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Complete Advanced Sentences

Subjects : english, grammar
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A pragmatic politician - he was guided more by what was _____ than by what was right.






2. The boss prefaced his speech by telling a pointless _____ about an encounter he'd had with former President Bush.






3. To be low man on the totem pole is to have a decidedly inferior place in the _____.






4. Don't bore your audience with excess verbiage; be _____.






5. The special prosecutor determined that the attorney general - though inept - had not intentionally set out to _____ the progress of the investigation.






6. No matter how hard Darnell tried to lure the trout into taking the bait - the fish was too _____ to catch.






7. This alleged fiscal crisis is no crisis at all. it is based on _____ claims about financial institutions and on scare stories about impending economic ruin.






8. The recent corruption scandals have _____ many people's faith in the city government.






9. Looking for any inconsistency in the testimony that might exonerate his client - the defense lawyer pounced on a _____ between the two witnesses' versions of what had occurred.






10. The reviewers heaped _____ on the novice playwright - ridiculing his pretentious dialogue - flat characters - and simple-minded plot.






11. Because Webster's dictionary had grown so large and unwieldy - the publishers decided to _____ it and bring out a condensed version.






12. With its worn-out dialogue and predictable plot - the sitcom struck me as unbearably _____.






13. Katya's _____ love of justice moved her to champion the cause of anyone she considered unfairly treated by society.






14. Though Huck was quite willing to _____ Tom's story - Aunt Polly knew better than to believe either of them.






15. The beauty of Tiffany's stained glass appealed to Esther's _____ sense.






16. The mayor was unwilling to _____ the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing.






17. Judy's great fear was that she might _____ omit a question on the exam and mismark her entire answer sheet.






18. Times of economic hardship inevitably encourage the _____ of countless get-rich-quick schemes.






19. Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system - in many ways - Cal Berkeley is _____ - for it runs several programs that are not subject to state control.






20. _____ to his downtrodden existence - the day laborer was too meek to protest his supervisor's bullying.






21. Cool - calm - and collected - James Bond shows remarkable _____ in the face of danger.






22. Through the comments of the characters in his cartoon strip - Doonesbury - Gary Trudeau ridicules political corruption; his humor is _____ in nature.






23. Noticing the _____ glance the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter - the clerk wondered whether he had a potential shoplifter in the store.






24. Politicians of both the extreme right and left annoy me because they do not sound like people but parrots mindlessly repeating _____ clich






25. There's no point to what you're saying. Why are you bothering to make such _____ remarks?






26. To John - who had never missed a meal - hunger was an _____ concept - one he understood only in theory.






27. Every time Ermengarde made a mistake in class - she was terrified that she would receive a harsh _____ from Miss Minchin.






28. Although Eric knew the boss had no sense of humor - he couldn't resist making one _____ remark.






29. The costume designer _____ the leading lady's ball gown with yards and yards of ribbon and lace.






30. Though his fellow students considered him a gifted scholar - Paul knew he would have to spend many years in serious study before he could consider himself truly _____.






31. Rejecting the candidate's _____ comments on tax reform - the reporter pressed him to state clearly where he stood on the issue.






32. Even though she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch - Joan of Arc refused to _____ her belief that her voices came from God.






33. Towering over the nearby houses - the MacMansion looked wholly _____ in the historic neighborhood of small Craftsman bungalows.






34. Although Nancy enjoyed Bill's _____ - lighthearted companionship - she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious.






35. Is an old-fashioned hairstyle an apt _____ for being out of step with the times and in need of change?






36. The attorney came up with several far-fetched arguments in a vain attempt to _____ his weak case.






37. When Elizabeth realized that Darcy considered himself too good to dance with his inferiors - she took great offense at his _____.






38. Although Georgia O'Keeffe painted many subjects over the years - she had a definite _____ for painting flowers.






39. The museum curator placed the Eskimo-carved wooden totem pole in _____ with two contemporary stone masks from Africa - creating a stunning effect.






40. By their use of the Internet - propagandists have been able to _____ their pet doctrines to new audiences around the globe.






41. The defense called several respectable witnesses who were able to _____ the lying testimony of the prosecution's sole witness.






42. Despite airing her clothes for several hours - she could not rid them of the _____ odor of mothballs that clung to them.






43. Bobby was such a _____ eater that he would eat a sandwich only if his mother first cut off every scrap of crust.






44. Nobody minded when Professor Renoir's lectures wandered away from their official them; his _____ were always more fascinating than the topic of the day.






45. A born storyteller - my father loved to _____ anecdotes about his early years in New York.






46. The conceited rap star relished the _____ he received from his groupies and yes-men.






47. The young princess made the foolish _____ that the regent would not object to her taking the reins of power.






48. Instead of delivering a spoken _____ at Genny's memorial service - Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor.






49. Using only a few descriptive phrases - Austen manages to _____ the character of Mr. Collins so deftly that we can predict his every move.






50. Icebreakers were needed to _____ the trapped whales from the icy floes that closed them in.