GRE Verbal : Text Completion
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #887 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Although a doctoral student would typically be distraught if his or her doctoral thesis was not approved after years of research, this particular doctoral candidate simply gave a shrug and said a few __________ remarks to the panel before exiting the conference room.
incoherent
histrionic
cavalier
incredulous
derisive
cavalier
Since the doctoral student seemed unconcerned after his or her thesis was rejected by the panel, the student most likely made "cavalier" remarks or offhand statements.
Example Question #888 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Rather than using verbose descriptions in the pamphlet about local environmental concerns, the technical writer instead gave __________ descriptions of the key conservation issues, much to the appreciation of those reading the pamphlet.
pedantic
florid
esoteric
colloquial
laconic
laconic
The author of the pamphlet uses a writing style that is the opposite of verbose writing; this indicates that he has an economical style of writing with "laconic" descriptions.
Example Question #889 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
William Wordsworth describes __________ days spent amidst nature and nature's tranquility in his literary works, particularly in the well-known poem entitled Daffodils.
ephemeral
lugubrious
halcyon
enervating
wanton
halcyon
In his poems, Wordsworth writes about halcyon days spent in the serenity and calm of nature. Thus, the best fit in describing his naturalistic poetry is to describe the days he portrays as halcyon.
Example Question #890 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The __________ boxer often took his fighting outside the ring, getting into minor scuffles everywhere he went.
bellicose
torpid
insular
phlegmatic
noisome
bellicose
We're looking for a word that describes the boxer as being very war-like and eager to fight, so the answer is "bellicose," which means exactly that—aggressive and willing to fight.
Example Question #951 : Text Completion
The speaker's __________ lecture caused a large amount of controversy among the students.
tendentious
tortuous
extemporized
incomprehensible
irreproachable
tendentious
The sentence notes that the speaker's lecture "caused a large amount of controversy." The correct answer will reflect this ability to cause a strong reaction. "Tendentious," meaning biased or dogmatic, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #952 : Text Completion
The __________ reading assigment was difficult for many students to even finish, let alone comprehend.
affable
heralded
tortuous
deferential
complacent
tortuous
The book is mentioned to be "difficult" to "comprehend" by most students. This means the correct answer will reflect this difficulty. "Tortuous," meaning indirect and painfully long-winded, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #953 : Text Completion
The __________ movement was finding difficulty gaining traction and growing.
heralded
populist
nascent
fortified
luminous
nascent
The movement had "difficulty gaining traction and growing." This indicates the correct answer will show the movement was not very strong. "Nascent," meaning new or emerging, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #954 : Text Completion
The __________ illness showed itself as the patient lost fifty pounds in just a few months.
debilitating
tendentious
contentious
immoderate
uplifting
debilitating
The illness has caused the patient to lose "fifty pounds in a few months." This means the illness is severely harming the patient. "Debilitating," meaning weakening or draining, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #955 : Text Completion
Angry villagers swung torches and pitchforks, and the __________ mob that they constituted threatened looked like it might become violent at any moment.
ostensible
onerous
aberrant
volatile
contrite
volatile
We're looking for an adjective that means something like unstable and conveys how a situation might grow worse. Since "volatile" means liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse, "volatile" is the correct answer.
Example Question #956 : Text Completion
Many players viewed the old coach's speeches as being __________, and impossible to challenge in any way.
inerrant
inexplicable
incognito
inchoate
incoherent
inerrant
The players are "unable to challenge" the coach's speeches. This means the correct answer will indicate this inability to question the coach's words. "Inerrant," meaning completely correct and without errors, is the best choice among the answers.
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