GRE Verbal : Text Completion
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #441 : One Blank Texts
The new non-profit will seek to ______________ famine in war torn areas by directly providing food to refugees.
edify
begrudge
alleviate
exacerbate
degrade
alleviate
"Providing food" means the non-profit will try to eliminate the famine, or at least minimize it, and the correct answer will reflect that. "Alleviate," meaning to make less severe or improve slightly, is the best choice.
Example Question #442 : One Blank Texts
The leader immediately ______________ the actions of his supporters, claiming they did not represent the whole group.
confounded
waylaid
embraced
condoned
denounced
denounced
The final phrase, where the leader distances himself from his supporters' actions, is the best clue in the sentence. The correct answer will mean to condemn or speak against, the definition of "denounced."
Example Question #481 : Text Completion
The young boy was extremely lazy, and had to be ______________ just to get off the couch.
degraded
negated
deterred
buttressed
cajoled
cajoled
Being on the couch is an indication of the boy's laziness, so the correct answer will reflect that the boy had a hard time getting off the couch. "Cajoled," meaning coaxed or convinced, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #482 : Text Completion
His medical troubles were so costly, his savings account was ____________ in a matter of weeks.
depleted
perused
bolstered
waylaid
elucidated
depleted
The "medical troubles" are outright noted as "costly," which means a savings account would be used "in a matter of weeks." "Depleted," meaning to use up or get rid of, is the correct answer.
Example Question #483 : Text Completion
The accused man hoped his TV interview would _________________ his side of the story.
obviate
confound
congeal
obscure
illuminate
illuminate
The "accused man" is agreeing to an interview, and presumably wants to give information. The correct answer will indicate telling a story or explaining. "Illuminate,"meaning to make clear—literally to put light on something—is the correct answer.
Example Question #484 : Text Completion
The most famous legend concerns the first man to __________________ the length of the island on foot.
elucidate
riddle
totter
ordain
traverse
traverse
The references to going "the length of the island on foot" indicate the correct answer has to do with travel. "Traverse," meaning to move across, is the only such word among the answer choices.
Example Question #485 : Text Completion
Although he ________________ violence in his life, his favorite movies were bloody action adventures.
recapitulated
ordained
deplored
embraced
condoned
deplored
The sentence contrasts the subject's love of violent movies with the missing word. This means the corrct answer will indicate disapproval of violence. "Deplored," meaning to loathe or be revolted, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #486 : Text Completion
The teenager hoped the fact he was just tagging along with friends would _______________ him from the underage drinking charge.
recant
condone
beleaguer
elucidate
exculpate
exculpate
Both the teenager's excuse, "tagging along," and the "charge" indicate he is trying to get out from under something. The correct answer should mean to free someone from blame, the definition of "exculpate."
Example Question #487 : Text Completion
After receiving a credit card, he used it to _____________ a large amount of debt quite quickly.
amass
goad
congeal
alleviate
buttress
amass
A credit card is the avenue for building debt, and getting a "large amount . . . quite quickly" means he built it up. "Amass," meaning to gather or accumulate, is the correct answer.
Example Question #488 : Text Completion
The boss' attempts at humor centered on ____________________ his employees, and frequently backfired.
espousing
exculpating
perpetuating
deprecating
gibbering
deprecating
The fact the humor "backfired" on the boss indicates the tone was probably unkind to the employees. The correct answer will mean to criticize or insult, the definition of "deprecating."
All GRE Verbal Resources
