Question

The neglect of the old theater was (i) ______ in the extreme (ii) ______ of the building, which was no longer safe to enter. $$\begin{array}{|l|l|}\hline \text { A hinted at } & \text { D dilapidation } \\\ \hline \text { B suggested } & \text { E depilation } \\\\\hline \text { C manifest } & \text { F radiance } \\ \hline\end{array}$$

Short answer

C. manifest, D. dilapidation

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the sentence structure

The sentence has two blanks, and the words chosen for these blanks must fit the context provided by the sentence. The neglect of the old theater is being described as extreme (i) and this neglect has resulted in a specific condition of the building (ii) that is no longer safe.

Choose the word for blank (i)

The word in blank (i) should describe the neglect as extreme. The options are:(A) hinted at(B) suggested(C) manifest'Hinted at' and 'suggested' are not strong enough to match 'extreme'. 'Manifest', meaning clearly visible or obvious, fits well.

Choose the word for blank (ii)

The word in blank (ii) should describe the condition of the building that is unsafe. The options are:(D) dilapidation(E) depilation(F) radiance'Dilapidation' refers to a state of disrepair, fitting the context of an unsafe old building. 'Depilation' relates to the removal of hair, which is irrelevant. 'Radiance' refers to brightness and does not fit the context.

Confirm the complete solution

Combining the chosen words:The neglect of the old theater was (i) manifest in the extreme (ii) dilapidation of the building, which was no longer safe to enter.Therefore, the correct words are (C) manifest and (D) dilapidation.

Key concepts

Vocabulary Application

Understanding and applying vocabulary is pivotal for mastering the GRE Sentence Equivalence section. You need to carefully assess the provided words to decide which ones best fit the blanks in the context of the sentence. In this exercise, the words 'manifest' and 'dilapidation' were selected as they both precisely communicate the intended meaning in the context.

Let’s break this down further:
- **Manifest**: The term 'manifest' means something that is clear or obvious. It's used to describe how evident the neglect of the theater was. Other choices like 'hinted at' or 'suggested' imply subtlety, which does not equate to the strong context of 'extreme neglect'.
- **Dilapidation**: This word means a ruined or decayed state. It perfectly describes the unsafe condition of the theater due to neglect. 'Depilation' and 'radiance' do not fit the context of describing a building's state of disrepair.
Having a solid vocabulary allows you to discern subtle differences in word meanings, ensuring you pick the most appropriate word.

Context Clues

Context clues are essential when tackling sentence completion tasks. Understanding them involves analyzing the surrounding words and phrases to make educated guesses about the missing words.

In the given sentence:
- 'The neglect of the old theater' sets a negative tone.
- The phrase 'extreme' indicates a high level of severity.
- 'No longer safe to enter' directly suggests that the building is in poor condition.
These clues point towards selecting words that express clear signs of severe and visible neglect.
Using context clues effectively can significantly enhance your ability to complete sentences accurately. Always pay close attention to adjectives and descriptive phrases that shape the overall meaning of the sentence.

Sentence Completion

Sentence completion questions on the GRE are designed to test your ability to understand and synthesize information from context. It’s more than just vocabulary knowledge; you need to smoothly integrate chosen words into the sentence’s flow.

Here’s how to approach such tasks:
- **First reading**: Understand the structure and main idea of the sentence.
- **Identify keywords**: Spot important words that set the tone or highlight the context. In this case, 'neglect' and 'unsafe' were key concepts.
- **Analyze options**: Carefully consider the meaning of each option provided and test them within the sentence.
For the given problem, the steps were:
1. Recognize the severe condition described.
2. Choose 'manifest' to indicate that the neglect was obvious.
3. Choose 'dilapidation' to accurately describe the ruined state.
Practice helps here. The more you practice, the better you will become at quickly assessing and completing these sentences accurately.