GRE Verbal : Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #812 : Text Completion
The military research headquarters was actually in a _________________ warehouse to fend off prying eyes.
portentous
baroque
nondescript
ebullient
lavish
nondescript
The building has to "fend off prying eyes" because of the research it is conducting. The correct answer will indicate the attempt to put off onlookers or deflect attention. "Nondescript," meaning ordinary and without any notable features, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #813 : Text Completion
With the hire of a new salesman, the long time employee worried he was now ______________.
bourgeois
germinal
supercilious
redundant
nondescript
redundant
The "hire of a new salesman" has a direct impact on the old employee's job. The correct answer will indicate the old employee's new irrelevance. "Redundant," meaning unnecessary and repetitive, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #814 : Text Completion
His mother was worried his odd mannerisms made him ______________ to bullying from classmates.
redundant
susceptible
posthumous
ambiguous
nebulous
susceptible
The boy's mother is concerned about the connection of his peers' bullying to his odd mannerisms. The correct answer needs to mean vulnerable or at risk of, the definition of "susceptible."
Example Question #815 : Text Completion
The basketball player appeared too _____________ to handle physical contact, but he was surprisingly muscular for being so lean.
rotund
personable
robust
surly
wispy
wispy
The player is described both as looking like he cannot take "physical contact," and that he is "lean." The correct answer needs to indicate needs to indicate that he looks thin and not very tough. "Wispy," meaning frail, delicate, and feather-like, is the best choice.
Example Question #816 : Text Completion
In his personal life, he was usually quite pleasant, but on a football field he became positively ______________.
bestial
personable
affable
ingratiating
effusive
bestial
The sentence is structured so as to contrast the missing word with "pleasant." The correct answer will in some way be an antonym of "quite pleasant." "Bestial," meaning animal-like or inhuman, is the best choice.
Example Question #817 : Text Completion
The paper was trampled under foot, becoming _________________ and damaged.
phlegmatic
corrugated
erratic
poised
emaciated
corrugated
The paper is described as "damaged" after it was "trampled under foot." The correct answer will indicate some way it was damaged. "Corrugated," meaning folded repeatedly and sharply, is the best fit among the answers.
Example Question #818 : Text Completion
In his old age, he became quite ________________ about a youth he never enjoyed at the time.
wistful
erratic
philanthropic
sycophantic
altruistic
wistful
The man changed his outlook on his youth as he aged, and the missing word describes the view he now has. "Wistful," meaning to look back longingly on, is the correct answer.
Example Question #819 : Text Completion
The speech argued that the sacrifice of soldiers in a righteous cause could make the bloodiest battlefield _________________.
novel
elucidated
petrified
hallowed
advocated
hallowed
The phrase "in a righteous cause" is the best key to finding the correct answer. The missing word needs to reflect the "righteous cause" appropriately. "Hallowed," meaning consecrated or made holy, is the best fit.
Example Question #820 : Text Completion
At the news of their court victory, the plaintiffs were ________________.
belligerent
aloof
irascible
jubilant
beguiling
jubilant
The plaintiffs have just heard they were victorious in court. Such news inspires a good deal of happiness. "Jubilant," meaning ecstatic and delighted, is the correct answer.
Example Question #821 : Text Completion
She was noted as being the most __________________ woman in town, as she vistited holy shrines regularly.
pious
erratic
infamous
notorious
potable
pious
The missing word is elaborated on by the phrase "visited holy shrines regularly." The correct answer needs to indicate the woman was extremely religious, the definition of "pious."
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