GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #911 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Over the years, the warring tribes slowly __________ into one kingdom.

Possible Answers:

obviated

jeopardized

co-opted

coalesced

fractured

Correct answer:

coalesced

Explanation:

The tribes went from "warring" to becoming "one kingdom." The correct answer will describe their process of uniting. "Coalesced," meaning to come together or merge, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #912 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

With the league contracting, the two teams had to __________ their players onto one roster.

Possible Answers:

wax

goad

merge

broach

explode

Correct answer:

merge

Explanation:

The key element of the sentence is the fact "two teams" had to make "one roster." This means the two teams had to combine and the correct answer will reflect this. "Merge," meaning to combine and come together, is the best choice.

Example Question #665 : Text Completion

The attorney used the graph to __________ his interpretation of the facts in a way that the jury could comprehend.

Possible Answers:

distrain

atone

delineate

arbitrate

disorient

Correct answer:

delineate

Explanation:

"Delineate" means to explain or describe precisely, and most clearly makes sense of the sentence.  The attorney wants the jury to comprehend the information.

Example Question #913 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Even though he was __________ for his academic gifts, his grades rarely measured up.

Possible Answers:

lauded

admonished

degraded

despised

criticized

degraded

admonished

Correct answer:

lauded

Explanation:

The structure of the sentence indicates that the bad grades were a surprise, and therefore he was held in high esteem for his abilities. This means "admonished," "criticized," "degraded," and "despised" can all be ruled out. "Lauded," meaning praised and celebrated, is the correct answer.

Example Question #914 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Although he rarely disagreed with his students, the professor liked to __________ their arguments to make them defend their positions.

Possible Answers:

bolster

undergird

flout

disregard

gainsay

Correct answer:

gainsay

Explanation:

The professor "rarely disagreed with his students," although he still wants them to "defend their position."  This means the correct answer should indicate he is challenging them.  "Gainsay," meaning to automatically contradict or go against, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #915 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Whereas most of the riverside villa's inhabitants lived moderately lavish lives, the __________ chose to live in a nearby cave and forsake the comforts that the other inhabitants adopted.

Possible Answers:

ascetic

halcyon

neophyte

anathema

tyro

Correct answer:

ascetic

Explanation:

We need a noun that represents a person, so we can discard "halcyon," an adjective defined as denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. "Neophyte" and "tyro" both mean beginner, so we are left with "anathema" and "ascetic." As "anathema" means something or someone vehemently disliked, and "ascetic" means a person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention; "ascetic" is the correct choice.

Example Question #916 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Fill in the blank with the best answer.

Finding few faults in the production, the critic _________ the play.

Possible Answers:

extolled

lambasted

allayed

discounted

exonerated

Correct answer:

extolled

Explanation:

To "extol" means to praise. It makes sense that the critic, finding little wrong with the play, offered a good review. "Lambaste" is the opposite: to criticize severely.

Example Question #917 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Her boss __________ her for missing the deadline on submitting the report, which caused the company to lose money.

Possible Answers:

castigated

maligned

inundated

ameliorated

enraged

Correct answer:

castigated

Explanation:

The boss obviously scolded her, which is the meaning of "castigated." “Maligned” means slandered, which isn't quite the same thing. The other answers don't make sense in context.

Example Question #918 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Concerned for his patient’s liver, Donald’s doctor advised him to __________ from alcohol.

Possible Answers:

indulge

abstain

rescind

procure

cringe

Correct answer:

abstain

Explanation:

It is common knowledge that alcohol abuse is deleterious to the health of the liver.  Naturally, Donald’s doctor would want him to "abstain" (that is, refrain) from alcohol consumption.

Example Question #919 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The contract had been intentionally __________ by the crooked attorney in order to trick the farmer into signing away his property.

Possible Answers:

clarified

nullified

explicated

obfuscated

obliterated

Correct answer:

obfuscated

Explanation:

The word that fills in the blank must consider three things: 1) The contract still exists; it has not been "obliterated"; 2) The crooked attorney wants the farmer to sign the contract; a "nullified" contract is a non-binding contract, even when signed; and 3) It would not likely be in the crooked attorney’s interests to explain to the farmer how he is cheating him; it would not be in the attorney’s interest to "clarify" or "explicate" the terms of the contract. "Obfuscate" is the answer because it is in the attorney’s interest to deliberately make the contract difficult to understand.

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