Estimated study time: 45 minutes
Content:
Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions present a single sentence with one blank and six answer choices. You must select exactly two answers that (a) each correctly complete the sentence and (b) produce sentences that are equivalent in meaning. You receive credit only if you select both correct answers — no partial credit for getting one of the two right.
This dual-selection requirement is the defining feature of SE questions. It means you cannot simply find one good answer — you must find a pair. If you have identified one word that works perfectly but cannot find a second that creates a similar sentence, reconsider your first choice. The correct pair will produce two sentences with the same essential meaning, not just two sentences that are each individually acceptable.
The prediction strategy works exactly as in Text Completion. Before looking at the choices, predict a word or concept that fits the blank. Then look for two choices that are synonymous (or near-synonymous) with your prediction and with each other. If you find two that clearly belong together in meaning, that is almost certainly the correct pair.
Common SE traps: (1) Two words that are correct individually but mean different things in context — these cannot both be right. (2) One very precise fit and one that "sort of" fits — the correct pair should fit equally well. (3) A word pair that seems equivalent out of context but in the sentence one member fits and the other does not. Always insert both words into the sentence and verify that the two resulting sentences convey the same meaning before selecting.
Vocabulary is critical for SE. Unlike TC where you can sometimes reason through context even without knowing all words, SE requires enough vocabulary to evaluate all six choices. Build vocabulary systematically — focus on high-frequency GRE words (see vocabulary.md) rather than rare obscurities. Pay attention to connotation and degree: "dislike" and "loathe" might both complete a sentence grammatically but they have different intensities, and intensity differences can change whether sentences are truly equivalent.
Key Terms:
Quiz Questions:
Q1. Although the documentary was praised for its technical craftsmanship, critics found its central argument __________, filled with logical gaps and unsupported claims.
A) tenuous B) incisive C) unsubstantiated D) perspicacious E) cogent F) flimsy
Select two answers.
Answer: A and F — "Tenuous" (thin, lacking substance) and "flimsy" (weak, easily disproven) both describe an argument full of logical gaps, and both produce sentences with equivalent meanings. "Incisive" and "cogent" (both meaning sharp and convincing) are opposite to what the sentence requires. "Unsubstantiated" fits the blank but has no equivalent partner among the choices — "flimsy" is the closer match to "tenuous."
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Q2. The CEO's management style, once celebrated as visionary, came to be seen as __________ — she made sweeping decisions with little consultation and dismissed contrary evidence.
A) autocratic B) collaborative C) despotic D) pragmatic E) impulsive F) judicious
Select two answers.
Answer: A and C — "Autocratic" (dictatorial, making unilateral decisions) and "despotic" (tyrannical, exercising absolute power) both fit the description of making sweeping decisions without consultation and dismissing contrary evidence, and produce equivalent sentences. "Collaborative" and "judicious" are opposite in meaning. "Impulsive" captures the recklessness but lacks the authoritarian connotation that matches the dismissal of contrary evidence.
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Q3. Despite years of study, the linguist's grasp of the ancient dialect remained __________, relying more on conjecture than on documented evidence.
A) speculative B) authoritative C) conjectural D) rudimentary E) definitive F) exhaustive
Select two answers.
Answer: A and C — "Speculative" (based on conjecture, not established fact) and "conjectural" (based on guesswork) are near-synonyms that both match "relying more on conjecture" and produce equivalent sentences. "Authoritative," "definitive," and "exhaustive" all imply thoroughness or certainty — the opposite of the passage. "Rudimentary" (basic, underdeveloped) partially fits the idea of an incomplete grasp but does not pair with either A or C to produce equivalent meaning.
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Q4. The policy proposal was __________ in its scope, attempting to simultaneously address climate change, income inequality, and housing affordability.
A) grandiose B) narrow C) parochial D) ambitious E) modest F) incremental
Select two answers.
Answer: A and D — "Grandiose" (impressively large in scope, often implying overreach) and "ambitious" (having lofty goals) both fit a proposal targeting three major societal problems simultaneously, and produce sentences with equivalent (or near-equivalent) meanings. "Narrow," "parochial," "modest," and "incremental" all describe limited scope — the opposite of the passage.
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Q5. The biographer portrayed her subject with __________ honesty, neither embellishing achievements nor concealing failures.
A) unflinching B) selective C) impartial D) unsparing E) partial F) cursory
Select two answers.
Answer: A and D — "Unflinching" (not drawing back from uncomfortable truths) and "unsparing" (holding nothing back, giving the full picture) both fit a portrayal that doesn't embellish or conceal, and produce equivalent sentences. "Selective" and "partial" both imply bias — incompatible with "neither embellishing nor concealing." "Impartial" is close but typically describes objectivity rather than the willingness to expose negatives specifically. "Cursory" (superficial) contradicts thorough honesty.
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