘mentioning’ might fit if it were not for the word ‘should’ - you cannot say that you ‘comment that something should prevent someone’.]

　　(lament = express regret)

　　8.Correct Answer: D

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: The behavior of the wife is described as ‘affectionate’ and so we require a word of similar weight for the first blank.

　　Hence we eliminate ‘restrained’ and ‘unpleasant’. Also the Duke is described as ‘austere’ and is unlikely to approve of affectionate behavior. And so from the remaining choices we choose the negative word puerile.

　　(frivolous = non-serious; sublime = awe-inspiring; puerile = childish)

　　9.Correct Answer: C

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: The words ‘in the same way’ shows that we are looking for parallel ideas.

　　Hence, if we ‘inherit’ a certain tendency, then, in the same way, we will inherit another tendency. Either ‘predisposed’ or ‘genetically programmed’ would fit. But since the latter is paired with ‘demurs’ which means hesitates or refuses, this is inappropriate. Contends, which means ‘argues’ is a better choice.

　　10.Correct Answer: E

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: The words ‘reek and corruption’ tell us that the pond is full of decay.

　　Hence, bad smelling or fetid is the best choice.

　　(evocative = reminiscent; dolorous = sad; resonant = echoing)

　　11.Correct Answer: A

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: The sentence structure indicates that whatever quality the person has, is stronger in him than in others. So, a negative for the first blank will require a negative for the second.

　　Therefore, we can take pessimist (one who imagines the worst), because he would feel the futility of human existence.

　　(futility = pointlessness; skeptics = people who doubt; exaltation = joy; heretics = people who speak out against orthodoxy; sagacity = wisdom; tremulousness = hesitation; cynics = people who do not believe in the goodness of human nature)

　　12.Correct Answer: D

　　Explanation:

　　Clue: ‘While’ here indicates that something opposite follows. So, while war has never been entirely absent, there have been some periods that appear remarkably peaceful. Hence, ‘serene’ or ‘pacific’ might suit the second blank. But serene is coupled with ‘posterity’, which means ‘future generations’ and so does not fit.

　　(archives = documents or stored records; ambivalent = vague; serene = peaceful; desultory = intermittent; annals = records or chronicles; pacific = peaceful; belligerent = aggressive)