Question

directions. for each of the following items, circle the letter of the choice that best completes the meaning of the sentence.

1. during the last thirty years of his life, tolstoy had a new — or purpose, for writing.

(a) incentive
(b) retribution
(c) militant
(d) postulate
(e) providence

1. in his novels, tolstoy — that love and nonviolence are basic principles that have influenced many people.

(a) encompasses
(b) transcends
(c) postulates
(d) personifies
(e) fabricates

1. tolstoy imposed strict rules on his own behavior; some members of his family found his self - discipline too —

(a) transitory
(b) pivotal
(c) incentive
(d) apprehensive
(e) stringent

1. “to do good” was a — point in the philosophy that tolstoy developed in the late 1870s; his life revolved around that idea.

(a) transcendent
(b) transitory
(c) stringent
(d) pivotal
(e) mediocre

1. ironically, some people thought tolstoy had become too —, or pushy, in support of his philosophy of love.

(a) incentive
(b) pivotal
(c) plausible
(d) transitory
(e) militant

1. tolstoy hated disturbing. he tried to under - stand life’s basic principles, or —

(a) it transcended... militants
(b) encompassed... postulates
(c) grimaced... incentives
(d) postulated... retributions
(e) excepted... postulates

1. his inner struggles were so difficult and painful that they must have seemed like —. his troubles were —, however, and eventually passed.

(a) postulates... incentive
(b) militants... transitory
(c) retributions... stringent
(d) compliances... incentive
(e) incentives... militant

1. tolstoy became — in his desire to live right and equally relentless in his desire to live simply. he applied — standards to himself, denying himself luxuries.

(a) transitory... implacable
(b) pivotal... incentive
(c) incentive... transitory
(d) implacable... stringent
(e) transitory... stringent

1. tolstoy’s writings provided — for many people to become followers. those motivated to follow his ideas were peace - ful rather than — in their support.

(a) incentives... militant
(b) retributions... implacable
(c) postulates... transitory
(d) incentives... stringent
(e) militants... pivotal

1. the indian leader mohandas k. gandhi found tolstoy’s writings influential, even —. they were important in developing his ideas to urge people to —, or rise above, violence.

(a) transitory... postulate
(b) militant... transcend
(c) pivotal... encompass
(d) implacable... fabricate
(e) pivotal... transcend

Explanation:

For each question, analyze the context and meaning of the words in the options. For example, in question 21, "incentive" means a motivation or reason, which fits the context of having a new purpose for writing. In question 22, "postulates" means to assume or put forward as a principle, which makes sense for Tolstoy's novels stating principles. In question 23, "stringent" means strict, which matches the description of strict rules. In question 24, "pivotal" means crucial or central, fitting the idea of a key point in philosophy. In question 25, "militant" means aggressive or pushy. In question 26, "postulated...retributions" makes sense as Tolstoy postulated (put forward) basic principles or retributions (punishments). In question 27, "compliances...incentive" fits as the troubles were compliance (following) and had an incentive (reason). In question 28, "implacable...stringent" works as he was unyielding (implacable) and had strict (stringent) standards. In question 29, "incentives...militant" is correct as there were incentives (reasons) and the followers were not militant (aggressive). In question 30, "militant...transcend" is right as Gandhi wanted to rise above (transcend) violence and Tolstoy's writings were influential for a non - militant approach.

Answer:

1. A. incentive
2. C. postulates
3. E. stringent
4. D. pivotal
5. E. militant
6. D. postulated...retributions
7. D. compliances...incentive
8. D. implacable...stringent
9. A. incentives...militant
10. B. militant...transcend