GRE Prep Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Sep 28Live Online Class with Top GRE Expert Mike Butville
08:00 PM EDT
-10:00 PM EDT
Top scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful GRE course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP GRE OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Mon/Wed Sept. 28, 2026 - Dec. 9, 2026, 8:00pm-10:00pm EST
To anyone who has fallen under the spell of Byzantine chant its aust
[#permalink]
01 Jul 2026, 11:46
01 Jul 2026, 11:46
Expert Reply
1
Bookmarks
00:00
Question Stats:
42% (00:53) correct
57% (01:35) wrong based on 21 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
To anyone who has fallen under the spell of Byzantine chant — its austere modal lines, its uncanny capacity to suspend the passage of time — the real enigma is not how such an obsession took root, but why this ardor remains so stubbornly ________ among the concert-going public.
| Two Answers |
|---|
| A. rare |
| B. intermittent |
| C. localized | D. sporadic | E. scarce |
| F. patchy |
- Part of the project: GRE Hard and Tricky Verbal Practice: NEW Questions Daily
- Also replying to the unanswered questions
- The Definitive GRE Vocabulary Masterclass - 3,000 Words List
- GRE Beginner: The Definitive Guide
Re: To anyone who has fallen under the spell of Byzantine chant its aust
[#permalink]
03 Jul 2026, 05:35
03 Jul 2026, 05:35
Can you please explain this sir
Re: To anyone who has fallen under the spell of Byzantine chant its aust
[#permalink]
03 Jul 2026, 07:01
03 Jul 2026, 07:01
1
Expert Reply
Difficulty Level: Medium-Hard
Deconstruct the Logic
- The Pivot/Contrast: The sentence sets up a contrast between the deeply dedicated subculture ("anyone who has fallen under the spell... an obsession") and the general "concert-going public."
- The Clue: If insiders view it as a spellbinding obsession, the "enigma" (mystery) is why that intense passion hasn't caught on widely. Therefore, the blank needs a word that means uncommon, in short supply, or not widely distributed among the general public.
- The Trap: Words like intermittent, sporadic, and patchy imply something that happens on and off over time or is unevenly distributed. However, an "ardor" (enthusiasm/passion) itself isn't usually described as sporadic or patchy in this context; rather, the presence of this ardor among the public is simply in short supply.
Correct Answer Choices
A. rare
E. scarce
Deconstruct the Logic
- The Pivot/Contrast: The sentence sets up a contrast between the deeply dedicated subculture ("anyone who has fallen under the spell... an obsession") and the general "concert-going public."
- The Clue: If insiders view it as a spellbinding obsession, the "enigma" (mystery) is why that intense passion hasn't caught on widely. Therefore, the blank needs a word that means uncommon, in short supply, or not widely distributed among the general public.
- The Trap: Words like intermittent, sporadic, and patchy imply something that happens on and off over time or is unevenly distributed. However, an "ardor" (enthusiasm/passion) itself isn't usually described as sporadic or patchy in this context; rather, the presence of this ardor among the public is simply in short supply.
Correct Answer Choices
A. rare
E. scarce
