GRE Verbal : Two Adjectives or Adverbs in Two-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1973 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The _______________ teens, who spent much of their time engaging in lewd talk, finally had an outlet to discuss these matters appropriately in their ____________ physical education class, which just started this year.
scruffy . . . enchanting
egregious . . . frightening
prurient . . . nascent
lively . . . soft
quaint . . . gruff
prurient . . . nascent
"Prurient", meaning interested in sexual matters, works here because the teens are engaged in lewd talk. "Nascent", meaning new, works here because the physical education class just started this year.
Example Question #1726 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The _________________ birds, singing the sweetest songs, were muted by the ______________ cat, who stalked and ate them one by one.
mellifluous . . . hungry
dull . . . tired
green . . . tricky
sly . . . trippy
bright . . . ungrateful
mellifluous . . . hungry
"Mellifluous", meaning sweet and melodious, works because it describes the singing birds. "Hungry" works as it provides reason for the cat eating the birds.
Example Question #1974 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ________________ babysitter, known for her crazy temper, was not well suited to take care of the ________________ children who never calmed down
unctuous . . . jubilant
fiery . . . rambunctious
cunning . . . insulting
crafty . . . careful
surly . . . pleasant
fiery . . . rambunctious
"Fiery" works because it describes the short temper of the babysitter. "Rambunctious" works because it describes children who never calm down.
Example Question #1975 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Trying to stop the ___________________ dog, foaming at the mouth, the _______________ veterinarian, fearful due to never having dealt with crazy animals, injected him with tranquilizer as a last resort.
iron . . . easy
enlivening . . . punchy
strong . . . freezing
cheesy . . . loose
rabid . . . frightened
rabid . . . frightened
"Rabid" works as an adjective because it provides a reason for why the dog would be foaming at the mouth. "Frightened" works as a descriptor for the veterinarian, as the following phrase alludes to his fear.
Example Question #1976 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ____________ youth, in and out of jail, finally received an ______________ after one of his friends was put in prison for life, and now has his life on track.
ungrateful . . . determination
selfish . . . present
troubled . . . awakening
drowsy . . . mite
frisky . . . heartache
troubled . . . awakening
"Troubled" works as an adjective for the youth, who has been to jail many times and seems to have problems. "Awakening" describes the change the youth experienced after his friend went to prison, and the subsequent turn around he experienced in his life.
Example Question #1977 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The _________________ witch, appearing elegantly on the coastline and not hinting at her danger, bewitched the _______________ sailors (who simply thought her to be a young maiden) into doing her bidding.
respectable . . . obvious
young . . . devilish
oscillating . . . mild
enchanting . . . unsuspecting
flatlined . . . curious
enchanting . . . unsuspecting
"Enchanting" works because it matches the description of the witches' elegance from the following sentence. "Unsuspecting" works because it describes the sailors, who didn't know the witch was dangerous.
Example Question #1731 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ______________ speakeasy, appearing to be one million years old, was frequented by people with sensibilities just as _______________.
ancient . . . antediluvian
awkward . . . pointed
sleepy . . . wandering
trusting . . . egregious
modern . . . creepy
ancient . . . antediluvian
"Ancient" works as a descriptor, as the speakeasy is defined as appearing one million years old. "Antediluvian" is a synonym for "ancient," so it works in this context, as the sentence establishes sensibilities and the speakeasy as parallel.
Example Question #1732 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The _____________ lyrics to the song, so inoffensive even the youngest of children could listen, still managed to offend the ________________ old woman, always upset and looking for reasons to stay that way.
explicit . . . foul
anodyne . . . crotchety
fledgling . . . piquant
servile . . . masculine
harsh . . . horrible
anodyne . . . crotchety
"Anodyne", meaning actively inoffensive, works because it describes the song. "Crotchety" works here because it describes the old woman who is perpetually upset.
Example Question #1733 : Text Completion
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
One brother was a magician on the basketball court, pivoting left and right, completely __________. The other was so __________, he couldn’t balance a basketball unless it was placed in his dominant hand.
multifaceted . . . deft
ambidextrous . . . maladroit
uncouth . . . bungling
proficient . . . adept
gauche . . . inept
ambidextrous . . . maladroit
"Dexterous” is based on a Latin word and means skillful. “Ambidextrous,” which comes from a Latin word meaning right-handed on both sides, refers to someone who can use either hand with equal dexterity. “Maladroit” refers to someone who is clumsy and incompetent. Since the sentences are contrasting the two brothers, “ambidextrous . . . maladroit” is the best answer.
Example Question #1734 : Text Completion
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The instructions for setting up the desk were __________ to say the least. For one, it was a little __________ as to how many nuts and bolts the package was supposed to include.
demoralizing . . . lucid
galvanizing . . . cryptic
disconcerting . . . ambiguous
discombobulating . . . patent
buoying . . . opaque
disconcerting . . . ambiguous
Notice right off the bat that there is no shift between the two sentences. Thus, the words in the two blanks will likely be similar in meaning. “Disconcerting” means something is unsettling or confusing. When something is “ambiguous,” it has more than one possible meaning. “Disconcerting . . . ambiguous” is the correct answer.
All GRE Verbal Resources
