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 #261 : Adjectives And Adverbs 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.

Possible Answers:

laconic

florid

pedantic

colloquial

esoteric

Correct answer:

laconic

Explanation:

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 #262 : Adjectives And Adverbs 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.

Possible Answers:

enervating

halcyon

ephemeral

wanton

lugubrious

Correct answer:

halcyon

Explanation:

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 #263 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

The __________ boxer often took his fighting outside the ring, getting into minor scuffles everywhere he went.

Possible Answers:

noisome

bellicose

insular

torpid

phlegmatic

Correct answer:

bellicose

Explanation:

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 #264 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

The speaker's __________ lecture caused a large amount of controversy among the students.

Possible Answers:

extemporized

irreproachable

tendentious

tortuous

incomprehensible

Correct answer:

tendentious

Explanation:

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 #265 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

The __________ reading assigment was difficult for many students to even finish, let alone comprehend.

Possible Answers:

tortuous

complacent

deferential

heralded

affable

Correct answer:

tortuous

Explanation:

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 #266 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

The __________ movement was finding difficulty gaining traction and growing.

Possible Answers:

luminous

populist

nascent

fortified

heralded

Correct answer:

nascent

Explanation:

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 #267 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

The __________ illness showed itself as the patient lost fifty pounds in just a few months.

Possible Answers:

tendentious

immoderate

uplifting

debilitating

contentious

Correct answer:

debilitating

Explanation:

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 #268 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Angry villagers swung torches and pitchforks, and the __________ mob that they constituted threatened looked like it might become violent at any moment.

Possible Answers:

volatile

onerous

contrite

ostensible

aberrant

Correct answer:

volatile

Explanation:

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 #269 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

Many players viewed the old coach's speeches as being __________, and impossible to challenge in any way.

Possible Answers:

inexplicable

inerrant

incoherent

inchoate

incognito

Correct answer:

inerrant

Explanation:

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.

Example Question #270 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Texts

"The __________ duke didn't really care which of the warring factions claimed the throne, so long as it bribed him to support its cause."

Possible Answers:

venal

timorous

invidious

guileful

insipid

Correct answer:

venal

Explanation:

We're looking for an adjective that conveys how easily the duke is bribed. Since "venal" means "susceptible to bribery," it is the correct answer.

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