<p>4 Many of our memories are -------, escaping our consciousness just as we strain to recall a face or a name. </p>
<p>(A) elusive
(B) pervasive
(C) unvaried
(D) insensitive
(E) impractical</p>
<p>This question appeared on a practice test that I was taking. I was considering (A) or (E), and at first I bubbled in (A) elusive, but decided that I would put down (E) impractical</p>
<p>because the context of the sentence made it sound like the memory failed at the time it was needed, rendering it useless. CB says it’s elusive, and I understand, but wouldn’t E work too?</p>
<p>elusive is really the only one that makes sense. The memories are hard to capture, they’re not impractical.</p>
<p>Well, impractical makes sense but only if you overthink it. This is probably why they say choose the BEST answer. Besides, impractical means not useful, and not “many of our memories” are useless.
Also, in this case, the “escaping” is dead giveaway that the answer’s elusive.</p>
<p>Hope that helped!</p>
<p>“impractical” doesn’t denotatively mean “useless.” </p>
<p>From Merriam-Wesbter on the definition of “impractical”:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>The sentence isn’t saying that it would be unwise to put memories into effect; such is illogical. Similarly, the sentence isn’t saying that that memories are incapable of sensible pragmatism; such is personification and unsupported by anything in the sentence. Memories are likewise incapable of being idealistic in any literal sense.</p>
<p>Definition of “elusive” from Merriam-Wesbter:</p>
<p>
</elusive></p>
<p>This not only fits well, but is also the only justifiable answer.</p>
<p>Thank you!
Sorry if I seemed to have a pretentious tone. I knew I was wrong; I just wasn’t sure why. </p>
<p>Kevin</p>