Question

Increasingly, the boundaries of congressional seats are drawn in order to protect incumbents, as legislators engineer the demographics of each district such that those already in office can coast to (i) ______ victory. Of course, there is always the possibility that the incumbent will face a challenge from within his or her own party. Nevertheless, once the primary is over, the general election is (ii) ______. $$\begin{aligned}&\text { Blank (i) }\\\&\begin{array}{|c|}\hline \text { an ineluctable } \\\\\hline \text { an invidious } \\\\\hline \text { a plangent } \\\\\hline\end{array}\end{aligned}$$ $$\begin{aligned}&\text { Blank }\\\&\text { (ii) }\\\&\begin{array}{|c|}\hline \text { seldom nugatory } \\ \hline \text { remarkably contentious } \\\\\hline \text { merely denouement } \\\\\hline\end{array}\end{aligned}$$

Short answer

`Ineluctable` for Blank (i) and `merely denouement` for Blank (ii)

Step-by-step solution

Analyze Blank (i)

The first blank needs a word describing a victory that is guaranteed or certain due to the careful demographics engineering. Looking at the options, 'ineluctable' fits the context best as it means unavoidable or inescapable. 'Invidious' means likely to arouse resentment or anger in others, and 'plangent' means having a mournful sound. Neither of these two options fit the context of the sentence.

Analyze Blank (ii)

The second blank needs a word or phrase that indicates that the general election is a mere formality after the primary. Out of 'seldom nugatory', 'remarkably contentious', and 'merely denouement', 'merely denouement' is the best fit. 'Denouement' refers to the climax or resolution of a series of events, aligning with the context that the general election is just a formality after the primary. 'Seldom nugatory' (meaning rarely useless) and 'remarkably contentious' (meaning exceptionally argumentative) do not fit the context.

Final Answer

After analyzing both blanks, the words that best fit the context of the sentences are 'ineluctable' for Blank (i) and 'merely denouement' for Blank (ii). Thus, the completed sentences would be: Increasingly, the boundaries of congressional seats are drawn in order to protect incumbents, as legislators engineer the demographics of each district such that those already in office can coast to an ineluctable victory. Of course, there is always the possibility that the incumbent will face a challenge from within his or her own party. Nevertheless, once the primary is over, the general election is merely denouement.

Key concepts

Understanding Vocabulary Synonyms

When dealing with GRE vocabulary, it is essential to have a firm grasp of synonyms. This means understanding words that have similar meanings, which helps in deciphering complex sentences. In the exercise given, knowing that 'ineluctable' means unavoidable or certain aids in selecting the best option for Blank (i). When encountering words such as 'invidious' that imply resentment or 'plangent' which evokes mournfulness, it highlights why they would not suit the context. An effective strategy is to familiarize yourself with common GRE words and their synonyms.

• Create flashcards of words and their synonyms.
• Use vocabulary-building apps that test synonyms.
• Engage in reading materials like articles or prose that employ varied vocabulary.

This approach not only improves your vocabulary but also helps in quickly identifying synonyms during exams.

Mastering Contextual Understanding

Contextual understanding is about grasping the purpose and setting of a sentence or passage. The context clues serve as hints to decrypt the correct word choice. In the exercise, the primary context is that congressional seats are designed to secure guaranteed victories for incumbents. Once the primary is over, the narrative relaxes into something more conclusive. Here, identifying keywords—like 'engineer' and 'coast to victory'—helps to pinpoint the core message.
Ways to improve contextual understanding include:

• Regularly read and summarize narratives in political or historical books.
• Practice sentence completions by drafting alternative sentences using given words.
• Engage in discussions to shore up your interpretation skills.

Building a robust ability to understand context improves comprehension and supports better decision-making on tests.

Effective Multiple-Choice Strategies

Multiple-choice questions in tests like the GRE can be challenging, but with specific strategies, they become manageable. The first step is reading the question carefully and considering all possible answers before making a selection. In this exercise, by reading the definitions of each option and considering how they fit the blank, the right answer emerges naturally. Divide your approach into steps:

• Use the process of elimination: Discard options that clearly don't fit.
• Look for context clues that hint at the meaning of the desired word.
• Re-read the question after inserting your chosen word to see if it makes logical sense.

Practicing these techniques enhances your confidence and efficiency during exams, allowing you to navigate vocabulary-based questions smoothly.