GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #229 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The once promising issue now proved a __________ that no politician could deal with and survive electorally.
godsend
blessing
concatenation
quarantine
quagmire
quagmire
The sentence explictly notes that the "once promising issue" now makes politicians unable to "deal with" it. The correct answer must therefore mean something that traps or complicates. "Quagmire," literally a marsh or bog, and here used metaphorically, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #230 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
With the typical mohawk, leather jacket, and combat boots, he perfectly fit the __________ of the punk rocker.
paradox
perfidy
indemnity
quandary
stereotype
stereotype
The sentence describes the subject as being a "punk rocker" and wearing the "typical" "punk rock" items of a "mohawk, leather jacket, and combat boots." The correct answer must mean the usually understood image or fixed idea, the definition of "stereotype."
Example Question #541 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
While the student body president believed he was using stirring rhetoric, the teachers saw his speech as __________.
drivel
uncompromising
oratory
rational
sensible
drivel
The sentence contrasts the student's own view of his speech as "stirring rhetoric" with the teacher's viewpoint described by the missing word. The correct answer must in some way be an opposite to "stirring rhetoric." "Drivel," meaning nonsense or useless words, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #542 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The __________ of the politician's views continued no matter how many clarifying statements he made on the issues.
instransigence
archetype
insurgency
misrepresentation
virulence
misrepresentation
While some answer choices could make sense, only one will fit perfectly. The sentence describes the many "clarifying statements" the politician had to make, which means the perspective of his views is wrong or misguided. "Misrepresentation," meaning a deliberately deceiving description, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #543 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The day ended with no real __________, as the detective had not yet figured out who the culript was after following multiple leads.
inception
inauguration
denouement
onset
denouement
"Denouement" is a resolution, outcome, or solution.
Example Question #544 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The blue-collar worker abhored the rich; that is, until he won the lottery and moved to the Hamptons and lived among his fellow __________.
hobos
transients
vagabonds
sybarites
sybarites
A "sybarite" is a person who leads a life of luxury; a hedonist.
Example Question #545 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The divorce lawyer was adept at diffusing __________ between warring couples.
compromises
agreements
imbroglios
reconciliations
imbroglios
An "imbroglio" is a bitter disagreement or entanglement.
Example Question #546 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Being a physics __________, Mary was having difficulty understanding vectors.
prodigy
virtuoso
wunderkind
neophyte
neophyte
A "neophyte" is someone who is a novice or a beginner.
Example Question #547 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
In a rally, the far right politician let loose an intense __________ against his left wing opponents and their allies.
dialectic
approbation
recitation
diatribe
refutation
diatribe
There are two clues in the sentence that help pinpoint the best answer, the fact the missing word is described as "intense," and that a "right wing politician" was discussing "left wing opponents." This indicates the subject's speech was angry or critical. "Diatribe," meaning a violent denunciation or tirade, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #548 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Supporters of term limits for the legislature argue that incumbents who get voted in for ages will create a virtual __________.
refuge
sanctuary
orthodoxy
gerontocracy
meritocracy
gerontocracy
The sentence discusses a problem that could arise from a lack of term limits, meaning "meritocracy," "sanctuary," and "refuge" can be struck out because of their positive connotation. "Orthodoxy," meaning rigid adherence to tradition, does not work in the sentence very smoothly. "Gerontocracy," meaning a government ruled by the elderly, is the best choice among the answers.
All GRE Verbal Resources
