GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1281 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The man's more traditional views made his children see his beliefs as __________.
liberal
progressive
iconoclastic
heterodox
atavistic
atavistic
The subject's views are referred to as "more traditional," and the sentence indicates this colors how his children see him. The correct answer will need to indicate a problematic conservatism in his worldview. "Atavistic," meaning primitive or regressive, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1282 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The colonial interests the nation had in the burgeoning island was seen by some as __________.
recidivistic
refulgent
anachronistic
moot
officious
anachronistic
The contrast between "colonial" and "contemporary" is the clue here—there are two periods of time being contrasted. So "anachronistic" is the best word; an anochronism is something taken from its time, or old-fashioned. Don't confuse "officious" with "official"—it actually means "annoyingly eager to help."
Example Question #1283 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Without __________ action, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is expected to double in the coming years.
mercurial
expedious
bromidic
imminent
inchoate
expedious
The best word here would mean prompt, or quick—so "expedious" is the best fit. Don't be tricked by "imminent," which can describe the environmental issue, but not a response to it.
Example Question #1284 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Martin accepted the news with his usual __________ demeanor, seeming utterly unaffected in the face of disaster.
nihilistic
apoplectic
malcontented
mercurial
phlegmatic
phlegmatic
Example Question #1285 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
monolithic
utilitarian
chimerical
intense
fledgling
fledgling
Although the lovers' romance might be intense or chimerical (fanciful or improbable), but the word "stymied" suggests putting an end to something that had only recently begun. The word "fledgling," which means "budding, young, or inexperienced," is therefore the best fit in this example.
Example Question #1286 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
His __________ indifference to the lecture quickly gave way as his latent enthusiasm for the subject made itself obvious.
explicit
assiduous
crucial
complete
feigned
feigned
The description of his enthusiasm for the subject as "latent" (present but not shown) implies that the man was not actually indifferent to begin with. This suggests his indifference was somehow a facade. The word "feigned" encapsulates this meaning best, suggesting he was faking his indifference and hiding his enthusiasm.
Example Question #1287 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
meretricious
mettlesome
contradictory
laconic
noisome
laconic
Example Question #1288 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
exceptional
lugubrious
tasteful
unrequited
unexpected
lugubrious
Notice the courtier is described as having an ulterior motive in doing whatever he did at the monarch's funeral. Rather than feeling genuinely aggrieved, he desired to win praise from the new king. Whatever steps he took towards this goal clearly backfired, since it "earned him only scorn." Looking at the fill-in-the-blank options, you can eliminate "tasteful" and "exceptional" because these wouldn't explain the scornful reaction. "Lugubrious" makes the most sense here, as it means "an over-the-top or insincere display of grief."
Example Question #1289 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The girl was __________, nothing could ruin her good mood.
reproving
irrepressible
unafilliated
unencumbered
irreproachable
irrepressible
The sentence explicitly notes that "nothing could ruin her good mood." The correct answer must indicate she was always happy. "Irrepressible," meaning unable to be controlled, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1290 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The girl's opinions were __________ of her reading, and were easily taken from those books.
emblematic
obscene
anathema
querulous
antithetical
emblematic
If her opinions "were easily taken from those books," it means they were not different from the books contents. The correct answer will mean representative or embodying, the definition of "emblematic."
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