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Arbitrary describes something based on personal whim or chance rather than reason or system, so random is the closest synonym. The other options describe deliberation, agreement, or duration, none of which captures the sense of caprice.
Frugal means economical or sparing with money and resources, so its antonym is extravagant, meaning wasteful in spending. Thrifty is a synonym, while cautious and modest describe unrelated qualities.
Crossed expresses the action the hikers performed, which makes it a verb in this sentence. A noun would name something, an adjective would modify a noun, and an adverb would modify a verb or adjective.
A pedal is a foot-operated part of a bicycle, and a rung is a foot-operated part of a ladder, so the relationship is part to whole with a shared function. A staircase is a whole made of steps rather than rungs, and door and violin lack this part-function link.
The word although signals a contrast with lengthy, which often implies boredom, so the blank needs a positive word such as engaging. Tedious and confusing would reinforce rather than contrast the negative expectation, and brief contradicts lengthy.
Benevolent means well-meaning and generous, so kindly is the closest match. Hostile is an antonym, while wealthy and distant describe unrelated attributes.
The clause about others rushing to replicate indicates the findings were striking or important, so remarkable fits. Mundane, predictable, and tedious all suggest dullness, which would not prompt urgent replication.
A scalpel is the characteristic tool a surgeon uses, so the matching term for a carpenter is saw, the characteristic tool. Wood is a material, a house is a product, and a blueprint is a plan, none of which parallels a tool.
The clause about being unable to predict events calls for a word meaning complicated and tangled, which convoluted supplies. Transparent and formulaic would make events easier to predict, and sluggish describes pace rather than complexity.
Ambiguous means open to more than one interpretation, so its antonym is explicit, meaning clearly stated. Vague and unclear are synonyms of ambiguous, and subtle describes something delicate or understated.
The inability to tell her approval calls for equivocal, meaning deliberately vague or open to two interpretations. Candid and blunt mean direct, and enthusiastic would clearly signal approval.
The word despite signals contrast, so the blank must describe a bad start that contrasts with the winning record; inauspicious means unfavorable. Auspicious, promising, and stellar all describe positive beginnings that would remove the contrast.
Augment and increase are synonyms, so the analogy demands a synonym for abate, which means to lessen. Expand is an antonym, and delay and begin are unrelated to the meaning of abate.
The clause about an unverifiable assumption undercuts the argument, so a word meaning superficially plausible but actually flawed, specious, fits. Sound, rigorous, and conclusive all describe strong arguments and clash with the qualifying clause.
Meretricious describes something that is showily attractive but lacks real value, so flashy captures the closest sense. Genuine is an antonym, and understated and somber describe qualities the word does not imply.
The clause about no wasted words calls for a word meaning conciseness and force, which pithiness provides. Verbosity and redundancy mean excessive wordiness, and ambiguity concerns unclear meaning.
The contrast with the outcome of multiplying confusion shows the intent was to reduce it, so mitigate fits. Aggravate and prolong would align with the actual outcome, and replicate does not express reduction.
Ephemeral describes something lacking duration, so the analogy pairs a quality with the dimension it lacks; superficial describes something lacking depth. Appearance and surface are the domain of the word itself, not the lacking dimension, and weight is unrelated.
The clause about conclusions without supporting evidence points to a hasty, shallow report, which cursory describes. Meticulous and exhaustive imply thoroughness, and dogmatic concerns rigid assertion rather than brevity of investigation.
Images carrying double meanings call for a word meaning multiple significances, which polyvalence supplies. Transparency, simplicity, and literalness all describe single, plain meaning and clash with the described richness.
A statement that affirms support while implying reservations is designed to avoid offense, which anodyne describes. Unequivocal and categorical mean clear and unconditional, and duplicitous implies deceit, which is stronger than the text supports.
Profligate describes excessive spending, so the analogy requires a word describing excessive speech, which garrulous supplies. Taciturn, laconic, and reticent all describe a reluctance to speak, the opposite of excess.
The clause about presenting flaws as clearly as achievements shows the biographer avoided idealizing her subject, which eulogize means. Scrutinize and document are neutral or rigorous actions consistent with her balanced approach, and chastise would mean attacking rather than idealizing.
The clause about appearance and concealed circularity shows the argument seemed persuasive but was not, so cogent (convincing) fits the surface impression. Fallacious would describe the actual flaw rather than the appearance, and trenchant and lucid describe genuine clarity or force.
The oscillation between two extremes calls for a word meaning changeable, which mercurial supplies. Consistent and restrained describe stability or moderation, and candid means frank, none of which captures the shifting tone.
Candor means honest, straightforward expression, so its opposite is deceit, which involves concealment or misrepresentation. Frankness is a synonym of candor, not an antonym. Warmth and brevity are unrelated qualities.
To mitigate is to reduce severity, so the analogous relationship is to reduce confusion, which is what clarify means. Aggravate and complicate would increase confusion, reversing the relationship. Conceal does not address confusion directly.
The clause 'both parties left uncertain' signals that the ruling was ambiguous, so equivocal fits. Unequivocal, decisive, and categorical all mean clear and definite, which would contradict the uncertainty described.
Parsimonious describes someone extremely unwilling to spend or give, so stingy is the closest synonym. Generous and extravagant are opposites of parsimonious. Indifferent means unconcerned and does not capture the meaning.
The phrase 'dismissed as' and the later confirmation of a 'surprising result' indicate that the hypothesis seemed unlikely, so implausible fits. Inevitable and convincing would not explain dismissal, and trivial would not be confirmed as surprising.
A skeptical person lacks conviction, so the analogous relationship is lacking enthusiasm, which apathetic means. Eager, zealous, and fervent all describe having enthusiasm, not lacking it.
The second clause explains that despite a bold proposal, the many conditions would prevent real change, so the recommendation was effectively powerless, or toothless. Radical, sweeping, and decisive would all suggest strong effect, contradicting the outcome described.
Garrulous means excessively talkative, so its opposite is taciturn, meaning habitually silent or uncommunicative. Loquacious and voluble are synonyms of garrulous. Glib means fluent but insincere, not opposite in meaning.
A pastiche is a work that imitates or blends the styles of other works, so medley, meaning a mixture, is the closest synonym. A parody is a humorous imitation, which is more specific and not indicated by 'skillfully blending.' Original is the opposite of pastiche, and critique is unrelated.
The clause 'recounted her failures as openly as her successes' defines the quality as frank honesty, or candor. Discretion and reticence involve restraint or secrecy, and guile involves cunning, all of which contradict openness.
An impetuous person lacks caution, so the analogous relationship is lacking flexibility, which obdurate (stubbornly inflexible) represents. Pliable, supple, and adaptable all mean flexible, not lacking flexibility.
The contrast between a 'complete redesign' and 'only a few bus shelters' calls for a pair contrasting large ambition with meager execution, so grandiose ... paltry fits. The other pairs either reverse the contrast or fail to capture the disparity in scale.
Obsolete means no longer in use or out of date, so its opposite is current, meaning in present use. Archaic, antiquated, and defunct are all synonyms of obsolete.
An argument that assumes the conclusion it aims to prove is circular by definition. Linear, sound, and valid describe well-structured or logically correct arguments, which contradicts the flaw described.
Laconic means using very few words, so terse is the closest synonym. Verbose means wordy, the opposite. Evasive means avoiding the issue, which is not necessarily implied, and eloquent means fluent and persuasive, which does not capture brevity.
Undo the operations in reverse order: first subtract 7 from 35 to get 28, then divide by 4 to get 7. Checking, 7 × 4 + 7 = 35, so the value is consistent.
Apply the rule twice: the second term is 2 × 3 − 1 = 5, and the third term is 5 × 3 − 1 = 14. Each step must use the previous term, not the first term.
After the 25% discount the price is $30, and 10% of $30 is $3, so the final price is $27. Successive discounts multiply, giving 40 × 0.75 × 0.90 = 27.
The diagonal of a rectangle forms a right triangle with the length and width, so use the Pythagorean theorem: 12² + 5² = 144 + 25 = 169, and √169 = 13.
Following order of operations, evaluate the parentheses first: 4 − 1 = 3. Then square to get 9, multiply by 2 to get 18, and add 3 for 21.
Probability equals favorable outcomes divided by total outcomes. There are 3 red marbles out of 10 total, so the probability is 3/10.
Subtract 2x from both sides to get 3x − 8 = 7, then add 8 to get 3x = 15, and divide by 3 to get x = 5. Substituting back confirms 17 = 17.
Scientific notation places one nonzero digit before the decimal point. Moving the decimal four places right to get 4.5 requires multiplying by 10⁻⁴.
The average speed is 180 ÷ 3 = 60 miles per hour. Multiplying by 5 hours gives 300 miles.
The sum of all five numbers must be 5 × 12 = 60. The four known numbers sum to 48, so the fifth is 60 − 48 = 12.