On the 5th question why didn’t greg choose but as a contrast for the first blank, but he has chosen the comma and referred it as support. I took But (contrast) and looked on the left side and the statement looks positive so I thought the 1st blank would be a negative word. So I thought adding talent to the blank will make it a negative. But he did it in a different way. Also how can I schedule my practice time as my exam is on 23rd december. What are the practice materials should use? A few people mentioned to me that doing as much as mocks will improve the exam, is that true? Please let me know asap. Thank you.
You’re absolutely right about the contrast from “but”. There’s no “wrong” or “right” way as long as the math/ logic follows through
Here’s how I see it: The word “but” signals a contrast here, so it’s setting up the idea that the governor is lacking in something compared to his opponent. The phrase “far less… than his opponent” makes it clear that this deficiency is related to speaking ability since the sentence talks about oratorical skills.
For the first blank, we need a word that highlights the governor’s weaker speaking ability.
He is far less… talented?
Going by your question this is what you wanted to put in the blank
Makes absolute sense, making Adroit the correct answer
For the second blank, we’re talking about the opponent’s oratory skills, which are clearly being presented as impressive. “Unpretentious” doesn’t fit because it’s more about simplicity or modesty, not excellence. “Spurious” is negative, so it’s out. “Breathtaking,” though, works perfectly—it emphasizes just how remarkable the opponent’s speaking skills are, which fits the contrast.
So, the sentence makes sense with “Adroit” in the first blank and “breathtaking” in the second. And that “but” ties it all together because it contrasts the governor’s political strengths with his weaker oratory skills compared to his opponent’s brilliance in that area. Makes sense, right?
Here’s how I’d approach your practice:
Definitely stick with the Official Guide, the Big Book, and the 2024 GregMat TC practice sessions. These are solid resources. Add in the GregMat verbal problems repository for extra variety—it’s great for getting used to tricky phrasings and building confidence.
Start with untimed practice to really focus on understanding the logic behind each question. Once you feel more comfortable, switch to timed practice to simulate real test conditions and improve your pacing. For timed sessions, set a stopwatch for small question sets (5–10 questions) to ease into it before jumping into full sections.
As for practice tests, doing one each weekend is a fantastic idea. It gives you a realistic sense of your progress without burning you out. Make sure you review each test thoroughly—spend time understanding every mistake, even on questions you guessed right, to solidify your strategy.
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