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Because the superintendent was a (i) __________ rather than
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23 Oct 2017, 18:08
23 Oct 2017, 18:08
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Question Stats:
21% (00:56) correct
78% (00:52) wrong based on 65 sessions
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Because the superintendent was a (i) __________ rather than a professional plumber, it’s no surprise that he proceeded mostly by (ii) _____________. Nor was it particularly surprising when the new seals burst. The following week, (iii) _______ was hired to repair the superintendent’s mistakes expediently.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
| (A) lummox | (D) rote | (G) a crack |
| (B) bureaucrat | (E) guesswork | (H) an extortionate |
| (C) layperson | (F) numbers | (I) a senescent |
Practice Questions
Question: 97
Page: 68
Question: 97
Page: 68
Re: Because the superintendent was a (i) __________ rather than
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12 Nov 2017, 16:39
12 Nov 2017, 16:39
Expert Reply
Explanation
You are told that the plumber is not professional, so you need a word for the first blank that is the opposite of “professional.” A layperson is a non-professional.
For the second blank, you need a word describing how a non-professional would work. Rote implies experience, and by numbers means “following simple instructions,” which is illogical because there’s no reason to believe the layperson plumber has any instructions. Guesswork means he’s just guessing what to do, which makes the most sense.
Finally, since the plumber successfully and quickly fixed everything, you need a word in the third blank that means “good.” Crack means “very good.” Extortionate means “overly expensive”; there’s no reason to believe someone is good just because they’re overpriced.
Layperson, guesswork, a crack.
You are told that the plumber is not professional, so you need a word for the first blank that is the opposite of “professional.” A layperson is a non-professional.
For the second blank, you need a word describing how a non-professional would work. Rote implies experience, and by numbers means “following simple instructions,” which is illogical because there’s no reason to believe the layperson plumber has any instructions. Guesswork means he’s just guessing what to do, which makes the most sense.
Finally, since the plumber successfully and quickly fixed everything, you need a word in the third blank that means “good.” Crack means “very good.” Extortionate means “overly expensive”; there’s no reason to believe someone is good just because they’re overpriced.
Layperson, guesswork, a crack.
Re: Because the superintendent was a (i) __________ rather than
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27 Mar 2024, 05:44
27 Mar 2024, 05:44
1
The phrase "rather than" suggests comparison with a professional plumber and also implying the plumber was the appropriate one. And since we are also told the seals burst and it was not particularly surprising that it happened, the word for the first blank is layperson. And being a layperson he must have proceeded mostly by guesswork rather than rote (which implies regular past activity). And proceeded by numbers does not make sense. And since the next week somebody was hired to repair the superintendent's mistakes expediently, he must have been a competent person. The word is crack. The word extortionate, which means exceeding boundaries especially when it comes to prices does not make sense there. There is nothing to suggest a senescent (old person) was hired. We cannot assume an older person will be an expert.
