GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #881 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
In front of the committee, the witness __________ and made no one believe his statements.
declaimed
staunted
abraded
levied
dissembled
dissembled
The testimony "made no one believe his statements," which means his comments were suspicious. The correct answer needs to show he was somehow untrustworthy or strange. "Dissemble," meaning to put on an act or avoid the truth, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #882 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
His arrogant tone made it clear he did not __________ to answer the question outright.
lien
deign
gouge
abut
gall
deign
The man's "arrogant tone" is the best clue to finding the missing word. Since he "would not answer the question outright," the correct answer has to show a level the appropriate level of condescension. "Deign," meaning to do something considered beneath one's dignity, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #883 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The discontent in the legislature was quickly __________ when an amendment that many approved of was added on to the bill.
precipitate
exacerbated
enlivened
quelled
fomented
quelled
The sentence notes the "amendment that many approved of" did the missing word to the "discontent." This means the amendment helped get rid of the discontent, and the correct answer should show this. "Quelled," meaning suppressed or stopped, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #884 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The neighborhood's lots were so small that the houses had to __________ each other.
leaven
patronize
mitigate
abut
purchase
abut
The only real clue in the sentence is that the "neighborhood's lots were so small." The correct answer will therefore have to indicate a closeness or lack of space. "Abut," meaning to come up on or touch, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #885 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The girl was __________ in Greek mythology, and could recite the tales for the rest of her life.
morose
steeped
supplicant
inadequate
indicted
steeped
The sentence explains that the girl "could recite the tales for the rest of her life." This indicates that she knew them quite well, a fact which must be reflected in the correct answer. "Steeped," meaning to soak in or bathe, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #886 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The explosives were __________ into the hole by a mound of dirt, and were not visible until they were stepped on.
tamped
tarnished
enjoined
displaced
rambled
tamped
The sentence describes the explosives as "not visible until they were stepped on." The correct answer must mean placed in or hidden. "Tamped," meaning packed tightly or plugged up, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #887 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The war was disastrous, and ended up __________ the populations on both sides.
exculpating
divesting
extirpating
waffling
decimating
decimating
The sentence points out that "the war was disastrous," which indicates the results were quite bad for both sides. The correct answer not only needs to be negative, but strongly so. "Decimating," literally destroying one tenth, but frequently meaning to destroy a large part, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #888 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The torture methods included __________ pieces of skin out of the victim.
exculpating
gouging
disarming
adorning
patronizing
gouging
The sentence helps modify the missing word by noting "pieces of skin" were "out of the victims." This indicates the correct answer has to mean the skin was pulled out. "Gouging," meaning cutting or digging, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #889 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
Many politicians have tried to __________ the poor conditions of people living in slums.
abate
abscond
apprise
aggregate
ameliorate
ameliorate
The choice that makes the most sense is "ameliorate," to improve or make better.
Example Question #890 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The overconfident attorney relied on his ability to argue, rather than providing hard evidence to __________ his case.
belie
distend
obviate
bolster
deride
bolster
The choice that makes the most sense is "bolster," to support or reinforce.
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