GRE Verbal : One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #491 : One Blank Texts
The negotiator thought he could __________ both sides by giving in to certain demands.
circumvent
epitomize
hinder
appease
lance
appease
A negotiator's job is to settle disagreements. If he is "giving in to certain demands," then he is trying to help both sides. "Appease," meaning to pacify or calm, is the correct answer.
Example Question #492 : One Blank Texts
The attempts to __________ the protests backfired, resulting in the largest gathering yet.
burnish
alleviate
circumnavigate
bolster
circumscribe
circumscribe
The missing word did not work but "backfired," causing "the largest gathering yet." This means the correct answer needs to indicate a suppresion of the protests. "Circumscribe," meaning to limit or prohibit, is the best choice.
Example Question #493 : One Blank Texts
The mine's product was worthless, as engineers had no way to __________ what was pulled from the ground.
smelt
exculpate
pollute
condone
deride
smelt
The substance "pulled from the ground" is "worthless" because doing the missing word is impossible. The correct answer needs to mean a process that makes raw material valuable. "Smelt," meaning to refine an ore into usable metal, is the correct answer.
Example Question #494 : One Blank Texts
His efforts to __________ tax law backfired and got him indicted for fraud.
exculpate
solicit
appease
circumvent
ordain
circumvent
If a person gets indicted, then he is not obeying the law. The correct answer will reflect his dislike or avoidance of "tax law." "Circumvent," meaning to go around or move out of the way of, is the best choice.
Example Question #495 : One Blank Texts
Throughout all societies, outsider groups have been __________ against by the dominant culture.
celebrated
prostrated
discriminated
levitated
alleviated
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 #531 : Text Completion
Instead of walking directly to his office, he would __________ around to say hello to everyone.
meander
flaunt
belabor
prostrate
peruse
meander
The sentence explicitly contrasts the missing word with "walking directly." The correct answer must mean wandering around, the definition of "meander."
Example Question #532 : Text Completion
The group undertook an advertising campaign to __________ support for their cause.
flaunt
emaciate
decimate
waylay
solicit
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 #533 : Text Completion
The angry mob __________ for the deposed king's head outside the castle.
negotiated
appeased
acquiesced
solicited
clamored
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 #534 : Text Completion
The young man decided to __________ his new car by driving it back and forth on the town's main drag.
congeal
portend
conceal
flaunt
deflect
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 #535 : Text Completion
Jealous of her classmate's popularity and hoping to harm her reputation, Rohini __________ several cruel and untrue rumors about her.
perpetuated
hindered
contradicted
dissembled
misdirected
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.
All GRE Verbal Resources
