GRE Practice Question: Sentence Equivalence

From the Magoosh GRE Blog

This is a Sentence Equivalence question– remember, you must choose BOTH of the correct answers to get full credit!

Try the problem here to practice selecting two answers. Good luck!

Researchers who study circadian rhythms have found that the physiological processes of animals and plants are neither independent of, nor entirely ___________ external stimuli, such as light and temperature, during a given 24-hour period.

1. imperiled by
2. analogous to
3. coincident with
4. perturbed by
5. appurtenant to
6. concomitant with

The key phrases in this sentence are neither independent of, nor, and external stimuli.

(C) to be coincident with something means to be of similar nature or, in this case, to occupy the same space or time. As anticipated by the key words neither/nor, coincident functions in opposition to independent.

(F) concomitant means accompanying, sometimes in a lessor way. Though slightly different in meaning from coincident, concomitant still completes the sentence appropriately.

(A) if something is imperiled, it’s at risk. Nothing here suggests that the circadian rhythms could be endangered by the external stimuli. Nor does this choice provide an appropriate counterpart for independent.

(B) an analogy is a resemblance between two things initially perceived as unalike. The relationship between external stimuli and circadian rhythms is one of cause and effect rather of similarity.

(D) to be perturbed means to be disturbed greatly in mind. Given that this choice denotes an emotional state, it is an unlikely answer for this question.

(E) appurtenant means pertaining or adding to, not a good fit in this context. (Appurtenant also has a more specialized legal meaning even less appropriate in this sentence.)

Helpful Hint:

In this case, the neither/nor construction sets up a sense of opposition between the provided adjective independent and the prospective answer.

Answer – (C) coincident with and (F) concomitant with are the credited responses.