GRE Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #201 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The neighborhood's lots were so small that the houses had to __________ each other.
leaven
purchase
mitigate
patronize
abut
abut
The only real clue in the sentence is that the "neighborhood's lots were so small." The correct answer will therefore have to indicate a closeness or lack of space. "Abut," meaning to come up on or touch, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #202 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The girl was __________ in Greek mythology, and could recite the tales for the rest of her life.
inadequate
supplicant
indicted
morose
steeped
steeped
The sentence explains that the girl "could recite the tales for the rest of her life." This indicates that she knew them quite well, a fact which must be reflected in the correct answer. "Steeped," meaning to soak in or bathe, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #203 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The explosives were __________ into the hole by a mound of dirt, and were not visible until they were stepped on.
rambled
displaced
enjoined
tamped
tarnished
tamped
The sentence describes the explosives as "not visible until they were stepped on." The correct answer must mean placed in or hidden. "Tamped," meaning packed tightly or plugged up, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #204 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The war was disastrous, and ended up __________ the populations on both sides.
extirpating
decimating
exculpating
waffling
divesting
decimating
The sentence points out that "the war was disastrous," which indicates the results were quite bad for both sides. The correct answer not only needs to be negative, but strongly so. "Decimating," literally destroying one tenth, but frequently meaning to destroy a large part, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #205 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The torture methods included __________ pieces of skin out of the victim.
patronizing
exculpating
gouging
disarming
adorning
gouging
The sentence helps modify the missing word by noting "pieces of skin" were "out of the victims." This indicates the correct answer has to mean the skin was pulled out. "Gouging," meaning cutting or digging, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #206 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
Many politicians have tried to __________ the poor conditions of people living in slums.
abate
ameliorate
apprise
abscond
aggregate
ameliorate
The choice that makes the most sense is "ameliorate," to improve or make better.
Example Question #207 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The overconfident attorney relied on his ability to argue, rather than providing hard evidence to __________ his case.
distend
bolster
deride
belie
obviate
bolster
The choice that makes the most sense is "bolster," to support or reinforce.
Example Question #208 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
It is often difficult to __________ a bad first impression.
default
diffuse
deride
distend
disabuse
disabuse
The choice that makes the most sense is "disabuse," to correct a false impression or persuade (someone) that a belief is mistaken.
Example Question #209 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Always careful about his health and nutrition, the athlete __________ any fried or fatty foods.
embraced
harbored
ascertained
approved
eschewed
eschewed
The sentence describes the subject as "careful about his health and nutrition," and the missing word describes his approach to "any fried or fatty food." This means the correct answer will show the athlete not taking the unhealthy food. "Eschewed," meaning to shun or avoid, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #210 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
Caught completely unaware by his professor's question, Alfred timidly ventured a guess, which much to his relief, his professor __________.
ignored
denigrated
corroborated
derided
gainsaid
corroborated
"Gainsaid" is the past tense of "gainsay," which means to contradict; this means that Alfred's answer was wrong, so he would not be relieved. If we were to choose "derided," the professor would have made fun of Alfred's answer, and Alfred would once more probably not be relieved. "Denigrated," meaning criticized, also seems unlikely. We might be tempted to choose "ignored," but "corroborated," meaning made certain or attested to the truth and reliability of, is a much better choice.
All GRE Verbal Resources
