GRE General Test — Sentence Equivalence

Correct answer: B) favorable, laudatory

"Praising elements" that others dismissed indicates a positive review. "Favorable" and "laudatory" both describe reviews expressing approval and praise, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) impractical, unfeasible

Costing "far more... than the problem it aimed to solve" makes a proposal not worth pursuing. "Impractical" and "unfeasible" both describe plans that are not sensible or workable given the cost, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) adaptive, responsive

"Adapting her explanations on the spot" based on what resonates describes a flexible, responsive approach. "Adaptive" and "responsive" both capture this quality of adjusting to circumstances, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) hollow, empty

A "long history of failing to follow through" leads opponents to doubt the promises' sincerity. "Hollow" and "empty" both describe promises lacking real substance or intent, matching the skepticism described.

Correct answer: B) overgrown, unkempt

"Weeds overtaking what had been carefully tended flower beds" after "years of neglect" describes a garden that has become messy and wild. "Overgrown" and "unkempt" both describe this kind of untended, disorderly state, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) composed, unflappable

Remaining "calm" while helping "defuse tensions" during a heated session describes someone who stays steady under pressure. "Composed" and "unflappable" both describe calm, unshaken behavior, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: A) inconclusive, ambiguous

Evidence that fails "to conclusively point toward either...guilt or innocence" is not decisive. "Inconclusive" and "ambiguous" both describe uncertain evidence, and either fits.

Correct answer: B) vigorous, energetic

"Undiminished energy" while "publishing papers and mentoring students" describes continued vitality. "Vigorous" and "energetic" both mean full of energy, and either fits.

Correct answer: C) congruent, consistent

Accounts "agreeing on even the smallest details" are in close agreement. "Congruent" and "consistent" both describe matching accounts, and either fits.

Correct answer: D) fierce, vehement

Opposition strong enough to "force planners to reroute the project entirely" was intense. "Fierce" and "vehement" both describe strong, passionate opposition, and either fits.

Correct answer: B) alliance, partnership

Firms that agree "to jointly develop" something have formed a cooperative relationship. "Alliance" and "partnership" both describe a cooperative union, and either fits.

Correct answer: E) impenetrable, inaccessible

Writing that is "dense" and "jargon-filled" would be difficult to understand for outsiders. "Impenetrable" and "inaccessible" both describe something very difficult to understand, and either fits.

Correct answer: A) sanguine, optimistic

Insisting that voters would forgive her, despite a scandal, shows confidence about the outcome. "Sanguine" and "optimistic" both mean hopeful/confident, and either word produces a sentence with the same meaning -- the defining test of sentence equivalence.

Correct answer: B) scathing, caustic

Feedback that leaves students "in tears, unable to see any value" is harshly critical. "Scathing" and "caustic" both describe severely critical, biting feedback, and either word fits the sentence with equivalent meaning.

Correct answer: B) permissive, lenient

"Unlike" her iron-fisted predecessor, and "welcoming dissent" while "rarely overruling" decisions, the new manager is easygoing and non-restrictive. "Permissive" and "lenient" both capture this relaxed, non-authoritarian style.

Correct answer: B) inconclusive, indeterminate

Data that neither "confirmed or refuted" the theory "conclusively" is data that fails to settle the matter. "Inconclusive" and "indeterminate" both mean not leading to a definite conclusion, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) subtle, understated

Humor relying on "subtle wordplay" that only "attentive listeners would catch" is humor that is not obvious. "Subtle" and "understated" both describe humor that is restrained and not immediately apparent, fitting the sentence.

Correct answer: B) imprudent, ill-advised

Cutting the marketing budget during a critical launch, given how much was "riding on" it, is a poor decision. "Imprudent" and "ill-advised" both describe unwise, poorly-judged decisions, matching the analysts' reaction.

Correct answer: B) overreaching, unwarranted

"Sweeping conclusions that the underlying data simply did not support" describes claims that go beyond what the evidence justifies. "Overreaching" and "unwarranted" both capture conclusions that exceed their evidentiary basis, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: A) insulated, sheltered

A village that preserved traditions "vanished elsewhere" was protected from the surrounding industrialization. "Insulated" and "sheltered" both describe being protected or shielded from outside change, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) defunct, moribund

"Although" signals a contrast: despite APPEARING one way, the sides "quietly continued talks... hoping to salvage an agreement," implying the negotiations looked dead or failed from the outside. "Defunct" and "moribund" both describe something apparently dead or dying, matching the concealed reality of continued effort.

Correct answer: B) derivative, unoriginal

An album that "break[s] no new ground" and "simply rehash[es]" earlier work is unoriginal. "Derivative" and "unoriginal" both describe work that closely imitates existing material rather than innovating, matching the critics' assessment.

Correct answer: B) convoluted, muddled

An explanation that leaves "even... board members with finance backgrounds... confused" is unclear and hard to follow. "Convoluted" and "muddled" both describe confusing, poorly organized explanations, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) interrogate, scrutinize

Meeting "every argument with a barrage of counterexamples" is a way of rigorously questioning and examining it. "Interrogate" and "scrutinize" both describe close, critical examination, matching the sentence's description of exhausting but thrilling seminars.

Correct answer: B) dense, impenetrable

A "marked departure from... accessible, plot-driven novels" implies the new work is difficult to access. "Dense" and "impenetrable" both describe writing that is hard to get through or understand, matching the described departure.

Correct answer: B) collaborative, participatory

"Delegating almost every decision to her team rather than dictating outcomes" describes a style that involves the team in decisions. "Collaborative" and "participatory" both describe leadership that shares decision-making, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) accessible, comprehensible

Translating "notoriously difficult concepts into terms a first-year student could grasp" describes an explanation that is easy to understand. "Accessible" and "comprehensible" both describe material that is easy to grasp, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) cumbersome, unwieldy

A process where "even routine requests took months" is slow and burdensome. "Cumbersome" and "unwieldy" both describe processes that are awkward and inefficient to use, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) ambiguous, equivocal

Statements that "each side... interpret... as support for its own position" are open to multiple interpretations. "Ambiguous" and "equivocal" both describe language deliberately open to more than one meaning, matching the sentence.

Correct answer: B) historic, period

Preserving "original ornate ceiling and hand-carved woodwork" describes retaining features from an earlier era. "Historic" and "period" both describe charm rooted in an earlier time, matching the preserved architectural details.

Correct answer: E) hard-won

Months of contentious debate and failed votes before a decision describes something difficult to achieve -- "hard-won" and "contested" both reflect that struggle.

Correct answer: D) astonished

Finding a 3,000-year-old tomb undisturbed is an extraordinary discovery -- "astonished" and "amazed" both capture great surprise.

Correct answer: E) decrepit

"Closed to all vehicle traffic" implies severe structural decline -- both "decrepit" and "dilapidated" (worn down, in disrepair) fit; note only one is used as the keyed answer here, with the parallel synonym noted in the explanation for context.

Correct answer: A) convoluted

An explanation experts struggle to follow is needlessly complex -- "convoluted" and "labyrinthine" both capture tangled, hard-to-follow reasoning.

Correct answer: B) autocratic

Alienating employees who want collaboration implies a one-person, top-down style -- "autocratic" and "authoritarian" both mean rule by one person's authority.

Correct answer: C) insipid

Lacking wit and energy describes something dull -- "insipid" and "flat" both mean lacking flavor or liveliness.

Correct answer: B) selective, narrow

A critique that targets "only the weakest points" while "ignoring its central argument entirely" is limited in scope. "Selective" and "narrow" both describe this restricted focus. "Rigorous, exacting" describes strictness, not narrowness; "charitable, generous" and "impartial, objective" describe tone and fairness, not scope; "exhaustive, comprehensive" is the direct opposite.

Correct answer: B) recant, disavow

Being willing to abandon "earlier conclusions" once contradicted by new data, unlike academics "reluctant to admit error," describes formally withdrawing a prior claim. "Recant" and "disavow" both mean to retract a former position. "Revise, amend" is close but implies partial modification rather than outright retraction; "publicize, disseminate" and "scrutinize, interrogate" describe unrelated actions (spreading, examining); "defend, uphold" is the direct opposite.

Correct answer: C) treacherous, perilous

A ridge with "sheer drops on either side" that leaves "no margin for error" is extremely dangerous. "Treacherous" and "perilous" both capture severe danger. "Forbidding, formidable" is close but emphasizes intimidating difficulty rather than danger specifically; "picturesque, scenic" describes appearance; "strenuous, arduous" describes physical exertion, not risk; "accessible, easy" is the direct opposite.

Correct answer: E) inventive, novel

Pairing ingredients "no one had thought to combine before" describes fresh, original creativity. "Inventive" and "novel" both capture this. "Eclectic, varied" is close but emphasizes drawing from diverse sources rather than originality itself; "elaborate, ornate" and "indulgent, decadent" describe richness or presentation, not originality; "conventional, standard" is the direct opposite.

Correct answer: A) vague, ambiguous

Lawyers who "spent weeks simply agreeing on what the document actually required" faced unclear terms. "Vague" and "ambiguous" both describe language open to multiple interpretations. "Redundant, repetitive" describes needless duplication, a different flaw; "archaic, outdated" describes old-fashioned language, not unclear language; "exhaustive, comprehensive" describes thoroughness; "explicit, unambiguous" is the direct opposite.

Correct answer: C) viral, contagious

"Reaching millions of viewers within days" through "word-of-mouth sharing" describes rapid, self-propagating spread. "Viral" and "contagious" both capture this. "Polished, refined" describes production quality, not reach; "targeted, focused" describes strategy, not scale; "derivative, unoriginal" describes originality, a separate issue; "muted, subdued" is the direct opposite of the described success.