In these two questions, I got the broad idea of the sentence, but went wrong in choosing options. For Q5, I figured the blank should give the idea that it’s resistant to analysis, and when put in the context of change, I thought that since it is ever changing, change is permanent and went with option E. One could argue for option B and given that it’s right, but how to avoid the mistake I made in this case.
Similarly for Q6, I figured that the project could be achieved with better savings, so it could not be listed as a feature. But again, I now understand why the correct answer choice makes sense, but how do I avoid convincing myself that my flawed logic is right.
@gregmat , Regarding the Question 3 Can I solve using the grammar strategy - Clearly Optimism can be increased or reduced So for that reason A,D,E do not make any sense and using the math strategy I was able to decipher B as the answer
It seems like you are using your “ear”, where you can be more specific in finding evidence to select your answer. Can you guess what goes in the blanks without looking at the answer, and find evidence to support?
5 → I expect the first blank to be something supported by “resistant to analysis” and consistent with “changes” (due to the “and”), and I expect the second blank to be something good / useful for analysis (due to the “yet”). Looking at the second blank, I eliminate “underutilized” (no evidence), and “problematic” (opposite of good / useful for analysis). Looking at the first blank, I remove “transparent” (opposite of resistant to analysis) and permanent (opposite of changes). B remains
6 → Due to the semicolon, I know that the second blank has to do with expense. Because of “cannot be numbered”, I know that the first and second blank are contrasting → answer choices I guess are “good things”… “high cost” and “bad things”… “low cost”. I think it should be “bad things”… “low cost” due to the connotation of “expense” and the word “impressive”, but let’s see. A and B are both “good things”… “low cost”, so are wrong, C and D have no evidence in the second blank (innovation, speed), so I select E.
3 → “stopped short of” would indicate that this is extreme, rather than an opposite. For example, if I said “I said ____ things to him, but stopped short of berating him”, what would you guess goes in the blank?
