GRE Verbal : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Texts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #30 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

The college students were ______________ by a speeding ticket on their trip to Florida.

Possible Answers:

condoned

belied

waived

waylaid

degraded

Correct answer:

waylaid

Explanation:

The "trip to Florida" indicates the students were headed somewhere, and the correct answer will show they were delayed. "Waylaid," meaning to hinder or derail, is the best choice.

Example Question #401 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

He would often complement his lengthy academic texts with shorter books that _____________ the same arguments.

Possible Answers:

subverted

recapitulated

discombobulated

recanted

congealed

Correct answer:

recapitulated

Explanation:

The sentence indicates that the "shorter books" said the "same arguments" as the larger ones. The correct answer will then mean to restate or summarize, which is the definition of "recapitulated."

Example Question #402 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

Her awkward walk ________________ a grace that was present in her ballet dancing.

Possible Answers:

implied

reproved

belied

ascertained

portended

Correct answer:

belied

Explanation:

The dancer's "awkward walk" is contrasted with her grace while dancing through the missing word. The correct word will indicate the surprising nature of her dancing ability. "Belied," meaning contradicted or misrepresented, is the best choice.

Example Question #403 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

After being left out in the snow, the glove had ________________ into a rock hard lump.

Possible Answers:

elucidated

petrified

hydrated

congealed

defoliated

Correct answer:

petrified

Explanation:

The phrase "rock hard lump" is the best clue to the answer. The best choice needs to indicate the glove becoming that "rock hard lump." "Petrified," meaning turned into stone or a stone like substance, is the correct answer.

Example Question #34 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

He frequently criticized his children, _______________ them for minor flaws.

Possible Answers:

beknighting

beleaguering

bemusing

belittling

befuddling

Correct answer:

belittling

Explanation:

The sentence parallels "criticized" and the correct answer, making them synonyms. Of all the answer choices, "belittling" is the only synonym of "criticized."

Example Question #404 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

The guitarist could not help but __________ the collection of fancy instruments.

Possible Answers:

ogle

disdain

ordain

goad

transgress

Correct answer:

ogle

Explanation:

A guitarist will appreciate a "collection of fancy instruments." The correct answer will indicate the guitarists admiration and appreciation of the collection. "Ogle," meaning to stare or obviously look at, is the best choice.

Example Question #431 : One Blank Texts

The archaeologist was most well known for _________________ a theory on human development with which no other scholars agreed.

Possible Answers:

postulating

suppressing

exemplifying

substantiating

recapitulating

Correct answer:

postulating

Explanation:

Many of the answer choices could fit the sentence, but one choice will fit best. The theory is one "with which no other scholars agreed," which means it is controversial and unproven. "Postulating," meaning hypothesize or propose, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #37 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

The young man decided to ______________ his resumé by interning at a prestigious company.

Possible Answers:

execrable

undermine

burnish

downplay

waylay

Correct answer:

burnish

Explanation:

The "prestigious company" gives a clue that the young man wishes to improve the status of his resumé. "Burnish," meaning to polish or bolster, is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #432 : One Blank Texts

The committee always ______________ a great deal, never deciding anything quickly.

Possible Answers:

immoderated

exemplified

recanted

deliberated

denuded

Correct answer:

deliberated

Explanation:

"Never deciding anything quickly" is the key phrase in the sentence. The correct answer will indicate the slowness of the committee. "Deliberated," meaning to think over carefully and slowly, is the best choice.

Example Question #433 : One Blank Texts

The politician always wanted statistics to ________________ the claims he made in his speeches.

Possible Answers:

retract

bulwark

buttress

counteract

transgress

Correct answer:

buttress

Explanation:

The politician is concerned about the claims in his speech, and would want to support them with statistics. The correct answer will mean to strengthen or back up, which is the definition of "buttress."

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