Until I became a senior in high school and talked to adults about
5employment opportunities, I had always assumed that finding a decent
job would be a
... [Show More] facile process.
The speaker’s ideas are contrasted in this sentence. In the past, the speaker
thought about finding jobs one way, but now that he or she is older and has
spoken to adults about employment, he or she thinks differently. The speaker
10 had always thought jobs would be easy to find until becoming a senior in
high school.
When the news broadcast interrupted the music program we were
watching, we surmised that the President was going to speak to the
15nation.
The logic of the sentence is based on the interruption and the speaker’s
response to it. The news broadcast interrupts the program and, as a result,
the speaker concludes that the President is about to speak. A is correct
because surmise means ―to guess or infer.‖
20
When Sasha realized the weather was both propitious and arid, she
emailed her friends to invite them to
go hiking with her.
In this sentence, you are looking for two words that describe weather that
25 would inspire people to go hiking. Propitious means ―favorable‖ and arid
means ―very dry.‖
When the dog ran away, the family could only hope someone would abet
the little mutt in finding his way back home.
30 Abet, which means “to help or assist.” The context of a lost dog and
the family’s hope for his return gives the reader the context clues
needed to choose the correct answer.
Because the first lecture was so clear and articulate, the students
35encouraged others to go hear more of the speaker’s lucid and eloquent
talks.
The first part of the sentence defines both words. Lucid means ―clear‖ and
eloquent means ―articulate.‖
40Daniella’s father knew she was feeling despondent about not making the
Ati Teas Study Guide Reading Skills Latest Version 2023_2024
gymnastic finals, so he tried to cheer her up by making reservations at a
Ati Teas Study Guide Reading Skills Latest Version 2023_2024
favorite restaurant.
Despondent means ―feeling depressed or discouraged.‖ The sentence gives
the reader a clue by explaining that based on Daniella’s feelings, her father
45 wanted to cheer her up by taking her to a favorite restaurant.
We were flabbergasted at the outcome of the trial; we could not believe
that the jury believed there was enough evidence to convict the accused.
The primary context clue is the second part of the sentence— ―could not
50 believe.‖ The meaning of flabbergasted is ―astounded.‖
Unlike my favorite musician, whose music is so tranquil it helps me fall
asleep at night, that new artist you played for me is so raucous it gives
me a headache.
55 This question asks you to find two words that contrast each other, just as the
two types of music are in contrast. The word unlike gives you a clue that
there is a contrast. The phrase ―helps me fall asleep at night‖ tells you that
the first type of music is calming. Tranquil means ―calm or peaceful,‖ while
raucous means ―boisterous and loud.‖
60
Although much of the essay was clear and concise, the final analysis was
full of circumlocutions that I had a hard time foll [Show Less]