"In the midst of their heated argument, Sarah made a subtle ............ with her hands, hoping to convey her apology without uttering a word."

• means

• gesture

• utterance

• spoken language

"In many cultures, there is a ......... that explains the origin of the stars and constellations, often involving gods and mystical beings."

• fact

• novel

• myth

• cognition

"The speaker didn't explicitly state her opinion, but her words strongly seemed to imply that certain changes were necessary."

• conclude

• deny

• suggest indirectly

• clarify

"Over time, species tend to evolve in response to changes in their environment, adapting to new challenges for survival."

• remain static

• develop rapidly

• devolve

• change gradually over time

"As the train accelerated, the scenery outside started to blur, and the passengers could no longer distinguish individual trees or buildings."

• focus

• become indistinct or unclear

• distort

• clarify

"The company received complaints about the ................. quality of the products, prompting a thorough review of their manufacturing processes."

• average

• high-quality

• substandard

• superior

"As a new student at the school, Jake tried his best to fit in, joining various clubs and engaging with classmates to become a part of the community."

• isolate

• stand out

• belong

• depend

"Receiving an award for academic excellence is a notable ............. that sets her apart from her peers."

• similarity

• distinction

• classification

• issue

"In many cultures, discussing certain topics, such as death or personal finances, is considered taboo, and people avoid bringing up such subjects in polite conversation."

• forbidden or prohibited

• commonplace

• accepted

• encouraged

"During the meeting, Mark couldn't resist making a clever quip that lightened the mood and elicited laughter from his colleagues."

• serious remark

• humorous or witty remark

• controversial statement

• lengthy explanation