The word "essential" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) introductory

　　(B) changeable

　　(C) beneficial

　　(D) fundamental

　291. Next, the pertinent considerations that will be affected by each decision are listed, and the relative importance of each consideration or consequence is determined.

　　The word "pertinent" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) relevant

　　(B) preceding

　　(C) insightful

　　(D) responsive

　　292. A decision-making worksheet begins with a succinct statement of the problem that will also help to narrow it. It is important to be clear about the distinction between long-range and immediate goals because long-range goals often involve a different decision than short- range ones.

　　The word "succinct" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) creative

　　(B) satisfactory

　　(C) personal

　　(D) concise

　　293. Focusing on long-range goals, a graduating student might revise the question above to "What will I do after graduation that will lead to a successful career?"

　　The word "revise" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) ask

　　(B) explain

　　(C) change

　　(D) predict

　　294. The ecosystems of the Earth provide an array of free public services that are essential for the support of civilizations.

　　The word "array" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) large number

　　(B) excess

　　(C) requirement

　　(D) model

　　295. They do know, however, that the theory once advanced in the nineteenth century --- that the productivity of the land can be infinitely increased by the application of capital, labor, and science --- is wrong.

　　The word "advanced" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) debated

　　(B) ignored

　　(C) proved

　　(D) proposed

　　296. Two reasons are usually advanced to account for this tardy development, namely, the mental difficulties and the physical difficulties encountered in such work.

　　The word "tardy" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) historical

　　(B) basic

　　(C) unusual

　　(D) late

　　297. The first of these, the mental difficulties, must be somewhat discounted. The impression that the ancient numeral systems are not amenable to even the simplest calculations is largely based on lack of familiarity with these systems.

　　The word "discounted" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) reduced

　　(B) contradicted

　　(C) disregarded

　　(D) interpreted

　　298. Without a plentiful and convenient supply of some suitable writing medium, any very extended development of the arithmetic process was bound to be hampered.

　　The word "hampered" is closest in meaning to which of following?

　　(A) impeded

　　(B) concluded

　　(C) unnoticed

　　(D) rejected

　　299. In the core of the Sun, the pressures are so great against the gases that, despite the high temperature, there may be a small solid core.