Question

Her last-minute vacation was ___________ compared to her usual trips, which are planned down to the last detail. A expensive B spontaneous C predictable D satisfying E impulsive F atrocious

Short answer

B spontaneous

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Context

Read the sentence carefully to understand the context. It mentions that the vacation was 'last-minute' and contrasts it with her usual trips, which are 'planned down to the last detail.' This suggests the vacation was not planned.

- Analyze the Choices

Look at the given choices and identify their meanings: A. expensive, B. spontaneous, C. predictable, D. satisfying, E. impulsive, F. atrocious.

- Eliminate Incorrect Choices

Eliminate choices that don't fit with the context of being the opposite of 'planned down to the last detail.' That means C (predictable), D (satisfying), F (atrocious) do not fit.

- Focus on Relevant Choices

A. expensive may not be relevant to planning. B. spontaneous and E. impulsive both fit being the opposite of carefully planned.

- Choose the Best Fit

Between B. spontaneous and E. impulsive, the word 'spontaneous' is a more direct opposite of 'planned' because it emphasizes acting on the spur of the moment without planning.

Key concepts

Antonyms

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Understanding antonyms can help you improve your vocabulary and perform better on verbal reasoning tests. In our exercise, we needed to find a word that is the opposite of 'planned down to the last detail.' This clues us in to look for a word that means not planned or done on impulse.
For example, 'planned' means arranging details in advance, while its antonym 'spontaneous' means doing something without prior planning.
Practicing antonyms strengthens your ability to understand context and improve your language skills:

• 'Happy' and 'sad'
• 'Hot' and 'cold'
• 'Early' and 'late'

By focusing on these opposites, you can make quick decisions on what word fits a context best.

Context Clues

Context clues are hints found within a sentence or passage that help you figure out the meaning of a word or phrase. When you come across an unfamiliar word, the surrounding context can often provide insight into its meaning. In our exercise, the phrase 'last-minute' contrasted with 'planned down to the last detail' offers a clear context clue.
For example:

• 'I forgot my umbrella, so I got soaked in the rain.' The clue here is 'forgot my umbrella,' suggesting being unprepared.
• 'Her explanation was so clear, even a child could understand it.' The clue 'clear' helps you deduce that the explanation was understandable.

By practicing recognizing context clues, you will better comprehend complex texts and boost your vocabulary skills.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning involves understanding and reasoning using concepts framed in words. This skill is crucial for tests like the GRE, where you need to analyze and understand written material. The exercise above tested verbal reasoning by asking you to determine the word that contrasts with 'planned' through the use of context clues.
In-depth verbal reasoning includes:

• Identifying main ideas
• Understanding relationships between words
• Inferencing meanings

For instance, in our exercise, recognizing that 'last-minute' suggests a lack of planning enables you to infer that 'spontaneous' or 'impulsive' fits best. Practicing these skills will help you make logical connections quickly and confidently in academic and real-world contexts.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment. It involves actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach a conclusion.
In our exercise, critical thinking was used to:

• Understand the context ('last-minute' vs. 'planned')
• Analyze choices (expensive, spontaneous, predictable, satisfying, impulsive, atrocious)
• Eliminate incorrect answers
• Select the best fit

Critical thinking helps you not just in academics but in daily life scenarios where making informed decisions is crucial. Practicing critical thinking through exercises like these hones your problem-solving abilities, equipping you to tackle complex tasks efficiently.