All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #641 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The college president made certain to store copies of all his correspondence for __________.
hyperbole
ephemera
restoration
posterity
aesthetics
posterity
The phrase "made certain to store copies" is an important one in the sentence, as it indicates the president wants to save his correspondence for some reason. With this in mind, "posterity," meaning the future or generations to come, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #642 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The captain's attempt to __________ the mutiny was unsuccessful, and his crew placed him in a rowboat and sailed away.
thwart
encourage
reform
engage
assist
thwart
The second clause of the sentence indicates the mutiny was accomplished, so the captain unsuccessfully tried to stop the mutiny. Of all the answer choices, only "thwart," meaning prevent or frustrate something, carries the correct meaning.
Example Question #643 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The town hoped the sandbags acted as a __________ against the rising floodwaters.
bulwark
sieve
decoy
salve
valve
bulwark
"Rising floodwaters" are not something anyone wants near them, and the town is presumably hoping to stop them. The correct choice will show the town was fortifying itself. "Bulwark," meaning a barrier or fortification, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #644 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The holiday could not come quickly enough for the CEO, who needed a __________ from his hectic work schedule.
reenergizing
respite
departure
renewal
failsafe
respite
The fact that he needed a holiday indicates what the CEO needed was a rest. While "renewal" and "reenergizing" might look potentially correct, they do not make sense when followed by "from his hectic work schedule." Of the given answer choices, only "respite," meaning a break during which one can rest, works appropriately in context with the mention of a "holiday" and the CEO's "hectic work schedule."
Example Question #645 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The house had a ___________ of structural problems, from warped floors and crumbling beams to termite infestations and moldy carpets.
myriad
dearth
decoy
portent
bastion
myriad
The list of issues that makes up the second part of the sentence indicates there were many problems, and the correct answer will indicate that. "Myriad," meaning a variety or large numbers, is the best choice.
Example Question #646 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
Motivated by his __________ for power, Alexander the Great invested all his resources in far-reaching military campaigns intended not only to amass territories but also gain the respect of local peoples.
apathy
fondness
distaste
voracity
abhorrence
voracity
"Abhorrence," meaning hate, and "distaste," meaning dislike, do not work in the sentence, because they each would imply that Alexander wanted to avoid gaining more power. "Apathy," meaning indifference, would indicate that Alexander did not care very much about power, so that would not make sense either. "Fondness" could work, but the sentence is stressing just how much effort Alexander put into getting power, so "voracity," meaning hunger, is the better choice.
Example Question #647 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
As soon as their opponents issued their statement, the organization released a strong __________.
consolation
retraction
recapitulation
rebuttal
consecration
rebuttal
The key word in finding the correct answer is "opponents." The organization will be saying something directly against what their opponents' statement said. "Rebuttal," meaning a countering and oppositional statement, is the best fit among the choices.
Example Question #648 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The novelist crafted his newest work around correspondence between the protagonist and his wife, finding ___________ to reveal particular features of his characters.
artifacts
totems
epistles
keepsakes
fragments
epistles
The use of "correspondence" indicates the main storytelling device in the novel is a series of letters. Epistle is simply another word for letter, and is the correct answer.
Example Question #649 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Her speaking style was marked by its impressive ___________, striving to make her point with as few words as possible.
esotericism
indulgence
resplendence
brevity
extremism
brevity
"As few words as possible" is the key phrase in the sentence for finding the answer. "Resplendence," "indulgence," and "extremisim" would mean an excess of words, while "esotericism" would conflict with a desire to make a clear point. "Brevity" is the correct answer.
Example Question #650 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Many athletes can never handle becoming popular superstars, the ___________ of millions can seem smothering.
cynicism
apathy
criticism
adulation
indifference
adulation
"Popular superstar" gives the best clue to the correct answer. Many of the answer chocies would work with the second clause of the sentence, but only "adulation," meaning worship or strong love, makes sense with the entire sentence.
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