Lessons · Verbal Reasoning
CLT Verbal Reasoning · Lesson
Precision of meaning
These questions ask which word or phrase states the author's idea most exactly, or what a phrase means precisely in context.
- Reread the sentence and the idea it is part of.
- Notice degree: "doubted" is not "denied"; "some" is not "most."
- Pick the choice that matches the meaning and its strength, no stronger and no weaker.
Q. The author "hesitates to accept" the theory. This most nearly means she...
Answer has reservations about it.
"Rejects it" is too strong; "accepts it with enthusiasm" is the opposite. Precision is about degree.
- A choice that is close but overstated is the trap.
- When two choices seem right, reread the exact words. One will match the strength of the original.
Every practice question comes with a full explanation, including why each wrong choice is wrong. Free, with no account.