NGRT Practice Level 2

The professor told her students about the project months in advance so that they would have ______ time to complete their work

• chronological

• constant

• insufficient

• ample

• standard

Answer explanation

1) D The main clue in this question is the phrase “months in advance.” Since the professor told the students about the project far in advance, they had plenty of time to complete it. The missing word describes how much time the students had, so it should imply that they had lots of time. Because ample means enough or more than enough, choice (D) is correct.

Because the soldier fought so valiantly, he was ______ by the president who awarded him an honorary medal.

• commended

• rejected

• encountered

• ambushed

• chastised

Answer explanation

2) A The main clue in this question is the word “because,” which sets up a cause-and-effect relationship between two parts of the sentence. This means that what the missing word describes is the effect of the fact that “the soldier fought so valiantly.” When one fights valiantly, one fights bravely, and one who fights bravely is usually praised in some way. Because commended means praised formally, choice (A) is correct.

Stalin often purged the Communist Party of his enemies and ______ in order to eliminate ______ and maintain his control over the party.

• supporters … dispute

• maniacs … rebellion

• fugitives … power

• associates … cooperation

• rivals … dissent

Answer explanation

3) E The main clues in this question are the word “and” and the phrase “in order to.” The former is the clue for the first missing word, while the latter is the clue for the second missing word. “And” is used to link parts of a sentence that state similar information, so the first missing word must be similar to “enemies” and imply a group that does not support Stalin. “In order to” sets up a cause-and-effect relationship, meaning there has to be a connection between what Stalin did and what he was trying to “eliminate.” By purging his party of enemies, he would have been trying to eliminate those who disagreed with him. The second missing word must reflect this. Because rivals are people who challenge one another, and dissent is disagreement or the holding of a rival opinion or viewpoint, choice (E) is correct.

Northampton High School is ______: students come from 24 different countries and speak 15 languages.

• diverse

• uniform

• local

• similar

• identical

Answer explanation

4) A The main clue in this question is the colon ( : ), which is used to separate explanatory information from the rest of a sentence. This means that what comes after the colon explains or elaborates on what the missing word states. Since the prompt states that the school contains students from 24 countries who speak 15 languages, the missing word must reflect that the school contains many types of students. Diverse means showing a great deal of variety, so choice (A) is correct

A new rule prohibits students from ______ on campus after school, so, now, all students must leave campus by 4 PM.

• arriving

• remaining

• dining

• returning

• fighting

Answer explanation

5) B The main clue in this question is the word “so,” which sets up a logical relationship between the two parts of the sentence it links. This means that there is a logical relationship between the new rule and the fact that “all students must leave campus by 4 PM.” The new rule “prohibits” students from doing something “after school,” and since they now have to leave campus by 4 PM, it follows that the new rule must not allow them to stay on campus after school. Because remaining means staying in the same place, choice (B) is correct

My mother’s ______ salary never left us with enough money to afford luxuries such as vacations, new cars, or nice clothes.

• meager

• unlimited

• supportive

• tremendous

• prosperous

Answer explanation

6) A The main clue in this question is the phrase “never left us with enough money.” This means that “my mother’s salary” must have been so small that luxuries could not be afforded. The missing word describes the salary, so it must be a word that means small. Meager means lacking in quantity, so choice (A) is correct.

Trying to teach a dog to speak English is ______ task; the creature will never be able to use language like we do.

• a worthwhile

• an admirable

• a futile

• a respectable

• a fruitful

Answer explanation

The main clue in this question is the semicolon ( ; ), which links independent clauses that are logically related to each other. This means that the fact that a dog “will never be able to use language like we do” relates to the type of task that “trying to teach a dog” English is. The missing word must reflect that it is pointless to teach a dog English, then, since a dog cannot use language like we do. Because futile means pointless or incapable of producing an effective result, choice (C) is correct.

Marie had never seen anything as ______ as the Grand Canyon before; she wanted to ______ at its beauty forever.

• striking … marvel

• phenomenal … scoff

• picturesque … laugh

• enormous … stare

• grotesque … look

Answer explanation

8) A The key word in this question is “beauty.” Remember that the semicolon ( ; ) combines two independent clauses that logically progress from one another. This means that there is a logical relationship between how Marie saw the Grand Canyon and what she wanted to do to it. The question already describes the Grand Canyon as beautiful, which has a positive meaning. This © Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 4 means that Marie must have seen the Grand Canyon in a positive way. Additionally, since the prompt mentions her seeing the Grand Canyon, she must have wanted to see its beauty forever. Striking means dramatically beautiful, while marvel means to be filled with wonder or astonishment at the sight of something. Both words make sense in context, so choice (A) is correct

Ludwig van Beethoven was a musical ______, playing his first professional concert at only seven years old.

• hack

• phenomenon

• spectacle

• fluke

• prodigy

Answer explanation

1) E The main clue in this question is the phrase “playing his first professional concert at only seven years old.” This describes Beethoven’s musical skills and implies that he had great talent at a young age. The missing word describes what Beethoven was. A prodigy is someone who has great talent or ability at a very young age, so choice (E) is correct.

Stephen’s parents encourage him to pursue a ______ career in medicine or law; they want to see him become rich and successful.

• stressful

• worthwhile

• rewarding

• lucrative

• prestigious

Answer explanation

2) D The main clue in this sentence is the semicolon, which is used to link independent clauses that state similar information. This means that what Stephen’s parents “encourage him to pursue” is related to the fact that “they want to see him become rich and successful.” The missing word must therefore mean rich and successful. Since lucrative means producing a great deal of profit, choice (D) is correct.