GRE Verbal : Text Completion
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #681 : Text Completion
The conflagration was used to __________ invasive plant species and allow pioneering plants to reform a healthy ecoological system in the forest.
extirpate
enervate
bolster
stimulate
desiccate
extirpate
Since a fire was used in the forest, it is presumed that the fire was used to "extripate," or eradicate, invasive plants from harming native plants.
Example Question #642 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young woman _____________ at the suggestion she was at like her mother, who she rarely got along with growing up.
fawned
revered
swooned
tittered
bristled
bristled
The fact that the young woman did not get along with her mother provides a clue to the proper meaning of the sentence. When a comparison was made, the young woman would not have appreciated and even outright disliked. Of the answer choices, only "bristled," meaning to show annoyance and irritation, correctly completes the sentence.
Example Question #682 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even when he tried to give a simple answer, the professor had a tendency to __________ on his subject.
abridge
pontificate
simplify
excise
clarify
pontificate
The structure of the sentence makes it clear that the professor cannot give a simple answer, so the correct answer will mean the opposite. "Simplify," "excise," "abridge," and "clarify" all mean to make simple in one way or another, and can all be struck out. Only "pontificate," meaning to speak excessively and even arrogantly, is correct in the sentence.
Example Question #644 : One Blank Texts
The leader never himself committed any violence, but always seemed to __________ it from his underlings.
condemn
condone
peruse
belabor
excise
condone
The leader is attempting to distance himself from the violence of his underlings, while still having their violent actions continue. The answer will uphold this double standard on the leader's part. Of all the answer choices, "condone," meaning to support quietly or overlook, best fits the sentence.
Example Question #645 : One Blank Texts
Kind words do little to situations that require more than nice phrases in order to be improved.
enlighten
allay
ameliorate
augment
retract
ameliorate
The sense of the the sentence indicates that kind words fail to help in improvement of a bad situation. It is perhaps tempting to choose "augment" because of its sense of "increase." Certain verbal associations might lead one to choose "retract" or "allay," but these do not apply. "Ameliorate" fits best, as it means "to improve" or "make better."
Example Question #646 : One Blank Texts
Her ability to predict what her students would do made them think she was a __________.
contemporary
pedant
sibyl
paragon
liturgy
sibyl
The sentence explicitly notes that she has an "ability to predict what her students would do," which is the best clue to the answer. The correct answer must indicate someone who can see the future. "Sibyl," meaning a prophetess, after a Greek myth, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #647 : One Blank Texts
The slip and fall __________ an already existing injury.
illustrated
obviated
cogitated
exacerbated
corroborated
exacerbated
The key to the answer is the phrase "already existing injury." This means the injury described by the sentence took the existing injury and made it worse, the definition of "exacerbated."
Example Question #648 : One Blank Texts
His appetite was limitless, and no meal could ever truly __________ him.
ingratiate
obviate
doff
fawn
satiate
satiate
The subject's "appetite was limitless," which means one meal would not be enough. The correct answer should mean to satisfy or fill up, the definition of "satiate," which is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #649 : One Blank Texts
After multiple injuries from playing with the toys, they were __________ at the school.
demurred
approved
solaced
ogled
proscribed
proscribed
The toys have caused "multiple injuries," so presumably they are not wanted at a school. The correct answer must mean forbidden or outlawed, the definition of "proscribed."
Example Question #683 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
While he was once a great athlete, he had let his fitness __________ once he was no longer playing every day.
improve
encroach
restore
expand
languish
languish
The structure of the sentence indicates that the athlete is no longer as fit as he used to be. The correct answer choice needs to indicate that he has let himself go. "Languish," meaning suffer or decline, is the only choice that makes sense in the sentence.
All GRE Verbal Resources
