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 #160 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The discovery of the secret plans __________ the ability of the conspirators to pull them off.
compromised
simplified
comforted
facilitated
abetted
compromised
The "conspirators" now will have difficulty because of "the discovery of the secret plans." The correct answer should indicate complication and trouble. "Compromised," meaning damaged or placed in doubt, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #161 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Many fellow writers were envious that he was __________ with such a gift for prose.
faltered
compromised
obviated
endowed
abused
endowed
The sentence describes that "writers were envious" of the subject's "gift for prose." This means the correct answer needs to mean given or provided, the definition of "endowed."
Example Question #551 : One Blank Texts
The young girl __________ when she tried to ask her mother for a raise in her allowance and ended up not asking.
faltered
strengthened
emboldened
resolved
equivocated.
faltered
The final phrase of the sentence notes the young girl "ended up not asking" for a raise in her allowance. This means the missing word has to indicate she decided not or was unable to ask. "Faltered," meaning hesitated or wavered, is the best chocie among the answers.
Example Question #552 : One Blank Texts
The couple disliked their friend's new girlfriend's tendency to _________ about a litany of stupid things.
prattle
falter
extemporize
waver
eschew
prattle
The sentence has one great clue to the best answer choice, that the "new girlfriend" tends to do the missing word about "a litany of stupid things." The correct answer needs to indicate she is also annoying to the couple. "Prattle," meaning to babble and talk in a mindless manner, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #553 : One Blank Texts
The teacher had a tendency to __________ about his subject, causing the students to become disengaged.
orate
charm
jest
fascinate
interrogate
orate
The teacher causes "the students to become disengaged," so the teacher's tendency needs to make the students not care. The correct answer needs to indicate both something boring and without student input. "Orate," meaning to talk in a pompous and overblown manner, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #554 : One Blank Texts
The teenager ate all his food quickly, and rarely took time to __________ his food.
discard
diverge
savor
flaunt
discount
savor
The sentence notes the teenager "ate all his food quickly," which meant he did not do the missing word. This means the correct answer should indicate slowing down to eat. "Savor," meaning to enjoy or relish, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #165 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The lack of agreement between the groups made the negotiator __________ the issue for a later session.
broach
undermine
table
weaken
expose
table
The negotiator does the missing word to the issue because the two sides have a "lack of agreement" on it. The correct answer needs to show the negotiator has done something to deal with the issue. "Table," meaning to put away for a future discussion, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #166 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The company was struggling until they found an investor to __________ their breakthrough project.
discount
undermine
underwrite
pinch
personify
underwrite
The sentence both calls the company "struggling" and that the investor helped their "breakthrough project." This means the correct answer needs to demonstrate some sort of assistance or insurance. "Underwrite," meaning to help fund or endorse, is the best choice among the answer.
Example Question #563 : One Blank Texts
Giving the flower the proper fertilizer and watering it frequently should allow your new plant to __________.
expire
wither
burgeon
succumb
perish
burgeon
To "burgeon" is a verb that means to flourish or to grow rapidly. Proper care of the flower will allow it to flourish.
Example Question #531 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Her tendency to __________ aspects of her job caused resentment among her coworkers.
embrace
enhance
savor
prone
shirk
shirk
The key element of the sentence is that her behavior "caused resentment among her coworkers." This indicates the correct answer must show her doing something to anger her coworkers. "Shirk," meaning to avoid or ignore, is the best choice among the answers.
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