GRE Verbal : Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Texts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #231 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

The band's music was usually considered __________ and highly inappropriate for mainstream radio.

Possible Answers:

noisome

mundane

congenial

subtle

pedestrian

Correct answer:

noisome

Explanation:

The band's music is "highly inappropriate for mainstream radio." The correct answer must reflect a sense of horribleness or offensiveness. "Noisome," meaning disgusting or repugnant, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #232 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Naturally reserved and fearful of the overwhelming crowd of adults, the small child remained __________ in the face of all their questioning and hid behind her mother.

Possible Answers:

irritable

voluble

desolate

loquacious

reticent 

Correct answer:

reticent 

Explanation:

"Voluble" and "loquacious" both mean talkative, which is probably not the case with this child. The child might be "irritable," meaning easily angered, or "desolate," meaning depressed. But "reticent," meaning silent makes more sense because the child is shy but has no reason to be angered or saddened.

Example Question #233 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

In spite of her musical talent, Talia never became a popular Broadway actress because her __________ manner rendered her characters impersonable.

Possible Answers:

forthcoming

sincere

unfaltering

affected

eloquent

Correct answer:

affected

Explanation:

There is something about the way Talia acts that made it impossible for her audiences to relate to her characters. So "sincere" and "forthcoming," both meaning honest, do not work. Meanwhile "eloquent" and "unfaltering" both describe someone who speaks with conviction. Thus "affected," meaning fake, is the best choice.

Example Question #234 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Despite his popular appeal and acclaim among critics, the writer remained __________, preferring the solitude of his own home to public book signings and colloquia with other famed writers.

Possible Answers:

convivial

genial

courteous

misanthropic

affable

Correct answer:

misanthropic

Explanation:

"Courteous," "convivial," "genial," and "affable" could all be used to describe someone polite or friendly. Only "misanthropic," meaning antisocial, could describe someone like the writer in question.

Example Question #235 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Although sentimental readers find the intricate plot of the romance Gone with the Wind to be riveting, more pragmatic thinkers find the long story to be __________.

Possible Answers:

stirring

evocative

elementary

primitive

soporific

Correct answer:

soporific

Explanation:

"Elementary" and "primitive" both mean basic, which contradicts the idea that the plot of the novel is "intricate." "Evocative" and "stirring," both meaning exciting, draw no contrast with the word "riveting," but it is clear from the word "although" that pragmatic thinkers and sentimental readers are supposed feel differently about the novel. Thus "soporific," meaning dull or inducing sleep, is the best choice.

Example Question #235 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Once a __________ term for a supposed anarchist, the term "punk" has evolved to describe a rich subculture, with an emphasis on individual freedom.

Possible Answers:

pejorative

commendation

adulation

indifference

deference

Correct answer:

pejorative

Explanation:

So it is possible that "punk" was meant to be a term of "deference," meaning respect. It is also possible it was meant to be a term of "adulation" or "commendation," meaning praise. It could possibly also be a term of "indifference," meaning detachment, but given that it was meant to describe someone who might be anti-government, it is more likely that the term "punk" was once a "pejorative," a term of disparagement.

Example Question #237 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Rescued from his neglectful owner, the dog, though he already appeared to be __________, was found to be far more chronically underweight than expected after further medical attention.

Possible Answers:

rabid

gluttonous

voracious

ponderous

emaciated

Correct answer:

emaciated

Explanation:

"Ponderous", meaning hefty, could probably not be used to describe an underweight dog. "Rabid" might describe a dog who has suffered neglect, but the sentence seems to want to emphasize his weight more than anything. "Gluttonous" and "voracious," both meaning greedy or hungry, might describe this underweight dog. But "emaciated," meaning starved, is probably the best choice.

Example Question #236 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Unhindered by the threat of imprisonment or physical abuse at the hands of law enforcement, Susan B. Anthony was __________ in her efforts to secure women's suffrage.

Possible Answers:

infallible

apathetic

lackadaisical

unenthused

vigorous

Correct answer:

vigorous

Explanation:

It is unlikely that Susan B. Anthony was "unenthused," or not excited, in her fight for women's suffrage, because she was not even deterred by beatings or prison. The idea that she was "lackadaisical," or lazy, in her efforts is also unlikely. "Apathetic," meaning indifferent, is also not a good descriptor for this woman. She could be "infallible," meaning flawless, in her efforts, but the sentence seems to want to stress her energy and perseverence more than her flawlessness. Thus "vigorous," meaning marked by force, is the best choice.

Example Question #239 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Some people certainly pursue philanthropic projects for more __________ reasons such as a desire for recognition than for the simple joy of helping others.

Possible Answers:

mercenary

principled

unadulterated

scrupulous

honorable

Correct answer:

mercenary

Explanation:

"Unadulterated," "honorable," "principled," and "scrupulous" would describe the motivator of the joy of helping others. "Mercenary," meaning motivated by desire for gain, makes the most sense.

Example Question #240 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

My father was a man of simple tastes, and even as his means grew, he never wanted to abandon his modest house for more __________ accomodations.

Possible Answers:

baroque

unadorned

unostentiatious

begrimed

squalid

Correct answer:

baroque

Explanation:

"Unadorned" and "unostentatious" both mean not showy, so those would be characteristics of a modest house, and we want something to describe the opposite of this. "Squalid" and "begrimed" both describe very filthy and impoverished conditions. These are not conditions that one would take on as one's means grew. "Baroque," meaning lavish or extravagant, is the best choice.

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