Question

As modern scholarship continues to dim the possibility that Homer was a single historic figure, the question of authorship of his works has been raised; although we might never know who wrote them, scholars still need some way to refer to the author or authors of the Iliad and Odyssey, so the term “Homeric tradition” has been _____ as a possible new terminology. A. selected B. established C. appropriated D. bestowed E. suggested F. proposed

Short answer

E. suggested and F. proposed

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Sentence Structure

Analyze the sentence structure and identify the main clause and any dependent clauses. The main clause here is 'As modern scholarship...the possibility that Homer was a single historic figure.' The dependent clause addresses how scholars refer to the author(s).

- Identify Key Ideas

The sentence suggests that scholars doubt that 'Homer' was a single person and hence need a new way to refer to whoever composed the works attributed to Homer.

- Determine the Context

Recognize the context that scholars are seeking a term to refer to the author(s) of the Iliad and Odyssey. This means they are likely proposing or suggesting this term rather than selecting, establishing, appropriating, or bestowing it.

- Evaluate Each Option

A. 'selected' - Choosing something from a list, not fitting in this context.B. 'established' - Setting up on a firm basis, which is inappropriate as the question mentions uncertainty.C. 'appropriated' - Taken for one's use, generally improperly; not suitable for academic terminology.D. 'bestowed' - Conferred or given, again not suitable in this context.E. 'suggested' - Tentatively presenting for consideration, logical given the uncertainty.F. 'proposed' - Put forward for consideration or discussion by others, also logical given the context.

- Select the Best Answers

Based on the analysis, 'suggested' and 'proposed' (options E and F) are the best fits while the other options do not match the context of seeking new terminology.

Key concepts

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Understanding vocabulary within a specific context is crucial for GRE Sentence Equivalence problems.

In this particular exercise, we see words like 'selected,' 'established,' 'appropriated,' 'bestowed,' 'suggested,' and 'proposed.' Each word has a subtle but significant difference in meaning.

To succeed, you need to identify which words fit the context. If modern scholars are uncertain about Homer's identity, terms like 'suggested' and 'proposed' fit better because they imply consideration rather than certainty.

In short, always consider the meaning of the words and how they fit within the given context of the sentence.

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Reading comprehension plays a major role in solving Sentence Equivalence questions on the GRE. It's not just about understanding individual words but also grasping the overall meaning of the sentence.

In the given exercise, first understand the main idea: Scholars doubt Homer's single authorship and need a new way to describe the creator(s) of the Iliad and Odyssey.

There are a few steps to improve your reading comprehension skills:

• Break the sentence into main and dependent clauses.
• Identify key concepts and the relationships between them.
• Ask yourself what the sentence as a whole is trying to convey.

Mastering these steps will help you quickly understand complex sentences and find the right answers.

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Test-taking strategies are essential for efficiently tackling the GRE. Here are some tips specific to Sentence Equivalence questions:

• Read the entire sentence carefully before looking at the answer choices.
• Identify words or phrases that highlight the main idea.
• Choose answers that are similar in meaning and fit the blank grammatically and logically.
• Eliminate answers that don't fit the context or change the meaning of the sentence.

By practicing these strategies, you'll become more efficient and confident in choosing the correct answers for Sentence Equivalence problems.