All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #235 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The student group approached their protest with the utmost seriousness, the event came off more like a __________.
utopia
burlesque
eulogy
paradise
homily
burlesque
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the students' intention of "utmost seriousness." This means the correct answer needs to indicate a goofy or even ridiculous event. "Burlesque," meaning a lampoon or comedic show, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #236 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
After years of service and many awards, she retired as the __________ of a modern general.
pastiche
lampoon
iconoclast
exemplar
parody
exemplar
The sentence describes the subject's "years of service and many awards." The correct answer will indicate the way the subject was a very good "major general." "Exemplar," meaning the perfect model or archetype, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #551 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
In order to perfect his craft, the minister heavily studied __________.
homiletics
iconoclasm
atheism
partiality
gerontology
homiletics
The subject of the sentence is a "minister" who is trying "to perfect his craft." This means he would be studying something related to the profession of being a minister. "Homiletics," meaning the study of preaching and giving sermons, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #552 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The man's great athleticism was surprising considering his run was more like a __________.
sloth
wobble
amble
lope
sprint
lope
The contrast of the missing word and the subject's "great athleticism" provides the best clue to the answer. The correct answer will indicate the subject moved with a non-athletic looking movement. "Lope," meaning a smooth and almost lazy gait, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #553 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The grandfather's old __________ made the kids roll their eyes, but usually held a grain of truth.
errors
saws
inconsistencies
liturgies
nexuses
saws
The fact "the kids roll their eyes" at the missing word, which still held some "grain of truth," indicates the grandfather is saying something familiar or hackneyed. "Saws," meaning old and worn out sayings, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #554 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The elaborate ritual the group eventually undertook became a veritable __________ for their meetings.
licentiousness
inconsequence
errata
epithet
liturgy
liturgy
The sentence describes the group's "elaborate ritual" for their meetings, which is then further described by the missing word. This means the correct answer will have a sense of ritual or tradition. "Liturgy," meaning a guide for a church service, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #555 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The __________ of the two shipping routes became a major commercial center thanks to its many connections.
dormancy
nexus
prohibition
confusion
divergence
nexus
The best clue to the sentence is the fact that the missing word has "many connections." The correct answer will indicate a meeting point or junction, which is the definition of "nexus.
Example Question #556 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Once a lively and gracious person, in his old age he became a terrible __________.
icon
exemplar
paragon
curmudgeon
mentor
curmudgeon
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the subject's past as a "lively and gracious person." This means the correct answer will describe a person who is not "lively and gracious." "Curmudgeon," meaning a grumpy and irritable old person, is the best choice among the answer.
Example Question #557 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The __________ of the strategy was routinely questioned by people who did not understand the plot's details.
exclusion
incomprehensibility
imperfection
efficacy
ineffectuality
efficacy
The sentence notes that certain people "did not understand the plot's details," and they are the ones questioning the plan for the missing word. This means the correct answer needs to show the plan's effectiveness or workability, the definition of "efficacy."
Example Question #558 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
His desire to jump into a field in which he had little experience made his new colleagues view him as a __________.
facade
dilletante
receptacle
debutante
monolith
dilletante
The sentence notes the subject has "little experience" in the field, and that this causes the perception described by the missing word. The correct answer needs to demonstrate this inexperience and messing with the established colleagues. "Dilletante," meaning someone who dabbles or an amateur, is the best choice among the answers.
All GRE Verbal Resources
