GRE Verbal : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #495 : One Blank Texts
Throughout all societies, outsider groups have been __________ against by the dominant culture.
celebrated
levitated
alleviated
prostrated
discriminated
discriminated
The missing word is something a "dominant culture" does to "outsider groups." The correct answer will show the strength possessed by the "dominant" over the "outsiders." "Discriminated," meaning to look down on and act against due to difference, is the best choice.
Example Question #496 : One Blank Texts
Instead of walking directly to his office, he would __________ around to say hello to everyone.
meander
belabor
prostrate
peruse
flaunt
meander
The sentence explicitly contrasts the missing word with "walking directly." The correct answer must mean wandering around, the definition of "meander."
Example Question #497 : One Blank Texts
The group undertook an advertising campaign to __________ support for their cause.
decimate
solicit
waylay
emaciate
flaunt
solicit
The group has "an advertising campaign" for their own cause. The correct answer will indicate they were attempting to gather support. "Solicit," meaning to ask or seek, is the best choice.
Example Question #498 : One Blank Texts
The angry mob __________ for the deposed king's head outside the castle.
clamored
negotiated
solicited
appeased
acquiesced
clamored
The sentence deals with an "angry mob" seeking a "king's head." The manner in which they ask for his head should match their anger. "Clamored," meaning shouted or screamed, is the correct answer.
Example Question #499 : One Blank Texts
The young man decided to __________ his new car by driving it back and forth on the town's main drag.
flaunt
congeal
deflect
conceal
portend
flaunt
The young man is driving his car "on the town's main drag," a highly visible location. This means he wants people to see his new car. "Flaunt," meaning show off or obviously display, is the correct answer.
Example Question #500 : One Blank Texts
Jealous of her classmate's popularity and hoping to harm her reputation, Rohini __________ several cruel and untrue rumors about her.
contradicted
misdirected
hindered
dissembled
perpetuated
perpetuated
Because "dissembled" means to have concealed, it would be unlikely that Rohini would be trying to hide the rumors. "Contradicted", meaning spoke out against, is also unlikely. "Hindered", meaning slowed, also does not make sense. "Misdirected" also makes little sense because Rohini would want these rumors to be clearly targeted and not misdirected; however, it does make sense that she would "perpetuate, or prolong the existence of, such rumors in order to harm another girl's reputation.
Example Question #501 : One Blank Texts
He was well know for his ability to __________, and he rarely used a script while speaking.
deliberate
scrutinize
lionize
debilitate
extemporize
extemporize
The sentence notes that the subject "rarely used a script while speaking." This means the correct answer will indicate not needing a script. "Extemporize," meaning to speak with little preparation or off the cuff, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #502 : One Blank Texts
The ballplayer's simple mistake saw him __________ by his coach for his errors.
advocated
embellished
lambasted
eulogized
pacified
lambasted
The sentence notes both the player made a "simple mistake" and that the coach did the missing word to the player because he had "errors." The correct answer will show a criticism or anger from the coach. "Lambasted," meaning verbally attacked, is the best option among the answers.
Example Question #503 : One Blank Texts
For his own safety, the accused criminal was __________ from the public's wrath in an undisclosed location.
reproved
fortified
cloistered
breached
broached
cloistered
The "accused criminal" is taken to "an undisclosed location" to avoid the "public's wrath." This means the "accused criminal" is being hidden away and isolated, the definition of "cloistered," which is the correct answer.
Example Question #504 : One Blank Texts
His inability to succeed at chess __________ him of the idea he excelled at any game.
disaffected
engendered
disabused
lavished
emboldened
disabused
The subject thought he "excelled at any game," but his experience with chess was different. The correct answer needs to indicate that the subject was wrong. "Disabused," meaning to have someone's mind changed, is the best choice.
All GRE Verbal Resources
