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 #120 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Due to their tight budget, the city council concluded that they could only __________ the construction of a new parking lot if local businesses promised to provide more funding for the project.
palliate
apprise
renege
flout
approbate
approbate
We're looking for a word similar to "approve," so the only answer choice that makes sense is "approbate," which means to sanction or to approve formally.
Example Question #491 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
"Don't __________," the reporter demanded of the political candidate. "I don't want to hear any more ambiguous answers—I want facts."
denigrate
excoriate
equivocate
palliate
exacerbate
equivocate
We can tell from the context of the sentence that the word for the blank needs to mean something similar to answer ambiguously. Because of that, the answer is "equivocate," which means use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.
Example Question #122 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The knight's squire __________ his silver shield with a soft cloth until not a speck of dirt remained on it, and he could see his face reflected in its surface.
rarefied
burnished
propitiated
admonished
cadged
burnished
We know that whatever the squire did to the shield resulted in it being very clean and shiny enough for him to see his reflection in it. Given this, the correct answer is "burnished," or polished (something, usually metallic) by rubbing.
Example Question #123 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
While a hard worker, his tendency to __________ after and kiss up to his boss made him disliked in the office.
offend
usurp
fawn
doff
badger
fawn
The sentence pairs the missing word with the subject's tendency to "kiss up" to his boss. This means the correct answer will mean something quite similar to "kiss up." "Fawn," meaning to behave sycophantically or grovel, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #124 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The emergency measures sought to __________ the drought conditions by taking water to the region.
complicate
populate
exculpate
exacerbate
alleviate
alleviate
The action being done by the water is taken towards drought conditions. As a drought is a lack of water, this means the correct answer will mean helping or making less severe, the definition of "alleviate."
Example Question #125 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The only way the toothless dog could eat meat was having it __________ into gummable bits.
palpitated
lanced
minced
cordoned
parsed
minced
The "gummable bits" mentioned at the end of the last sentence provides the best clue to the answer. The action taken by the missing word must produce the small bites a "toothless dog" can eat. "Minced," meaning chopped into very small pieces, is the correct answer.
Example Question #492 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The old married couple often seemed to dislike each other, __________ over the most minor things in life.
embedding
quibbling
placating
emulsifying
calcifying
quibbling
Since it appears the couple "seemed to dislike each other," it is safe to assume the missing word indicates some kind of disagreement. The fact it is over "the most minor things" also helps lead to the correct answer. "Quibbling," meaning arguing about small matters, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #491 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The criminal's __________ finally ended when he tried to fool an undercover policeman.
ingenuity
derision
lassitude
conniving
conniving
Since the subject is a "criminal" who is trying to "fool an undercover policeman," it is safe to assume the missing word has a negative connotation. The correct answer should mean scheming or tricking, the definition of "conniving."
Example Question #494 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Many soldiers were annoyed after the general __________ on his assurances to change the schedule, and instead did nothing.
quarantined
reneged
gambled
precipitated
reneged
Since the general "did nothing" after promising "to change the schedule, the soldiers were clearly annoyed by his shift. The correct answer will indicate the general changed his approach. "Reneged," meaning to go back on or retract a statement, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #495 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The accused criminal hoped to __________ his crimes by agreeing to do community service.
inchoate
inculcate
expiate
subvert
invert
expiate
The "accused criminal" is trying to do something regarding his crimes with "community service." The use of "accused" indicates the subject is trying to do something positive about his crimes. "Expiate," meaning to atone or make amends, is the correct answer choice.
All GRE Verbal Resources
