91
Ms. Fergusson’s main criticism of the artist’s rendering of the ancient mammal’s physical appearance is that, unsupported by even a ------- of fossil evidence, the image is bound to be ------- .
(A) modicum . . speculative
(B) particle . . supplemented
(C) perusal . . substantiated
(D) fabrication . . obsolete
(E) recapitulation . . exhausted
答案：A
解析：A “modicum” is a small amount. Since the artist did not have even a small amount of evidence, the image must have been “speculative”.
92
The radical ideas in Henderson's speech were ------- to those assembled, inciting many in the crowd to anger and some to open rebellion.
(A) exhilarating
(B) sympathetic
(C) gratifying
(D) inflammatory
(E) tiresome
答案：D
解析：The correct answer is (D). “Inflammatory” means arousing passion or strong emotion. The structure of the sentence indicates that the part of the sentence after the comma will explain or elaborate on the information in the first part of the sentence. Because Henderson’s radical, or revolutionary, ideas aroused enough emotion to make some people angry and to make others openly rebellious, it makes sense to say that Henderson’s ideas were inflammatory.
93
Kelly was stunned that her neighbor had the ------- to inquire about borrowing her new snow blower, considering the fact that he had broken her old one.
(A) foresight
(B) temperament
(C) conviction
(D) audacity
(E) integrity
答案：D
解析：The sentence implies that Kelly, in light of her neighbor’s previous behavior, found his actions to be audacious, which means bold or daring.
94
Because she has a great need for ------- , she loathes the public appearances demanded of her as a leading literary figure.
(A) luxury
(B) privacy
(C) reward
(D) devotion
(E) distraction
答案：B
解析：The first part of the sentence describes a cause and the second part describes resulting behavior. The literary figure desires “privacy” and so she finds public appearances loathsome.
95
When, in 1864, a factory established by Alfred Nobel to manufacture nitroglycerin blew up, the scientist discovered that the explosive was as ------- as it was powerful, ------- to detonate without warning.
(A) dormant . . ready
(B) fickle . . unlikely
(C) volatile . . liable
(D) unprecedented . . intended
(E) inactive . . designed
答案：C
解析：Choice (C) is correct. It makes sense to say that when his factory exploded, Nobel discovered how “volatile,” or unpredictable, nitroglycerin could be; in fact, it was “liable” to, or prone to, detonate unexpectedly.
96
Andrew Jackson’s ideal vision of an American nation composed of farmers and artisans had become increasingly ------- by the 1860s, when the new ------- economy was turning craftspersons and planters into factory laborers.
(A) antiquated . . agricultural
(B) feasible . . industrial
(C) elusive . . artistic
(D) fanciful . . manufacturing
(E) progressive . . urban
答案：
解析：
97
To some scholars of medieval Britain, the legendary King Arthur is a genuine historical figure, while to others he and his Round Table are nothing more than ------- of myth and romance.
(A) harbingers
(B) trifles
(C) spoilers
(D) figments
(E) inventors
答案：D
解析：The sentence focuses on the contrast between what two groups of scholars think about King Arthur. Some scholars think King Arthur is a real “historical figure”—a real person—while others think he is not. Those who think King Arthur and his Round Table are not real would probably call them “figments,” or things that are made up.
98
So that she would not be considered ------- in her actions, the department head made sure that the members of the advisory committee ------- her plans before she started to implement them.
(A) capricious . . ridiculed
(B) deliberative . . ignored
(C) impulsive . . approved
(D) tardy . . designed
(E) provocative . . mislaid
答案：C
解析：“Impulsive” means acting suddenly, abruptly, or without premeditation. To approve something is to consent to or confirm it. The sentence suggests that the department head was concerned about how her actions would be viewed. If she were concerned about the possibility of being considered too abrupt or thoughtless in her plans, or about thinking them through insufficiently before acting on them, she certainly might have wanted to have her plans "approved" by others before she implemented them, or carried them out. It makes sense to say that the department head had the advisory committee members confirm or sanction her plans so that she would not be considered impulsive.
99
The language of Anne Spencer’s poetry conveys an impression of ------- that can be misleading: just when a poem seems to be echoing routine feelings, the diction suddenly sharpens to embody fresh and unexpected ideas.
(A) frivolity
(B) triteness
(C) diversity
(D) lyricism
(E) precision
答案：B
解析：Only “triteness” logically completes the sentence; a poem echoing routine feelings might well be described as possessing “triteness,” in contrast to the fresh and unexpected ideas that Anne Spencer’s poems go on to express.
100
Always ready to ------- achievement, Miller was as eager to praise a new production as the more mean-spirited critics were to ------- it.
(A) reward . . review
(B) impede . . ignore
(C) recognize . . deride
(D) expose . . study
(E) embrace . . promote
答案：C
解析：The sentence contrasts the “eager” nature of Miller’s response to new productions with that of “more mean-spirited critics.” Since Miller tends to “praise a new production,” it makes sense to say that he “recognizes,” or acknowledges, achievement, while “mean-spirited critics” are more likely to “deride,” or ridicule, it.
