All GRE Verbal Resources
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.
noisome
mundane
congenial
subtle
pedestrian
noisome
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.
irritable
voluble
desolate
loquacious
reticent
reticent
"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.
forthcoming
sincere
unfaltering
affected
eloquent
affected
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.
convivial
genial
courteous
misanthropic
affable
misanthropic
"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 __________.
stirring
evocative
elementary
primitive
soporific
soporific
"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.
pejorative
commendation
adulation
indifference
deference
pejorative
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.
rabid
gluttonous
voracious
ponderous
emaciated
emaciated
"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.
infallible
apathetic
lackadaisical
unenthused
vigorous
vigorous
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.
mercenary
principled
unadulterated
scrupulous
honorable
mercenary
"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.
baroque
unadorned
unostentiatious
begrimed
squalid
baroque
"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.