All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #775 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The Board President resigned after the company took measures _______________ to her values.
contemporary
imitative
impartial
disinterested
inimical
inimical
A "Board President" leaving a company over values indicates a disagreement, and the correct answer must reflect this. "Inimical," meaning at odds with or hostile to, is the best choice.
Example Question #776 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
His _____________ temperament made it hard for his family to make concrete plans.
mercurial
punctilious
meticulous
perspicacious
poised
mercurial
The man's temperament causes "concrete plans" to be difficult. The correct answer needs to indicate what creates such a hardship. "Mercurial," meaning volatile and changeable, like the metal mercury, is the best choice.
Example Question #781 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The composer's career saw him move from complicated orchestrations to ____________ arrangements.
excessive
sparse
baroque
jubilant
rococo
sparse
The sentence contrasts the composer's "complicated orchestrations" to his later arrangements, which are described by the missing word. The correct answer should indicate that the later arrangements were uncomplicated. "Sparse," meaning bare or meager, is the best choice.
Example Question #782 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
It was impossible to follow the angry man’s argument. Constantly __________, the meaning of one term seemed to transform as many times as did his changing temper.
berating
capricious
bellicose
belligerent
equivocating
equivocating
The sentence works well with one of the participial beginnings. Here, vocabulary probably helps best, though. Clearly, the point is that he keeps changing his terms; therefore, he is "equivocating." Equivocation comes from the Latin aequus for equal and voco. The first has many examples that are readily available. Voco is seen in words like "convocation," "vocal," "advocate," and so forth. The word is so derived because equivocation means that one treats two or more words as though they were the same (Thus, they are "equally called"). For instance, in English, we use the word "bank" to represent both the edge of a river as well as the financial institution.
Example Question #781 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The young woman hated chain stores, filling her home with __________ furniture.
generic
artisanal
synthetic
sallow
mundane
artisanal
The young woman is trying to avoid "chain stores" and what is sold there. As "chain stores" have many identical items, the woman will be looking for one of a kind furniture. "Artisanal," meaning crafted and handmade, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #803 : One Blank Texts
The boy was annoying but __________, causing little long term harm.
egregious
ominous
innocuous
irksome
transgressive
innocuous
The missing word is paired with the phrase "causing little long term harm." The correct answer must mean harmless or inoffensive, which is the definition of "innocuous."
Example Question #153 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts
She often told instructive stories __________, so as not to call out specific people.
metaphorically
petulantly
sycophantically
belligerently
literally
metaphorically
The subject is trying to avoid calling out "specific people," and her style of lessons must follow this pattern. The correct answer will indicate she is avoiding mentioning identifying details. "Metaphorically," meaning symbolically or figuratively, is the best choice.
Example Question #783 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
He was known for an incredible voice, with a __________ singing range.
sagacious
peerless
philistine
supercilious
useless
peerless
The key word in the sentence is "incredible," which parallels the missing word. The correct answer will be similar in meaning to "incredible." "Peerless," meaning unequaled or the very best, is the appropriate choice.
Example Question #784 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The boy's decisions were rarely __________, and recklessness often got him in trouble.
perspicacious
mercurial
prescient
prudent
fortuitous
prudent
The boy is described as having a particular "recklessness." If his decisions were "rarely" of something, then the correct answer must be an antonym of "reckless." "Prudent," meaning responsible and wise, is the best choice.
Example Question #785 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The children were taught a solid colored egg was healthy, and that __________ ones should be avoided.
opaque
petrified
illusory
smooth
speckled
speckled
The choices contain a few words that might work, but the best fit for the sentence must be chosen. The correct answer will mean not "solid colored," as the structure of the sentence shows. "Speckled," meaning spotted or freckled, is the best choice.
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