The document contains 5 short passages with blanks that require word choices to complete the meaning. The passages assess understanding of vocabulary and grammar.

1. Choose the word or set of words that,
when inserted in the sentence, best fits
the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
That edelweiss appears to be ------- is an
illusion: the flower actually is incredibly ---
----, able to survive in extreme
temperatures.
(A) hardy . . malleable
(B) fragile . . resilient
(C) durable . . resistant
(D) stunning . . slight
(E) unique . . tenacious

2. Choose the word or set of words that,
when inserted in the sentence, best fits
the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Cormac McCarthy has a reputation for
being one of the most ------- figures in
literature; for many years, few people
knew what the writer looked like or
where he lived.
(A) overbearing
(B) sedate
(C) sociable
(D) celebrated
(E) reclusive

3. Part or all of the following sentence is
underlined; beneath the sentence are five
ways of phrasing the underlined material.
Select the option that produces the best
sentence. If you think the original phrasing
produces a better sentence than any of
the alternatives, select choice A.
Being that she has a gift for comic timing,
Esmeralda is a natural when it comes to
storytelling.
(A) Being that she has a gift for comic
timing
(B) In having a gift for comic timing
(C) With her gift for comic timing
(D) Although she has a gift for comic
timing

4. Choose the word or set of words that,
when inserted in the sentence, best fits
the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Sylvia's employer considered her
advertising campaign to be ------- yet -------:
Sylvia's ideas were new and creative but
were not appropriate for the client's
product.
(A) novel . . inapt
(B) irrelevant . . modest
(C) lengthy . . compelling
(D) fresh . . original
(E) marginal . . partial