Some sentence equivalence and text completion problems are almost too straightforward. These are called mirror problems.
In a mirror sentence, the second part of the sentence closely repeats the meaning of the first part, but with slightly different wording. For example:
The company almost lost all sales during the pandemic: the virus had severely ____ business operations.
In the first half, you learn that sales dropped because of the pandemic. In the second half, you’re told that the virus did something to business operations.
Notice the parallels:
Once you spot this mirror structure, you can predict what the blank should mean. Since almost lost all is strongly negative, the blank should also describe a major negative effect.
Now try the question:
The company almost lost all sales during the pandemic: the virus had severely ____ business operations.
A. propelled
B. decreased
C. rocketed
D. audited
E. published
Make your choice, then check the spoiler.
If you chose decreased, you’re correct.
When you solve mirror questions, use the first part of the sentence to predict the meaning of the blank. Then choose the option that best matches that meaning (or, in some mirror problems, the option that clearly contrasts with it).