Sentence equivalence: fitting context and matching complete meanings
| English | 中文 | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| modest/ˈmɒdɪst/ | 有限的 | yǒu xiàn de |
| evasive/ɪˈveɪsɪv/ | 回避的 | huí bì de |
A decision before an answer
- Two synonyms are not enough if neither belongs in the sentence.
- Your goal: Select exactly two of six choices for an equivalence task.
Read the relationship
- Predict what belongs in the blank from the whole sentence. Contrast and degree matter: “only a few errors” supports a different judgement from “errors throughout.” Avoid choosing pairs before reading the context. The pair must yield two coherent sentences that convey alike meanings, rather than merely share a dictionary association.
- Check both contextual fit and the meaning of the resulting sentences.
In the pilot sentence, the blank should convey:
Ambitious targets contrast with only limited gains.
Use the defining rule
- Group possible equivalents after establishing the needed sense. A word can have several meanings, and a candidate synonym may match the wrong one. “Reserved” can mean restrained in manner or set aside in advance. The complete sentence selects the sense, so test each candidate using a plain paraphrase.
- Reject synonym pairs that reverse the passage’s logic.
“Reserved” in “a reserved speaker who seldom volunteered opinions” means:
The speaker’s behaviour selects the manner sense.
Check the conditions
- Sentence Equivalence has six choices and requires two selections. There is no partial credit for one correct word, and selecting a third word invalidates the answer. The practice check requires exactly the correct pair; it does not award an official GRE score.
- Reject synonym pairs that reverse the passage’s logic.
Original case: “Despite the team’s ambitious targets, the pilot produced only ____ improvements.” Choices: dramatic, modest, erratic, slight, unprecedented, comprehensive. Modest and slight both fit the contrast between high ambitions and limited improvement. Dramatic and unprecedented may suggest a shared strong-result direction, but they do not fit only in this contrast. Original second case: “Far from being candid, the witness remained ____ about the missing receipt.” Evasive and noncommittal can preserve reluctance to give a direct account; eloquent concerns fluency and is not equivalent to either.
Sentence Equivalence requires exactly ____ answer choices.
Both must fit and produce alike meanings.
Despite the team’s ambitious targets, the pilot produced only ____ improvements. Select exactly two words.
Modest and slight yield alike meanings of limited improvement. Selecting one or adding another choice is not the correct pair.
Apply the task format
- Compare the remaining plausible pair for scope and tone. Small versus negligible, uncertain versus impossible, or critical versus hostile may differ in strength. If the passage supports modest gains, do not infer that no gains occurred. Keep a vocabulary record with the contextual sense and one contrasting use rather than learning isolated translation pairs only.
- Reject synonym pairs that reverse the passage’s logic.
Do not choose a pair solely because the words are related. Degree, direction and local sense must all match.
Which answer fits this case?
Select exactly two of six choices for an equivalence task
Three plausible choices should all be selected in Sentence Equivalence.
Exactly two are required; extra selections make the response incorrect.
Keep the distinctions
- modest 有限的 — Small in amount or degree in the stated context.
- evasive 回避的 — Avoiding a direct response to the issue.
- Select exactly two of six choices for an equivalence task.
- Check both contextual fit and the meaning of the resulting sentences.
- Reject synonym pairs that reverse the passage’s logic.
Match each term with its precise meaning in this lesson.
Keep the distinctions stated in the teaching example.
Put this lesson’s reasoning or event sequence in order.
The order follows the stated process; check each stage before the next.