Sample Essay - Score of 6

What motivates people to change is a relentless and innate desire for self-improvement. Rarely ever has history seen a man or society kick back, relax, and say “Well that about does it. Not much else to do here!” Within every person is the potential to achieve greatness in some form; be it athletically, mentally, spiritually. This inherent potential demands that people continue to explore and change both their environments and themselves throughout their life’s course. Never should a man be idle for too long. After acknowledging the changes a man has already made to his environment, the pursuit of self-improvement will once again stir within his soul and call him to action. This internal desire, this pursuit of challenge and perfection, does not prohibit man from being happy with his status and achievements. On the contrary, the device serves more to allow the man to constantly strive for greater change, newer innovation. What motivates people to change is the ongoing need to redefine people’s lives and identities Cto elevate them to higher levels of eminence and sucess.

A good example of this can be seen in clinical psychology. When patients seek therapy for difficulties that have encumbered their daily functioning, they most often arrive for treatment voluntarily and willingly- they consciously accept the necessity of therapy and so participate without any duress. During the course of clinical therapy, the patient’s concerns, anxieties, ideas, emotions, and fears are brought to light. However, the clinician does not try to alter the beliefs, feeling, and sentiments of his client; rather, he simply illuminates them in order to provide the patient with an accurate view of himself. The process, of raising concerns and ideas to the surface of conscious awareness, is known as clarification. Modern psychology is a far throw from the psychoanalysis of Freud’s time, in which psychologists attempted to “interpret” pre-and unconscious feelings that had been repressed by the patient. Because clinicians only clarify, and not dissect, alter, or interpret a client’s inner desires and emotions, the client himself is responsible for instituting change. If he is to change, he must dictate the course of therapy, and make the conscious choice to improve himself. This widely used approach is called “client centered therapy.” If the client’s ennui or ill feelings are due to situational factors or internal designs (as oppose to biological changes that would qualify for a diagnosis of psychopathology (mental disorder)), he must change them on his own accord to precipitate change within himself. The therapist will not “cure” him in any way. He alone must answer the call within himself to refine and redefine his identity and place in society. This need, of self-improvement, also initially brought him to the therapist. He was able to recognize the disorder of his environment and acknowledge his own negative feelings. This in turn brought him to therapy, where he was guided through a process of introspection that ultimately enabled him to improve himself, assuage his anxieties, and rightfully continue on his lifelong pursuit of even greater achievements.

    SECTION 2

    1.ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

    Explanation for Correct Answer D : 

Choice (D) is correct. “Setting” means the place in which a drama occurs. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read, “The setting of Maria Irene Fornes’ play Mud―a realistic room perched on a dirt pile―challenges conventional interpretations of stage scenery.” Stage scenery is the key component of a play’s “setting,” and this scenery or “setting” is clearly unconventional.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : 

Choice (A) is incorrect. “Appeal” means attraction or interest. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read, “The appeal of Maria Irene Fornes’ play Mud―a realistic room perched on a dirt pile―challenges conventional interpretations of stage scenery.” It is not the attraction of the play that challenges conventional interpretations; it is the “setting” of the play that does so.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : 

Choice (B) is incorrect. The “plot” is the plan of action of a play. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read, “The plot of Maria Irene Fornes’ play Mud―a realistic room perched on a dirt pile―challenges conventional interpretations of stage scenery.” The phrase “a realistic room perched on a dirt pile” describes a “setting,” not a “plot.”

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : 

Choice (C) is incorrect. “Mood” means a state of mind or feeling. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read, “The mood of Maria Irene Fornes’ play Mud―a realistic room perched on a dirt pile―challenges conventional interpretations of stage scenery.” Nothing in the sentence indicates the play’s “mood.”

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : 

Choice (E) is incorrect. A “rehearsal” is a practice run of a show in preparation for a public performance. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read, “The rehearsal of Maria Irene Fornes’ play Mud―a realistic room perched on a dirt pile―challenges conventional interpretations of stage scenery.” It is the “setting” of the play, not a practice run-through of the play, that challenges conventional interpretations of stage scenery.

    2

    2.ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

    Explanation for Correct Answer B : 

Choice (B) is correct. "Overabundance" means an amount that is more than what is needed, and "thrive" means to grow or prosper. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "Ironically, an affluent society that purchases much more food than it actually needs suffers because of that overabundance, since in conditions of affluence diseases related to overeating and poor nutrition seem to thrive." In this sentence "that overabundance" refers back to the phrase "more food than it actually needs." It makes sense that diseases related to overeating would "thrive," or prosper, in these conditions. The relationship between the two clauses is further signaled by the word "ironically," which means the opposite of what would be expected. It is ironic that an overabundance of food, a condition that would appear to result in good nutrition, actually leads to an increase in diseases related to poor nutrition.

     Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : 

Choice (A) is incorrect. "Lavishness" means excessive spending, and "adapt" means to change to fit new circumstances. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "Ironically, an affluent society that purchases much more food than it actually needs suffers because of that lavishness, since in conditions of affluence diseases related to overeating and poor nutrition seem to adapt." Although the first term fits in well with the overall sense of the sentence, the second term does not. Diseases are known to "adapt" or change to fit many different circumstances; it would not be ironic or unexpected for a change to occur in this situation.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : 

Choice (C) is incorrect. "Corpulence" means obesity or excessive weight, and "vex" means to annoy. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "Ironically, an affluent society that purchases much more food than it actually needs suffers because of that corpulence, since in conditions of affluence diseases related to overeating and poor nutrition seem to vex." "Corpulence" is a term that refers more properly to people than to social conditions, and diseases are generally more likely to cause major discomfort than minor annoyance.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer D : 

Choice (D) is incorrect. "Practicality" means usefulness or efficiency, and "awaken" means to wake up or become active. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "Ironically, an affluent society that purchases much more food than it actually needs suffers because of that practicality, since in conditions of affluence diseases related to overeating and poor nutrition seem to awaken." Although the second term could fit in well with the overall meaning of the sentence, the first term is inappropriate. Buying more food than is necessary is not "practical" at all; it is wasteful.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : 

Choice (E) is incorrect. "Commonness" means typical behavior, and "abound" means to be present in large numbers. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "Ironically, an affluent society that purchases much more food than it actually needs suffers because of that commonness, since in conditions of affluence diseases related to overeating and poor nutrition seem to abound." Although the second term could fit in well with the overall meaning of the sentence, the first term does not. A society that buys more than is necessary is not a typical society; relatively few societies suffer from "overabundance."

    3

    3.ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

    Explanation for Correct Answer E : 

Choice (E) is correct. "Therapeutic" means having healing or curing powers. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Because of the therapeutic effects of the hot springs, tourists suffering from various ailments flocked to the village’s thermal pools." People suffering from an illness naturally try to find ways to get better, so hot springs that are known to cure diseases or ease pain would surely attract people with various ailments.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : 

Choice (A) is incorrect. "Succulent" means juicy. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Because of the succulent effects of the hot springs, tourists suffering from various ailments flocked to the village’s thermal pools." Springs or pools of water cannot be properly referred to as succulent. The term "succulent" usually refers to plants or foods that are juicy, not to pools, puddles, springs, or other bodies of water.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : 

Choice (B) is incorrect. "Redolent" means sweet smelling. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Because of the redolent effects of the hot springs, tourists suffering from various ailments flocked to the village’s thermal pools." Hot springs are rarely described as sweet smelling. However, if such springs existed, they would not just attract tourists suffering from diseases. Healthy tourists would also be drawn to the hot springs because of their sweet smell.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : 

Choice (C) is incorrect. "Cerebral" means brainy or intellectual. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Because of the cerebral effects of the hot springs, tourists suffering from various ailments flocked to the village’s thermal pools." Bodies of water cannot be properly referred to as cerebral. "Cerebral" is a term used to describe people or activities.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer D : 

Choice (D) is incorrect. "Mandatory" means required. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Because of the mandatory effects of the hot springs, tourists suffering from various ailments flocked to the village’s thermal pools." A doctor might tell a patient that bathing in certain hot springs is mandatory. However, the effects of the hot springs could not be properly referred to as mandatory.

   4

   4.ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

    Explanation for Correct Answer C : 

Choice (C) is correct. "Provide" means to supply or make available, and an "investigation" is careful research or an inquiry. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "More valuable and comprehensive than any previously proposed theory of the phenomenon, Salazar’s research has provided the basis for all subsequent investigations in her field." This sentence makes the reasonable claim that Salazar's important research has "provided the basis for," or supplied the foundation for, additional research in the same field.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : 

Choice (A) is incorrect. "Undermine" means to weaken, and an "advancement" is an improvement. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "More valuable and comprehensive than any previously proposed theory of the phenomenon, Salazar’s research has undermined the basis for all subsequent advancements in her field." Although the second term could fit well into the sentence, the first term cannot. If Salazar's research was truly valuable and comprehensive, it should have helped to advance, not weaken, future work in the field.

     Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : 

Choice (B) is incorrect. "Prepare" means to make ready, and a "debacle" is a sudden disaster. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "More valuable and comprehensive than any previously proposed theory of the phenomenon, Salazar’s research has prepared the basis for all subsequent debacles in her field." Although the first term fits in well with the overall meaning of the sentence, the second term does not. Salazar's research is said to be valuable and comprehensive. Thus it will not logically lead to disasters in her field.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer D : 

Choice (D) is incorrect. "Dissolve" in this context means to break apart, and an "experiment" is a test or trial done to discover something. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "More valuable and comprehensive than any previously proposed theory of the phenomenon, Salazar’s research has dissolved the basis for all subsequent experiments in her field." Although the second term might fit in well with the overall meaning of the sentence, the first term does not. Salazar's research might challenge previous work, but it cannot logically break apart the basis for future work in the field.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : 

Choice (E) is incorrect. "Reinforce" means to strengthen, and a "misconception" is a misunderstanding. If one were to insert these terms into the text, the sentence would read "More valuable and comprehensive than any previously proposed theory of the phenomenon, Salazar’s research has reinforced the basis for all subsequent misconceptions in her field." The first term could well fit with the overall meaning of the sentence, but the second term cannot. Salazar's research would not be considered valuable if it strengthened misunderstandings in her field.

    5

    5.ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

    Explanation for Correct Answer A : 

Choice (A) is correct. "Thwart" means to prevent or defeat. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Dangerously high winds thwarted attempts to begin the space shuttle mission on schedule, delaying the launch by nearly a week." The scheduled launch of the space shuttle was delayed because high winds prevented a safe lift-off.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : 

Choice (B) is incorrect. "Forfeit" means to give up or surrender something. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Dangerously high winds forfeited attempts to begin the space shuttle mission on schedule, delaying the launch by nearly a week." The astronauts launching the space shuttle might "forfeit" their attempts because of high winds, but the winds cannot be said to have "forfeited," or given up, the attempts to launch the shuttle.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : 

Choice (C) is incorrect. "Implement" means to accomplish or carry out. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Dangerously high winds implemented attempts to begin the space shuttle mission on schedule, delaying the launch by nearly a week." The high winds did nothing to help accomplish an on-time launch of the space shuttle. In fact, they prevented the launch from occurring on schedule.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer D : 

Choice (D) is incorrect. "Discharge" means to release. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Dangerously high winds discharged attempts to begin the space shuttle mission on schedule, delaying the launch by nearly a week." The attempts to launch the space shuttle on schedule were in no way released by the high winds; in fact, the winds prevented these attempts.

    Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : 

Choice (E) is incorrect. "Redouble" means to strengthen. If one were to insert this term into the text, the sentence would read "Dangerously high winds redoubled attempts to begin the space shuttle mission on schedule, delaying the launch by nearly a week." The high winds clearly did not strengthen the attempts to launch the space shuttle on schedule, as the launch was actually delayed.