<p>Geysers vary widely: some may discharge _<strong><em>, whereas others may have only a brief explosive eruption and then remain _</em></strong>__ for hours or days.</p>
<p>B. Continuously…quiescent</p>
<p>D. Regularly…active</p>
<p>I picked D, but the correct answer is B. Somehow I feel this question confusing because there aren't many context clues to predict the second blank. It could have a quiet rest, but remain active for hours or days. OR It could have a quiet rest, and it could remain quiet for days and hours. </p>
<p>Can someone explain this to me? Much appreciated! :D</p>
<p>The introductory, independent clause of the sentence reveals the relationship to be expressed: variance. The words after the colon are syntactically bifurcated; presumably, then, the variance will be explained by way of dichotomy. The first and second clauses will convey mostly opposing ideas.</p>
<p>Clause 1 is “some may discharge ____.” Both of the choices you’ve provided imply frequent activity. </p>
<p>Clause 2 will thus communicate infrequent discharge, or inactivity. “Others may have only a brief explosive eruption and then remain quiescent/active for hours or days.” </p>
<p>Insertion of choice (B) into clause 2 describes an eruption as isolated and anomalous; the general tendency as written here is to not erupt, or to be inactive. This fits the bill based on our expectation from clause 1.</p>
<p>Insertion of choice (D) into clause 2 yields the sense that the writer highlighted a brief explosion, even though this explosion was merely the commencement of a series of other explosions over hours or days. Why is the brief, initial eruption worth specific citation? In what way does frequent, sustained activity over hours or days clearly contrast with clause 1’s scenario of similarly frequent activity? </p>
<p>These two questions raise irreconcilable issues. Clause 2, when we insert “active,” makes some sense internally (though my first of two aforementioned questions compromises some of this coherency) but yields a clause that agrees with – rather than varies from, as it must do to be right – clause 1.</p>
<p>Thanks silvreturtle!</p>
<p>I know silverturtle already answered you, and I’m sure whatever he said made perfect sense, but I want to add in my 2 cents since I had this question just yesterday on a QAS I was doing.</p>
<p>Sentence Completion is really about 2 things: knowing the meaning of words and knowing what they’re asking you for. From what I remember from this question, you could’ve guessed the right answer even if you didn’t know what quiescent meant. The reason is simple: this question is asking for 2 opposites. That’s why I always tell people to realize what the question is asking for first. Then, you can start crossing out wrong answers right away. That’s why I finish SC so early.</p>
<p>So, my advice is, stop and ask yourself what the question is asking for. In this case, it wants two opposites. I understand that maybe you’re not able to see that this question is asking for 2 opposites. In that case, keep taking practice tests. You’ll eventually start to realize what they’re asking you for, and the answers will soon become obvious.</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, you should always point out key words that change the meaning of the sentence. The structure of this sentence is this: “Some may <strong><em>, whereas others may </em></strong>__”
This indicates that they’re asking for 2 antonyms. “regularly” and “active” are synonyms, so they’re not possible.</p>
<p>No it’s great! The more tips the better :)!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for adding your “2 cents” (though I highly believe it’s more than 2 cents… But let’s not get literal here LOL!)! It was helpful and now I understand more on why D is wrong.</p>