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 #1071 : Text Completion
The man was physically fine after his fall, but still had many __________ problems.
musculature
atavistic
brawn
synaptic
cognitive
cognitive
The key to the sentence is that "the man was physically fine," but had other problems. This means the correct answer will indicate something not having to do with the body. "Cognitive," meaning having to do with thinking, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1072 : Text Completion
The young woman was __________ in her religious beliefs, and nothing could shake them.
limpid
austere
fervid
macerated
slight
fervid
"Nothing could shake" the young woman's "religious beliefs," which are described by the missing word. This means the correct answer must indicate how deep and powerful the beliefs are. "Fervid," meaning passionate or intense, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1073 : Text Completion
The quarterback had a __________ gift for making the right decision that few other players possessed.
dormant
preternatural
colloquial
malignant
picayune
preternatural
The sentence notes the gift described by the missing word is one "few other players possessed." This indicates the correct answer has to show something rare or unique. "Preternatural," meaning beyond the usual, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1074 : Text Completion
The young boy cut a __________ figure, even though he came from an out-of-shape family.
foolhardy
sinewy
lugubrious
quibbling
perfidious
sinewy
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the family's being "out of shape." The correct answer has to indicate fitness or strength. "Sinewy," meaning lean and muscular, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1324 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The man told a __________ joke that was too subtle to be appreciated by his audience.
mundane
riotous
wry
pedantic
ferrous
wry
The joke was "too subtle" for the subject's audience, a description that also helps find the missing word. The correct answer will mean dry or sardonic, the very definition of "wry."
Example Question #1075 : Text Completion
The trip was more __________ than initially thought, and took twice as long as scheduled.
arduous
easygoing
quaint
profligate
pithy
arduous
The trip "took twice as long as scheduled," indicating it was not as easy as originally thought. The correct answer will indicate this trouble. "Arduous," meaning difficult and hard, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1076 : Text Completion
The __________ company had no chance of standing firm when the stock market crashed and harmed other businesses.
influential
dynamic
robust
dominant
fledgling
fledgling
The sentence notes that "other businesses" were harmed, indicating a company with "no chance of standing firm" would be worse than those businesses. The correct answer must mean inexperienced or brand new, the definition of "fledgling."
Example Question #1077 : Text Completion
The __________ matter took over a large part of the conversation for some unknown reason.
picayune
monumental
intriguing
consequential
significant
picayune
The matter "for some unknown reason" was still taking a "large part." The correct answer has to indicate the matter was unimportant and not meaningful. "Picayune," meaning trivial or small, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1078 : Text Completion
The seemingly boring topic can be turned into a __________ speech by a gifted orator.
mundane
riveting
pedantic
patronizing
banal
riveting
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the "seemingly boring." This indicates the correct answer will indicate the speech was interesting in a surprising way. "Riveting," meaning fascinating or enthralling, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1041 : One Blank Texts
The lenthy course in traffic engineering made him a __________ expert in the field.
desultory
flailing
perfidious
veritable
mundane
veritable
The sentence intensifies its description of the subject as an "expert" with the missing word. The correct answer will show the man was a genuine "expert." "Veritable," literally meaning able to be proved, but often used as modifier to mean nearly true, is the best choice in the sentence.
All GRE Verbal Resources
