GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #4 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The actor's unplanned and unannounced _____________ from the film set left the producers wondering where he went.
appearance
arrival
resplendence
hiatus
eulogy
hiatus
The fact the producers of the film did not know where the actor went indicate he had gone somewhere. Hiatus, meaning a pause or leave of absence, fits best in the context of the sentence.
Example Question #321 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Underestimated by her teachers, the kindergartner showed surprising _____________ on her intelligence test.
torpidity
equivalency
punctuality
timidity
acuity
acuity
The two words that give the best context for the sentence are "intelligence" and "underestimated." Both words indicate the kindergartner showed smarts and ability beyond her teachers assumptions. Only acuity, meaning "mental sharpness," fits the appropriate meaning.
Example Question #321 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Travelling from one town to the next, Jason felt more like a than a citizen of any one locale.
migrant
miscreant
rascal
beggar
stranger
migrant
The sense that fits the blank is that Jason feels like a person that is unrooted from any single place. It might be tempting to imagine that such a person is a rascal, a miscreant, or perhaps even a beggar; however, these words do not capture the sense of being unrooted as much as effects often following on that. The same goes for "stranger," though in a slightly more removed way; therefore, the word that makes the most sense is "migrant."
Example Question #322 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
His mother decided to give him a sense of __________ by sending him to a manners class.
animalism
obsequiousness
debility
affability
decorum
decorum
The manners class will give the boy the missing word, so the correct answer will be related to manners. "Decorum," which signifies a correct behavior, is the only answer choice that makes sense in the sentence.
Example Question #31 : One Blank Texts
His __________ was legendary, with his most notable contribution being the city's massive art museum.
debility
cynicism
parsimony
largess
puritanicalism
largess
The fact that the subject of the sentence gave an art museum indicates he was quite generous. Of all the answer choices, only "largess" means generosity or giving.
Example Question #324 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
His love of cats soon became an _____________, and he soon adopted any stray he found.
obsession
portent
largess
therapy
decorum
obsession
All the answer choices can make some level of sense in the sentence, so the task is to find the best choice. The man is essentially seeking out cats all the time, so the correct answer needs to indicate the way his love of cats is dominating his life. "Obsession," meaning a concern that overtakes someone completely, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #325 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The track star did not excel at one single event, but was a champion in the __________ because he could do many events quite well.
marathon
relay
decathalon
javelin
sprint
decathalon
All of the answer choices are track events, but the answer needs to reflect the "many events" in which the athlete excels. "Decathalon," meaning a competition of ten events, should immediately stick out. The root deca- means ten, and decathalon is the only answer choice that reflects many events.
Example Question #326 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The scandalized politician launched ______________ against his accusers, screaming obscenities and calling them names.
apologetics
tirades
expositions
campaigns
examinations
tirades
The key element in the sentence is the obscenities and name-calling. The politician is giving not just any speech, but a nasty one full of hatred and abuse. The only answer choice that fits the sentence then, is "tirade," which means a speech full of nasty words and hatred.
Example Question #41 : One Blank Texts
The new president refused to comment on the previous regime's policies, out of ___________ to his predecessor.
hostility
animosity
deference
posterity
officiousness
deference
The new president is attempting to show respect and possibly admiration for his predecessor, without commenting or saying too much information. "Deference," which means a polite respect, is the only answer choice that fits the sentence.
Example Question #329 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The ballplayer was highly suspicious, and considered music in the clubhouse a ________ for a loss.
tome
eulogy
blunderbess
bulwark
portent
portent
The fact the ballplayer was suspicious means he was on the lookout for coincidences and signs. "Portent," which means an omen or warning sign, is the correct answer choice.
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