Sentence Equivalence Advanced Questions Flashcards

Once a ______ defender of tradition, the reformer now championed sweeping change. Which pair completes the sentence?

Answer: staunch ... steadfast

'Staunch' and 'steadfast' both mean firmly loyal, sharpening the contrast with later reform.

The negotiations stalled because neither side would ______ even minor points. Which two words fit?

Answer: concede ... yield

'Concede' and 'yield' both mean to give ground, whose absence explains the stalemate.

His prose is admired for its ______, conveying complex ideas in remarkably few words. Which pair works?

Answer: concision ... economy

'Concision' and 'economy' both mean brevity, matching complex ideas in few words.

The witness's account was so ______ that the jury doubted whether any of it could be trusted. Which two words complete it?

Answer: inconsistent ... contradictory

'Inconsistent' and 'contradictory' both undermine credibility, matching the jury's doubt.

Far from being ______, the new manager solicited dissent and welcomed challenges to her plans. Which pair fits?

Answer: autocratic ... domineering

'Autocratic' and 'domineering' both mean controlling, the opposite of welcoming dissent.

The ancient manuscript was so ______ that even expert paleographers struggled to decipher it. Which two words work?

Answer: illegible ... indecipherable

'Illegible' and 'indecipherable' both mean impossible to read, explaining the experts' struggle.

The committee's ______ approach meant that no decision was reached for months. Which pair completes it?

Answer: dilatory ... procrastinating

'Dilatory' and 'procrastinating' both mean delaying, matching months of no decision.