GRE Verbal : Text Completion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #337 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

Her speaking style was marked by its impressive ___________, striving to make her point with as few words as possible.

Possible Answers:

esotericism

extremism

brevity

indulgence

resplendence

Correct answer:

brevity

Explanation:

"As few words as possible" is the key phrase in the sentence for finding the answer. "Resplendence," "indulgence," and "extremisim" would mean an excess of words, while "esotericism" would conflict with a desire to make a clear point. "Brevity" is the correct answer.

Example Question #338 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

Many athletes can never handle becoming popular superstars, the ___________ of millions can seem smothering.

Possible Answers:

apathy

adulation

indifference

criticism

cynicism

Correct answer:

adulation

Explanation:

"Popular superstar" gives the best clue to the correct answer. Many of the answer chocies would work with the second clause of the sentence, but only "adulation," meaning worship or strong love, makes sense with the entire sentence.

Example Question #331 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

Despite the paper's ____________, many people still believed the story as it was printed.

Possible Answers:

onboarding

encouragement

retraction

affectation

advocation

Correct answer:

retraction

Explanation:

A few answer choices could work in the sentence, so the task with this question is to find the best choice.  The second clause in the sentence makes clear the story "as it was printed" was wrong or misleading.  "Retraction," meaning a withdrawal or cancellation of an article or statement, is the choice that best completes the sentence.

Example Question #340 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

The Army officer never discussed any personal ____________, despite overcoming a great deal in his childhood.

Possible Answers:

adulation

adversity

degradation

desire

promotion

Correct answer:

adversity

Explanation:

The key phrase in the sentence is "overcoming a great deal."  The correct answer choice will have a definition tied to that phrase.  "Adversity," which means hardship and struggle, is the correct answer.

Example Question #341 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

The teenager thought he had finally become a true punk, but everyone at the show thought he was a _____________.

Possible Answers:

paradigm

paragon

phenom

poseur

decoy

Correct answer:

poseur

Explanation:

The structure of the sentence indicates the teenager saw himself quite differently than all the people at the show. The answer should stand in opposition to the notion of a "true punk." "Poseur," which means a person who puts on a false persona, is the correct answer.

Example Question #342 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

His stories tended toward _____________, adding new and different details with each telling.

Possible Answers:

brevity

hyperbole

simplicity

veracity

acuity

Correct answer:

hyperbole

Explanation:

The "newer and different details" are the best clue to the correct answer for this sentence. The addition of details to a story makes it less realistic and more exaggerated. Of all the answer choices, only "hyperbole," meaning grossly exaggerated, fits the sentence.

Example Question #343 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

As her friends began leaving the religion of their childhood, she remained a ____________ of traditional values.

Possible Answers:

bastion

sieve

salve

bane

caricature

Correct answer:

bastion

Explanation:

The structure of the sentence indicates that the woman kept her "childhood faith" when her friends did not. The correct answer will show that the subject is staying in her religion and upholding its values. "Bastion," meaning a fortress or a defense, is correct, being used here metaphorically.

Example Question #344 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

The small environmental protest quickly spread to a large ______________ involving many different activists.

Possible Answers:

edifice

effigy

conflagration

bulwark

condemnation

Correct answer:

conflagration

Explanation:

What the addition of "many different activists" did to the gathering was make it extremely large and confusing; therefore, "conflagration," which literally means a big fire, but here refers to a large, out of control crowd, is the correct choice.

Example Question #345 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

With the former President out of the country, the protesters built an _____________ of him to put on trial.

Possible Answers:

paragon

exemplar

genre

decoy

effigy

Correct answer:

effigy

Explanation:

The sentence is very clear that the protesters built something to stand in for the President.  Many of the answer choices could fit that definition, but the best fit needs to be found. "Effigy," which specifically means a model of a person, is the correct answer.

Example Question #346 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts

The fall did not injure the hiker too seriously, but did leave a ___________ on her knee.

Possible Answers:

degradation

contusion

fracture

obsession

hemorrhage

Correct answer:

contusion

Explanation:

The sentence says the hiker was not injured "too seriously," but merely had the injury described by the missing word. The correct answer will be a minor harm. "Contusion," meaning a bruise or welt, is the best fit among the answer choices.

Tired of practice problems?

Try live online GRE prep today.

1-on-1 Tutoring
Live Online Class
1-on-1 + Class
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors