GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #731 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The young boy was extremely lazy, and had to be ______________ just to get off the couch.

Possible Answers:

deterred

cajoled

buttressed

negated

degraded

Correct answer:

cajoled

Explanation:

Being on the couch is an indication of the boy's laziness, so the correct answer will reflect that the boy had a hard time getting off the couch. "Cajoled," meaning coaxed or convinced, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #732 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

His medical troubles were so costly, his savings account was ____________ in a matter of weeks.

Possible Answers:

waylaid

perused

bolstered

elucidated

depleted

Correct answer:

depleted

Explanation:

The "medical troubles" are outright noted as "costly," which means a savings account would be used "in a matter of weeks." "Depleted," meaning to use up or get rid of, is the correct answer.

Example Question #733 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The accused man hoped his TV interview would _________________ his side of the story.

Possible Answers:

illuminate

obviate

congeal

obscure

confound

Correct answer:

illuminate

Explanation:

The "accused man" is agreeing to an interview, and presumably wants to give information. The correct answer will indicate telling a story or explaining. "Illuminate,"meaning to make clear—literally to put light on something—is the correct answer.

Example Question #734 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The most famous legend concerns the first man to __________________ the length of the island on foot.

Possible Answers:

traverse

totter

elucidate

riddle

ordain

Correct answer:

traverse

Explanation:

The references to going "the length of the island on foot" indicate the correct answer has to do with travel. "Traverse," meaning to move across, is the only such word among the answer choices.

Example Question #735 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Although he ________________ violence in his life, his favorite movies were bloody action adventures.

Possible Answers:

embraced

condoned

ordained

deplored

recapitulated

Correct answer:

deplored

Explanation:

The sentence contrasts the subject's love of violent movies with the missing word. This means the corrct answer will indicate disapproval of violence. "Deplored," meaning to loathe or be revolted, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #736 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The teenager hoped the fact he was just tagging along with friends would _______________ him from the underage drinking charge.

Possible Answers:

recant

condone

beleaguer

elucidate

exculpate

Correct answer:

exculpate

Explanation:

Both the teenager's excuse, "tagging along," and the "charge" indicate he is trying to get out from under something. The correct answer should mean to free someone from blame, the definition of "exculpate."

Example Question #449 : One Blank Texts

After receiving a credit card, he used it to _____________ a large amount of debt quite quickly.

Possible Answers:

congeal

amass

alleviate

buttress

goad

Correct answer:

amass

Explanation:

A credit card is the avenue for building debt, and getting a "large amount . . . quite quickly" means he built it up. "Amass," meaning to gather or accumulate, is the correct answer.

Example Question #737 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The boss' attempts at humor centered on ____________________ his employees, and frequently backfired.

Possible Answers:

perpetuating

deprecating

exculpating

gibbering

espousing

Correct answer:

deprecating

Explanation:

The fact the humor "backfired" on the boss indicates the tone was probably unkind to the employees. The correct answer will mean to criticize or insult, the definition of "deprecating."

Example Question #738 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The businessman told his wife he wouldn't be able to make their dinner because he was                      with work his boss had given him and had to take overtime.

Possible Answers:

blamed

supported

estranged

inundated

advanced

Correct answer:

inundated

Explanation:

He is swamped or overwhelmed with work, which is why he has to take overtime. The only answer that makes sense is that he is inundated with work, overwhelmed/flooded.

Example Question #739 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Health problems can result when people try to __________ their stress by overeating.

Possible Answers:

enhance

usurp

vacillate

placate

assuage

Correct answer:

assuage

Explanation:

We need a word that means lessen or reduce, which "assuage" does. "Placate" is similar but means to appease or pacify, (usually a person).

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