All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The suspect was accused of plotting to steal millions from his company until his ____________ was discovered.
subterfuge
obeisance
torpor
negligence
equivocation
subterfuge
The suspect is accused of plotting a serious crime. The answer, what was discovered, will indicate the level of deception involved in the crime. "Subterfuge," meaning a trick or deception, is the correct answer.
Example Question #32 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The Duke's notion of ______________ only spread to the upper classes, and he still viewed the lower classes as suspect.
superiority
obeisance
affability
elitism
egalitarianism
egalitarianism
The Duke continues to look down on "lower classes," which is contrasted with the correct answer. The best choice will then mean a belief in equality, which is the definition of "egalitarianism."
Example Question #33 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
He had been conducting wine tasting so long, he considered himself a _____________.
mutineer
paragon
neophyte
connoisseur
hypochondria
connoisseur
The phrase "conducting wine tastings so long," indicates he considered himself some kind of expert, and the correct answer should reflect that. "Connoisseur," meaning someone with refined taste and judgement, is the best fit in the sentence.
Example Question #91 : Text Completion
Smaragdus of St. Mihiel studied the Rule of St. Benedict like an early medieval grammarian. Many of his interpretations were based on the of the expressions used, although his sources of linguistic derivations were more than slightly incorrect.
meanings
histories
etymologies
structures
declensions
etymologies
The best clue words in this example are "grammarian" and "linguistic history." The latter makes "histories" unlikely, if only because of the repetition that this would impose. It is perhaps tempting to use "meanings," as a grammarian would pay heed to meanings in explication—just as he would pay heed to the declensions and inflections of words; however, if we are considering linguistic history (even if flawed), we are above all concerned with etymology, which studies (or at least purports to study) the history of words and the meanings that can be gleaned from such history.
Example Question #34 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
It sometimes takes the most skill in grammar to commit a true . Many people err in such matters, but only an expert can utterly distort the rules of language.
mistake
solecism
error
harangue
faux pas
solecism
The key word is in the second sentence is "err." It might be tempting for that reason to consider "error" or "mistake," but we are provided a specific type of error, namely a grammatical one: "solecism" matches the intended meaning most closely.
Example Question #35 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Robert was a trained swordsman, able to fight with great . To watch him at battle was as beautiful as watching a trained ballet dancer in motion.
gusto
ability
finesse
strength
celerity
finesse
The first sentence leaves our meaning so general that any of the terms might fit (though the case for "gusto" is particularly weak). The second sentence gives us a much better limiting factor, namely, the beauty of his form as a swordsman. In this case, we are more concerned with form than brute strength or anything similar; therefore, while perhaps "celerity" or "ability" might distantly apply, "finesse" captures the ballet-like beauty most directly.
Example Question #32 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The man was paranoid about fires, and always noticed the closest _____________ he could find anywhere he was.
paragon
portent
egress
gratis
receptacle
egress
The man's paranoia about fires means he would find a way to deal with a fire everywhere. The correct answer will describe a method to handle a fire. "Egress," meaning an exit, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #33 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The media quickly developed a _____________ on the case, and all news outlets began reporting the same story.
recantation
splintering
substantiation
bulwark
consensus
consensus
The sentence outright states the media outlets were "reporting the same story." The correct answer will indicate the media was telling the same story. "Consensus," meaning a general or widespread agreement, is the best fit.
Example Question #62 : One Blank Texts
The man was such a slob, his car's backseat had become a _________________ for all kinds of trash.
portent
receptacle
polemic
hiatus
neologism
receptacle
The trash had essentially found a permanent home in the man's backseat, and the correct answer will indicate that. "Receptacle," meaning container or vessel, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #63 : One Blank Texts
The award was given for his work as a ________________, and recognized his fight for voting rights.
buccaneer
adversary
supplicant
autocrat
suffragist
suffragist
The sentence itself says the award winner had a "fight for voting rights." A "suffragist" is someone who fights for the right to vote, and it is the correct answer.
All GRE Verbal Resources
