2026年GRE《语文》真题回忆版

2026年GRE《语文》真题回忆版

Section1

1.Becausethescientist’sprevioustheorieshadproventobe______,hiscolleagueswereunderstandablyskepticalwhenheproposedyetanotherradicalnewhypothesis.

(A)prescient

(B)fallacious

(C)seminal

(D)innovative

(E)erroneous

2.Theauthor’sportrayaloftheprotagonistasahaplessvictimisoverly______,ignoringthecharacter’scapacityforagencyandhisoccasionalmanipulativebehavior.

(A)sympathetic

(B)critical

(C)ambiguous

(D)objective

(E)cynical

3.WhiletheCEO’spublicpersonaisoneof______,behindcloseddoorssheisknownforhervolatiletemperandsharptongue.

(A)affability

(B)irascibility

(C)duplicity

(D)insouciance

(E)tenacity

4.Thepolitician’sspeechwasfilledwith______andplatitudes,lackinganyspecificplansorconcretedetails.

(A)bromides

(B)certitudes

(C)canards

(D)profundities

(E)lucidities

5.Thearchaeologicaldiscoverywas______:itnotonlyconfirmedtheexistenceoftheancientcivilizationbutalsoprovidedunprecedentedinsightsintotheirdailylives.

(A)fortuitous

(B)redundant

(C)anomalous

(D)uninformative

(E)speculative

6.Althoughthetwoartistsarecontemporariesandworkinthesamemedium,theirstylesare______;onefavorsbold,abstractforms,whiletheotherprefersmeticulousrealism.

(A)indistinguishable

(B)antithetical

(C)derivative

(D)congruent

(E)eclectic

7.Thecritic’sreviewwasso______thatitleftreadersunsurewhetherthebookwasamasterpieceoradisaster.

(A)equivocal

(B)censorious

(C)effusive

(D)pithy

(E)pedantic

8.Foryears,theregionwasa______ofethnicstrife,withvariousgroupsvyingforcontrolandengaginginintermittentviolence.

(A)cauldron

(B)haven

(C)backwater

(D)panacea

(E)wasteland

9.Thenovel’snarrativestructureisdeliberately______,shiftingperspectivesandtimelinestomirrortheprotagonist’sfragmentedmemory.

(A)linear

(B)coherent

(C)disjointed

(D)monotonous

(E)succinct

10.Thecommittee’sreportwas______,addressingeverysingleobjectionraisedbytheoppositionpartyinmeticulousdetail.

(A)comprehensive

(B)perfunctory

(C)superficial

(D)biased

(E)terse

Questions11-13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Thehistoryofthetrans-Saharangoldtradeisoftenshroudedintheromanticmistsoftime,conjuringimagesofcamelcaravanstraversingendlessdunesunderablazingsun.However,recentarchaeologicalfindingsatthesiteofTadmekkainpresent-dayMalisuggestafarmorecomplexandeconomicallysophisticatedrealitythanpreviouslyassumed.Traditionally,historiansviewedthetradeasasimpleexchangeofgolddustforsaltandothergoods,drivenlargelybyNorthAfricandemand.TheTadmekkaexcavations,however,revealalocaleconomythatwasnotmerelyapassiveparticipantbutanactiveindustrialcenter.

AnalysisofthecruciblesandmoldfragmentsfoundatthesiteindicatesthattheinhabitantsofTadmekkaweremeltingdownimportedgolddustandcastingitintostandardizedbarsoringots.Thisprocessofvalueadditionimpliesahighdegreeofmetallurgicalknowledgeandasignificantlevelofsocialorganizationtofacilitatesuchproduction.Furthermore,thepresenceofthesestandardizedingotspointstothedevelopmentofaproto-currencysystem,whichwouldhavegreatlysimplifiedlong-distancetransactions.Thischallengestheoldernarrativethatthesub-SaharanregionlackedcomplexeconomicinstitutionspriortoEuropeancontact.

Theimplicationsofthisdiscoveryextendbeyondmereeconomichistory.IfTadmekkawascapableofsuchindustrialsophistication,itsuggeststhatWestAfricansocietiespossessedintricatepoliticalstructuresnecessarytomaintainlawandorder,protecttraderoutes,andregulatemanufacturing.The"silenttrade"myth—theideathatmerchantswouldleavegoodsandretreat,allowingminerstodepositgoldwithoutface-to-facecontact—isincreasinglyseenasacolonial-eraconstructthatunderestimatedtheagencyandcomplexityofAfricancivilizations.TheevidencefromTadmekkaservesasapotentreminderthatthepre-colonialhistoryofAfricaisoneofinnovation,connectivity,andstructuralcomplexity,ratherthanisolationandsimplicity.

11.Theprimarypurposeofthepassageisto

(A)describethephysicalhardshipsfacedbytrans-Saharantraders

(B)challengeaprevailingviewregardingthenatureofthetrans-Saharangoldtrade

(C)provideadetailedbiographyoftheinhabitantsofTadmekka

(D)argueforthesuperiorityofbartersystemsoverproto-currency

(E)comparetheeconomicsystemsofWestAfricaandNorthAfrica

12.Accordingtothepassage,thediscoveryofcruciblesandmoldfragmentsatTadmekkawassignificantbecauseitindicatedthat

(A)goldwasexclusivelyminedwithintheimmediatevicinityofthecity

(B)theinhabitantstradeddirectlywithEuropeanmerchants

(C)thecityengagedintheindustrialprocessingofgoldratherthanjustexportingrawmaterials

(D)the"silenttrade"mythwasentirelyaccurateindescribingtheregion'scommerce

(E)saltwasthemostvaluablecommoditytradedintheregion

13.Theauthormentionsthe"silenttrade"mythmostlikelyinorderto

(A)provideanexampleofatradingmethodthatisstillusedinsomepartsofAfrica

(B)illustratethedangersofcrossingtheSaharadesertwithoutaguide

(C)supporttheargumentthatWestAfricansocietieswerepoliticallyisolated

(D)highlightamisconceptionthatiscontradictedbythenewarchaeologicalevidence

(E)explainwhygolddustwasthepreferredformofcurrencyintheregion

Questions14-16arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Inthemid-20thcentury,the"NewCriticism"movementdominatedliterarystudiesintheEnglish-speakingworld.NewCriticsadvocatedfor"closereading,"arigorousanalysisofatext’sinternalrelationships—itsambiguities,ironies,paradoxes,andtensions—withoutresortingtoexternalcontextsuchastheauthor’sbiographyorhistoricalbackground.Theybelievedthataworkofartshouldbetreatedasanautonomous,self-containedobject.Whilethisapproachyieldedprofoundinsightsintotheformalpropertiesofliterature,italsodrewcriticismforbeingahistoricalandpoliticallydetached.

Bythe1980s,NewCriticismhadlargelybeensupplantedbytheoreticalapproachessuchasstructuralism,deconstruction,andNewHistoricism.Thesenewermodesofinquirysoughttosituatetextswithinbroadercultural,linguistic,andideologicalframeworks.Forinstance,NewHistoricismemphasizedtheextenttowhichliterarytextsareembeddedinthepowerdynamicsoftheirhistoricalmomentsandhowthey,inturn,influencethosedynamics.

Despiteitsdiminishedstatusasthedominantmethodology,thelegacyofNewCriticismremainsrobust.Thefundamentalskillsitchampioned—theabilitytoreadattentively,totracknuance,andtoarguefromtextualevidence—arethebedrockofvirtuallyallcontemporaryliteraryscholarship,regardlessofthetheoreticallensapplied.OnecanbeadevotedFoucauldianorafeministcritic,yetstillrelyontheclosereadingtechniqueshonedbytheNewCriticstosubstantiateone'sclaims.Inthissense,NewCriticismwasnotsomuchoverthrownasitwasabsorbed;itbecametheinvisiblegrammarofliteraryanalysis.

14.TheauthorsuggeststhatNewCriticismwascriticizedprimarilyforits

(A)excessiverelianceonbiographicaldetails

(B)focusonthepoliticalimplicationsofliterature

(C)neglectofthehistoricalandsocialcontextofliterature

(D)preferenceformodernistliteratureoverothergenres

(E)inabilitytoresolvetextualambiguities

15.Inthefinalparagraph,theauthormostlikelyusesthephrase"theinvisiblegrammarofliteraryanalysis"tosuggestthatNewCriticaltechniques

(A)arerarelytaughtinuniversitiesanymore

(B)havebecomesofundamentalthattheyareoftentakenforgranted

(C)aretoorigidtobeappliedtocontemporarytheoreticalframeworks

(D)aredifficulttodistinguishfromthetechniquesofNewHistoricism

(E)obscurethetruemeaningofliterarytexts

16.WhichofthefollowingstatementsbestdescribestherelationshipbetweenNewCriticismandthelatertheoreticalmovementsmentionedinthepassage?

(A)ThelatermovementsrejectedtheclosereadingtechniquescentraltoNewCriticism.

(B)ThelatermovementswereentirelyunrelatedtothemethodsofNewCriticism.

(C)ThelatermovementsadoptedtheclosereadingtechniquesofNewCriticismwhileexpandingthescopeofinquiry.

(D)NewCriticismandthelatermovementswereprimarilyconcernedwiththeinterpretationofhistoricaldocuments.

(E)ThelatermovementssoughttorestoretheautonomyofthetextthatNewCriticismhaddestroyed.

Question17isbasedonthefollowingpassage.

Theintroductionofnon-nativespeciestoanecosystem,whetherintentionaloraccidental,oftenleadstounforeseenandcatastrophicconsequences.Withoutthenaturalpredatorsanddiseasesthatkepttheirpopulationsincheckintheirnativeenvironments,invasivespeciescanoutcompetenativefloraandfaunaforresources.Thisdisruptionoftenresultsinasignificantlossofbiodiversityandcanalterfundamentalecosystemprocesses,suchasnutrientcyclingandfireregimes.Whilesomeintroducedspeciesmayseembenigninitially,theirlong-termecologicalimpactisalmostinvariablynegative.

17.Whichofthefollowing,iftrue,wouldmostweakentheargumentpresentedinthepassage?

(A)Somenon-nativespecieshavebeensuccessfullyusedtocontrolthepopulationsofagriculturalpests.

(B)Mostinvasivespeciesfailtoestablishthemselvesinnewenvironmentsduetoharshclimaticconditions.

(C)Thecostoferadicatingestablishedinvasivespeciesisoftenprohibitivelyhigh.

(D)Nativespeciesareoftenunabletoadapttothepresenceofanewcompetitorquicklyenough.

(E)Biodiversitylossistheprimarydriverofecosystemcollapseglobally.

Section2

18.Thesenator’sattemptto______thescandalbyblaminghisstaffwastransparentandultimatelyfailedtoappeasethepublic.

(A)obfuscate

(B)elucidate

(C)ameliorate

(D)substantiate

(E)champion

19.UnlikethehighlyexpressiveworksoftheBaroqueperiod,theartoftheNeoclassicaleraischaracterizedby______andrestraint,reflectingadesireforrationalorder.

(A)flamboyance

(B)austerity

(C)emotionality

(D)chaos

(E)spontaneity

20.Thephilosopher’sargumentsareoften______,relyingmoreonrhetoricalflourishthanonrigorouslogicaldeduction.

(A)lucid

(B)empirical

(C)specious

(D)substantive

(E)didactic

21.Despitethe______conditionsofthelaboratory—cramped,dimlylit,andpoorlyventilated—theresearchersmanagedtoproducegroundbreakingwork.

(A)conducive

(B)Spartan

(C)opulent

(D)chaotic

(E)sterile

22.Themanager’s______leadershipstyle,characterizedbymicromanagementandarefusaltodelegate,stifledtheteam’screativity.

(A)laissez-faire

(B)autocratic

(C)collaborative

(D)charismatic

(E)peremptory

23.Thefilmisa______ofgenres,blendingelementsofsciencefiction,horror,andfilmnoirintoaunique,ifsomewhatdisjointed,experience.

(A)pastiche

(B)exemplar

(C)travesty

(D)critique

(E)distillation

24.Thenewpolicywasmetwith______resistancefromemployees,whovieweditasathreattotheirjobsecurity.

(A)acquiescent

(B)vociferous

(C)tepid

(D)implicit

(E)grudging

25.Whilethefirsthalfofthenovelisfast-pacedandexciting,theplotbecomes______inthelaterchapters,losingitsmomentum.

(A)torpid

(B)kinetic

(C)convoluted

(D)suspenseful

(E)linear

26.Thescientist’sdiscoverywas______,occurringasitdidafteryearsoffrustratingdeadendsandfailedexperiments.

(A)anticipated

(B)serendipitous

(C)inevitable

(D)methodical

(E)banal

27.Tosaythattheartistwas______isanunderstatement;hewasobsessedwithcapturingtheperfectlight,oftendestroyingdozensofcanvasesinasingleday.

(A)fastidious

(B)indifferent

(C)negligent

(D)prodigal

(E)amateurish

Questions28-30arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Theconceptof"tippingpoints"inclimatesciencehasgainedsignificanttractioninrecentyears,bothinscientificliteratureandinpublicdiscourse.Atippingpointisdefinedasacriticalthresholdinaclimatesystemthat,whenexceeded,canleadtolarge,accelerating,andoftenirreversiblechanges.OneofthemostcitedexamplesisthemeltingoftheGreenlandIceSheet.Onceacertainamountoficemelts,thesurfaceelevationlowers,exposingtheicetowarmerairtemperaturesatloweraltitudes.Thiscreatesapositivefeedbackloop:moremeltingleadstolowerelevation,whichleadstoevenwarmertemperaturesandfurthermelting.

However,thepreciselocationofthesethresholdsremainshighlyuncertain.Climatemodelsareimproving,buttheystruggletoaccuratelycapturethecomplexnon-linearinteractionsinherentintheEarth’sclimatesystem.Thisuncertaintyposesaprofounddilemmaforpolicymakers.Ifwewaituntilwearecertainwehavecrossedatippingpoint,itwillbydefinitionbetoolatetopreventtheconsequences.Ontheotherhand,actingaggressivelytoavoidcrossingathresholdthatmightbefurtherawaythanfearedcouldimposemassiveeconomiccoststhataredeemedunnecessaryinhindsight.

This"precautionaryprinciple"suggeststhatinthefaceofpotentialcatastrophicandirreversibleoutcomes,theburdenofprooffallsonthosewhoclaimanactionissafe,ratherthanonthosewhoclaimitisdangerous.Yet,implementingthisprincipleinthecontextofglobaleconomicsisfraughtwithdifficulty.Thedebateoftenshiftsfromscientificdatatovaluejudgmentsaboutrisktoleranceandintergenerationalequity.Ultimately,theconceptoftippingpointsserveslessasapreciseforecastingtoolandmoreasastarkreminderoftheprofoundrisksassociatedwithcontinuingtoperturbtheEarth'sclimatesystem.

28.Thepassageprimarilydiscussesthe

(A)economicbenefitsofmeltingicesheetsinGreenland

(B)technicaldifficultiesinvolvedinconstructingclimatemodels

(C)challengesindefiningandrespondingtoclimatetippingpoints

(D)historyoftheprecautionaryprincipleinenvironmentallaw

(E)differencesbetweenArcticandAntarcticclimatesystems

29.Theauthormentionsthe"positivefeedbackloop"inthesecondparagraphinorderto

(A)explainwhytheGreenlandIceSheetisunlikelytomeltcompletely

(B)illustratethemechanismthatmakespassingatippingpointself-perpetuating

(C)arguethatclimatemodelsaretoosimplistictobeuseful

(D)showthatlowerelevationsarealwayswarmerthanhigherelevations

(E)provethatthemeltingoficeistheonlycauseofrisingsealevels

30.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesthefunctionofthefinalsentenceofthepassage?

(A)Tosummarizetheargumentspresentedinthepreviousparagraphs

(B)Tointroduceanewscientifictheoryregardingclimatechange

(C)Toofferadefinitivesolutiontothepolicydilemma

(D)Toreframetheconceptoftippingpointsasaheuristicforunderstandingrisk

(E)Torefutetheclaimsmadebyproponentsoftheprecautionaryprinciple

Questions31-33arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Intherealmofastrophysics,fewobjectsareasenigmaticasblackholes.TheoreticallypredictedbyEinstein’stheoryofgeneralrelativity,blackholesareregionsofspacetimewheregravityissostrongthatnothing,notevenlight,canescapeonceitpassestheeventhorizon.Fordecades,blackholesremainedmathematicalcuriosities;manyphysicists,includingEinsteinhimself,doubtedthatsuchextremeobjectscouldactuallyexistinnature.

Theturningpointcameinthe1960sand70swiththediscoveryofquasars—extremelyluminousactivegalacticnuclei.Theenergyoutputofquasarswassoimmensethatonlytheaccretionofmatterontoasupermassiveblackholecouldexplainit.Furtherindirectevidencemountedovertheyears,fromtheorbitalmotionsofstarsnearthecenterofourowngalaxytothedetectionofgravitationalwavesemittedbymergingblackholes.

In2019,theEventHorizonTelescope(EHT)collaborationreleasedthefirst-everdirectimageofablackhole’sshadow.Thisachievementwasnotmerelyatechnologicalmarvelbutaprofoundvalidationofgeneralrelativityinaregimeofextremegravity.Theimage—abrightringoflightsurroundingadarkvoid—matchedthetheoreticalpredictionswithstrikingaccuracy.Whiletheimagedoesnotshowtheeventhorizonitself(whichisinvisible),itshowsthe"shadow"castbythehorizonagainsttheglowingaccretiondisk.Thismilestonemarkedthetransitionofblackholesfromtheoreticalabstractionstoobservableentities,openinganewerainexperimentalgravityandallowingscientiststotestthelimitsofEinstein’stheoryinwayspreviouslyimpossible.

31.Thepassagesuggeststhatpriortothe1960s,theexistenceofblackholeswas

(A)widelyacceptedbythescientificcommunity

(B)provenbythedetectionofgravitationalwaves

(C)viewedwithskepticismbymanyphysicists

(D)directlyobservedthroughopticaltelescopes

(E)understoodtobethesourceofallquasarenergy

32.Accordingtothepassage,thesignificanceofthe2019EventHorizonTelescopeimageliesinitsabilityto

(A)disproveEinstein’stheoryofgeneralrelativity

(B)capturelightfrominsidetheeventhorizon

(C)providedirectvisualevidenceconsistentwiththeoreticalmodels

(D)explaintheoriginofgravitationalwaves

(E)revealtheinternalstructureofablackhole

33.Theauthor’sattitudetowardthestudyofblackholescanbestbedescribedas

(A)dismissive

(B)incredulous

(C)ambivalent

(D)enthusiastic

(E)pragmatic

Question34isbasedonthefollowingpassage.

Astudyofdietaryhabitsandhealthoutcomesinalargepopulationfoundthatindividualswhoconsumedhighamountsofprocessedsugarweresignificantlymorelikelytodevelopcardiovasculardiseasethanthosewithlowsugarintake.Theresearchersconcludedthatreducingprocessedsugarconsumptionwouldleadtoalowerincidenceofcardiovasculardiseaseinthepopulation.

34.Whichofthefollowing,iftrue,wouldmoststrengthentheresearchers’conclusion?

(A)Individualswithhighsugarintakealsotendtoexerciselessthanthosewithlowsugarintake.

(B)Thestudycontrolledforotherfactorsknowntoinfluencecardiovasculardisease,suchassmokingandphysicalactivity.

(C)Processedsugarisoftenfoundinfoodsthatarealsohighinunhealthyfats.

(D)Someindividualswithageneticpredispositiontocardiovasculardiseasehaveacravingforsugar.

(E)Theincidenceofcardiovasculardiseasehasbeenrisingsteadilyoverthelastfewdecades.

AnswersandExplanations

1.B(fallacious)

Explanation:Thesentencesetsupacontrast:becauseprevioustheorieswerewrong(bad),colleaguesareskeptical(doubtful)ofthenewone."Fallacious"meansfalseormistaken."Prescient"(predictingthefuture)and"seminal"(influential)wouldnotcauseskepticisminthiscontext.

2.A(sympathetic)

Explanation:Theauthorportraystheprotagonistasa"haplessvictim,"whichimpliesaviewthatpitieshim.Theword"however"introducesacontrasttothisview,notingthatthecharacteractuallyhas"agency"(powertoact)andis"manipulative."Therefore,theportrayalisoverly"sympathetic"(feelingpity),ignoringthesenegativetraits.

3.A(affability)

Explanation:ThesentencecontraststheCEO'spublicpersonawithherprivatebehavior."Volatiletemperandsharptongue"arenegativetraits.Thecorrectanswermustbeapositivetraitthatservesasamask."Affability"meansfriendlinessandpleasantness,whichcontrastswellwithavolatiletemper."Irascibility"(badtemper)wouldnotbeacontrast.

4.A(bromides)

Explanation:Thespeechlackedspecificplansandconcretedetails."Bromides"referstotrite,unoriginal,orplatitudinousremarks—exactlywhatfillsaspeechlackingsubstance."Certitudes"(certainties)and"profundities"(deepthoughts)donotfitthecontextofemptiness.

5.A(fortuitous)

Explanation:Thediscoverydidtwogoodthings:confirmedacivilizationandprovidedinsights."Fortuitous"meanshappeningbyaccidentorchancebutluckilyorbeneficially."Redundant"(unnecessaryrepetition)and"anomalous"(abnormal)donotfitthepositiveoutcome.

6.B(antithetical)

Explanation:Thesentencedescribestwoartistswhoareopposites:oneisabstract,theotherisrealistic."Antithetical"meansdirectlyopposedorcontrasted."Congruent"(inagreement)istheoppositeofwhatisneeded.

7.A(equivocal)

Explanation:Thereviewleftreadersunsureifthebookwasgoodorbad."Equivocal"meansopentomorethanoneinterpretation;ambiguous."Censorious"(critical)and"effusive"(expressiveofpraise)wouldmakethereader'sopinionclear,notunsure.

8.A(cauldron)

Explanation:Theregionwasaplaceof"strife"and"violence.""Cauldron"metaphoricallydescribesasituationcharacterizedbyintenseconflictoragitation."Haven"(safeplace)istheopposite.

9.C(disjointed)

Explanation:Thestructureshiftsperspectivesandtimelinestomirror"fragmentedmemory.""Disjointed"meansseparatedordisconnectedatthejoints,matchingthefragmentednature."Linear"or"coherent"wouldnotfitafragmenteddescription.

10.A(comprehensive)

Explanation:Thereportaddressed"everysingleobjection"in"meticulousdetail.""Comprehensive"meanscompleteandincludingeverythingnecessary."Perfunctory"(donewithoutcare)and"superficial"(cursory)areincorrect.

11.B(challengeaprevailingviewregardingthenatureofthetrans-Saharangoldtrade)

Explanation:Thepassagebeginsbydescribingthetraditionalview(simpleexchange,romanticmyths)andthenpresentsnewevidence(Tadmekka)thatshowsamorecomplex,industrialreality.Themainpurposeistochallengetheold,simplisticview.

12.C(thecityengagedintheindustrialprocessingofgoldratherthanjustexportingrawmaterials)

Explanation:Thepassagestatesthatthecruciblesindicatetheinhabitantswere"meltingdownimportedgolddustandcastingitintostandardizedbars,"whichis"valueaddition"and"industrialprocessing."Thiscontrastswithmerelyexportingrawdust.

13.D(highlightamisconceptionthatiscontradictedbythenewarchaeologicalevidence)

Explanation:The"silenttrade"mythismentionedasanexampleofacolonial-eraconstructthat"underestimatedtheagencyandcomplexityofAfricancivilizations."TheevidencefromTadmekka(showingsophistication)contradictsthismyth.

14.C(neglectofthehistoricalandsocialcontextofliterature)

Explanation:ThepassagestatesNewCriticsfocusedon"internalrelationships...withoutresortingtoexternalcontextsuchastheauthor’sbiographyorhistoricalbackground."Itnotestheywerecriticizedforbeing"ahistorical."

15.B(havebecomesofundamentalthattheyareoftentakenforgranted)

Explanation:Thephrase"invisiblegrammar"suggeststhatthetechniquesaretheunderlyingstructureusedbyeveryone,eveniftheydon'texplicitlyacknowledgethem.Theyare"absorbed"andformthe"bedrock"ofanalysis.

16.C(ThelatermovementsadoptedtheclosereadingtechniquesofNewCriticismwhileexpandingthescopeofinquiry.)

Explanation:Thefinalparagraphstatesthatregardlessofthenewtheoreticallens(structuralism,etc.),scholarsstill"relyontheclosereadingtechniqueshonedbytheNewCritics."Thisindicatesadoptionofthemethodbutexpansionofthescope.

17.B(Mostinvasivespeciesfailtoestablishthemselvesinnewenvironmentsduetoharshclimaticconditions.)

Explanation:Theargumentclaimsthattheintroductionofnon-nativespecies"oftenleadstounforeseenandcatastrophicconsequences"andthatthelong-termimpactis"almostinvariablynegative."Toweakenthis,weneedevidencethatmostintroductionsdonotleadtocatastrophe.Ifmostfailtoestablishthemselves,the"almostinvariablynegative"impactisweakenedbecausethemajorityofattemptsareharmlessfailures.

18.A(obfuscate)

Explanation:Thesenatortriedtoblamestafftohidethescandal("transparentandultimatelyfailed")."Obfuscate"meanstorenderobscure,unclear,orunintelligible;tobewilder.Itfitstheattempttocoverupthetruth."Elucidate"(clarify)istheopposite.

19.B(austerity)

Explanation:NeoclassicalartiscontrastedwithBaroque's"expressive"natureandischaracterizedby"restraint"and"rationalorder.""Austerity"meansseverityorstrictnessinmanner,attitude,ortaste,oftenimplyingsimplicityandlackofluxury."Flamboyance"istooclosetoBaroque.

20.C(specious)

Explanation:Theargumentsrelyon"rhetoricalflourish"ratherthan"rigorouslogic.""Specious"meansseeminglyplausiblebutactuallyincorrectorillogical."Substantive"(havingafirmbasisinreality)istheopposite.

21.B(Spartan)

Explanation:Thelabis"cramped,dimlylit,andpoorlyventilated,"yetgoodworkwasdonethere."Spartan"suggestsconditionsthataresimple,strict,orlackingcomfortandluxury."Conducive"(helpful)doesn'tfitthenegativedescriptionofthephysicalspace,eventhoughtheresultwasgood.

22.B(autocratic)

Explanation:Thestyleinvolves"micromanagementandarefusaltodelegate.""Autocratic"describesarulerwhohasabsolutepoweroramanagerwhomakesdecisionswithoutconsultingothers."Laissez-faire"(hands-off)istheopposite.

23.A(pastiche)

Explanation:Thefilmblendselementsofvariousgenresintoasingleexperience."Pastiche"isanartisticworkinastylethatimitatesthatofanotherwork,artist,orperiod,oramedleyofdifferentelements."Exemplar"(model)doesn'tfitthemixingaspect.

24.B(vociferous)

Explanation:Theresistancewasareactiontoa"thre