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 #795 : Text Completion
After the illness made her unable to eat solid foods, she looked _____________.
emaciated
embroiled
consecrated
ordained
engrossed
emaciated
The sentence notes she was "unable to eat solid foods," and then uses the missing word. The correct answer will indicate she looked under fed or malnourished. "Emaciated," meaning very thin or withered, is the best choice.
Example Question #755 : One Blank Texts
Weeks after going to the beach, his shoes were still ______________ with sand.
lacquered
poised
redundant
benign
gritty
gritty
The sand makes the shoes become the missing word. Sand is coarse an uncomfortable in shoes, and the correct answer should reflect this. "Gritty," meaning rough and coarse, is the best fit among the choices.
Example Question #796 : Text Completion
The Congressman preferred _________________ statements on the issue to avoid giving away how he would vote.
acrimonious
contrite
ambiguous
cogent
jingoistic
ambiguous
The Congressman is trying "to avoid giving away how he would vote," so his statements will presumably be unclear. "Ambiguous," meaning uncertain or unclear, is the correct answer.
Example Question #797 : Text Completion
The new charity sought to tap into the ___________________ desires of the city's wealthy.
salacious
susceptible
nomadic
lascivious
philanthropic
philanthropic
The key word in the sentence is "charity," and indicates that the "desires" relate to giving. The correct answer will mean supportive of charities and helping others, the definition of philanthropic.
Example Question #758 : One Blank Texts
Some people blamed his _______________ demeanor on a childhood experience, but others just thought he was mean.
demure
contrite
affable
surly
candid
surly
The man is outright described as "mean," so the missing word will in some way be a synonym of "mean." Of all the answer choices, "surly," meaning grumpy or rude, is the best fit.
Example Question #759 : One Blank Texts
The stories often took place in a _______________ realm that distorted reality.
whimsical
gritty
histrionic
alchemical
philistine
whimsical
The sentence says the realm changes reality. The correct answer will indicat that the realm is odd or fantastical. "Whimsical," meaning fanciful and imaginative, is the best choice.
Example Question #801 : Text Completion
The scandalized politician appeared _____________, and hoped the voters would accept his apology.
irascible
susceptible
congenial
bellicose
contrite
contrite
The last phrase of the sentence mentions the politician's "apology," and pairs it with the missing word. The correct answer needs to indicate an apologetic tone, which is the definition of "contrite."
Example Question #802 : Text Completion
Early humans all lived a _____________ existence, traveling to find food where they could.
trivial
nomadic
jubilant
philanthropic
nonchalant
nomadic
The sentence focuses on "early humans . . . traveling to find food." The correct answer will describe this traveling. "Nomadic," meaning to wander from place to place, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #803 : Text Completion
The student's speech was _____________ of the ideas championed by the political theory he had been reading.
redolent
indifferent
ironic
irreproachable
ambivalent
redolent
The "ideas championed" are clearly present in the speech, which the structure of the sentence indicates. The correct answer needs to demonstrate their influence. "Redolent," meaning smelling of, (but used here metaphorically), is the best choice.
Example Question #804 : Text Completion
He _______________ gave money to one candidate, while publicly supporting her opponent.
salaciously
immoderately
egregiously
flagrantly
surreptitiously
surreptitiously
The sentence explicitly contrasts the missing word with "publicly." The correct answer wiill then indicate he was giving money quietly or covertly. "Surreptitiously," meaning sneaky or stealthy, is the best choice.
All GRE Verbal Resources
