GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #581 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

During her childhood, her unusual features caused a good deal of __________ from unkind classmates

Possible Answers:

taunting

lauding

disregarding

toadying

encouragement

Correct answer:

taunting

Explanation:

The sentence describes what "unkind classmates" did to a girl with "unusual features." The correct answer will indicate both the meanness of her classmates, and the way the subject was singled out. "Taunting," meaning teasing or mocking, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #582 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The small amount of angry letters became a virtual __________ after the second airing of the controversial program.

Possible Answers:

esoterica

drivel

seepage

barrage

minutia

Correct answer:

barrage

Explanation:

The sentence contrasts the "small amount of angry letters" to the missing word. The correct answer, therefore, needs to indicate a large amount or at the least not small. "Barrage," meaning a deluge or extended gunfire, and used somewhat metaphorically, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #583 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The man's once harmless obsession quickly veered into a full blown __________.

Possible Answers:

psychosis

placebo

insomnia

nadir

trifle

Correct answer:

psychosis

Explanation:

The sentence contrasts the missing word with the man's "once harmless obsession." The correct answer needs to mean something problematic mentally, but much stronger. "Psychosis," meaning a severe mental disturbance, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #584 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Wanting to present himself as a __________, the boy began wearing rebellious and politically-charged clothing.

Possible Answers:

quack

personification

paragon

conformist

dissident

Correct answer:

dissident

Explanation:

The key words in the sentence are "rebellious and politically-charged clothing." This means the correct answer has to show the teenager is hoping to look like he is being difficult or politically different. "Dissident,"meaning someone who is a noncomformist or rebel, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #336 : Text Completion

The pronounced __________ of the samples indicated there was little diversity in the soil.

Possible Answers:

heterodoxy

terminality

orthodoxy

homogeneity

plausibility

Correct answer:

homogeneity

Explanation:

The sentence explains that the soil has "little diversity." This means the correct answer has to indicate a sameness or uniformity, which is the definition of "homogeneity."

Example Question #585 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

With his face paint, replica jersey, and team merchandise, the young man was the __________ of a diehard fan.

Possible Answers:

amortization

indemnification

personification

restoration

iconoclasm

Correct answer:

personification

Explanation:

The sentence both calls the young man a "diehard fan," and notes all the things that indicate this. The correct answer needs to enhance this sense of the man's fanhood. "Personification," meaning the perfect embodiment of an idea or concept, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #586 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The __________ of the story diminished over time, as she added more non factual details to the narrative.

Possible Answers:

extraordinariness

superfluousness

absurdity

plausibility

ridiculousness

Correct answer:

plausibility

Explanation:

The storyteller keeps adding "non factual details to the narrative." This indicates she is decreasing the story's believability or acceptability, the definition of "plausibility," which is the correct answer.

Example Question #587 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The boxer's greatest attribute was his __________, as he almost never got punched out or beat down.

Possible Answers:

resilience

equivocation

delicacy

fragility

wariness

Correct answer:

resilience

Explanation:

The sentence actually describes the missing word as meaning the boxer "never got punched out or beat down." This means the correct answer has to indicate toughness or strength. "Resilience," meaning perseverance or an ability to come back, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #588 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Although the plan was perfectly figured out, a random __________ threw them off and doomed it to failure.

Possible Answers:

minutia

atom

vagary

furrow

purist

Correct answer:

vagary

Explanation:

The sentence describes a plan "perfectly figured out," which nonetheless was "doomed to failure." This indicates the correct answer will mean something that harms even perfect planning. "Vagary," meaning an unaccountable problem or freak mistake, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #589 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Her __________ of her intellectual inferiors meant she never paid attention to what her classmates were interested in.

Possible Answers:

discountenance

calibration

recantation

resuscitation

reinterpretation

Correct answer:

discountenance

Explanation:

The sentence notes that the subject "never paid attention" to others' interests. This habit is the best clue to finding the missing word, as the correct answer must parallel this phrase in meaning. "Discountenance," meaning to show disapproval of, is the best choice among the answers.

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