GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #63 : One Blank Texts

The man was such a slob, his car's backseat had become a _________________ for all kinds of trash.

Possible Answers:

portent

hiatus

polemic

neologism

receptacle

Correct answer:

receptacle

Explanation:

The trash had essentially found a permanent home in the man's backseat, and the correct answer will indicate that. "Receptacle," meaning container or vessel, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #64 : One Blank Texts

The award was given for his work as a ________________, and recognized his fight for voting rights.

Possible Answers:

adversary

autocrat

supplicant

suffragist

buccaneer

Correct answer:

suffragist

Explanation:

The sentence itself says the award winner had a "fight for voting rights." A "suffragist" is someone who fights for the right to vote, and it is the correct answer.

Example Question #351 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The new hire was excited about her job, and took to it with _____________.

Possible Answers:

indifference

recalcitrance

egregiousness

antipathy

alacrity

Correct answer:

alacrity

Explanation:

The best clue to find the correct answer is the word "excited."  The best choice will be a further illustration of the new hire's excitement. "Alacrity," meaning quickness or eagerness, is the correct answer.

Example Question #352 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Victorian social mores were so stringent, body parts were never named, but had discreet ________________.

Possible Answers:

redundancies

examinations

eulogies

iconoclasms

euphemisms

Correct answer:

euphemisms

Explanation:

The sentence outright states "body were never named," and the correct answer should indicate a cover up or misnaming. "Euphemisms," meaning a polite phrase used as a stand in for an impolite one, is the best choice.

Example Question #43 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

The professor never revealed his grading system, preferring students to view it as a kind of _______________.

Possible Answers:

alchemy

alibi

pragmatism

portent

algorithm

Correct answer:

alchemy

Explanation:

The professor is keeping his grading process a mystery. "Alchemy," a form of medievel chemistry that is often used metaphorically to mean mystery or magic, is the correct answer.

Example Question #44 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

The Senator was a well known _________________, with an unusual and unpredictable voting record.

Possible Answers:

paragon

transgressive

libertarian

charlatan

iconoclast

Correct answer:

iconoclast

Explanation:

The Senator's "unusual and unpredictable voting record" is the best clue to finding the correct answer. The best fit will indicate the Senatory's unique habits. "Iconoclast," meaning someone who goes against standard thinking, is the correct answer.

Example Question #45 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

The young associate had a peculiar tendency toward _______________ at the most serious moments.

Possible Answers:

intractability

irascibility

pragmatism

levity

obtuseness

Correct answer:

levity

Explanation:

The structure of the sentence places "serious moments" at odds with the missing word. The correct answer will need to be an antonym of "serious." "Levity," meaning lightness or flippancy, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #46 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

It quickly became apparent she had no ________________ for the night of the crime.

Possible Answers:

precinct

precipice

alchemy

alibi

receptacle

Correct answer:

alibi

Explanation:

The key phrase in the sentence is "for the night of the crime," and the correct answer will have to do in some way with crime. "Alibi," a term for a verifiable claim of not being at a crime scene, is the correct answer.

Example Question #353 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The entire organization called for a complete __________________ of the actions of their disgraced former president.

Possible Answers:

exacerbation

immoderation

derision

delineation

deliberation

Correct answer:

delineation

Explanation:

The phrasing and structure of the sentence indicate the organization does not know about all the former president's actions. The correct answer will mean explanation or outlining, which is the definition of "delineation."

Example Question #354 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

His walk had a number of _____________________ that made him identifiable from a distance.

Possible Answers:

transgressions

obsessions

idiosyncracies

euphemisms

ruminations

Correct answer:

idiosyncracies

Explanation:

If the subject is "identifiable from a distance," this means his walk is unique to him, and the correct answer will reflect this. "Idiosyncracies," meaning personal peculiarities, is the best fit among the answer choices.

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