GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Critics gave the movie rave reviews, and the lead performance especially won their .
plaudits, appraisal
plaudits, approbation
tedium, appraisal
tedium, lamentation
approbation, lethargy
plaudits, approbation
We need synonyms for “praises”. The words which make sense are "plaudits" and "approbation." "Appraisal" sounds right, but this means an estimation or look-over, like a real estate appraisal.
Example Question #2 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The equipment crew wanted to get the field ready for the big game, but the constant snow their progress.
burgeoned, enfranchised
hampered, burgeoned
impeded, harangued
hampered, impeded
assisted, enfranchised
hampered, impeded
The snow obviously slowed or hindered their progress, and “hampered” and “impeded” are synonyms for this. "Enfranchise" means to give voting rights, while "harangued" means gave a verbal attack.
Example Question #3 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Our company needs to respond to complaints with more if we want customers to be satisfied quickly enough that they will continue to come back.
nuance, perpetuity
nuance, tenacity
celerity, blasphemy
celerity, swiftness
blasphemy, tenacity
celerity, swiftness
The customers need to be satisfied quickly, so this implies we need words associated with speed. “Celerity” and “swiftness” both mean haste. "Tenacity" and "nuance" might make sense, but do not have a synonym amongst the choices.
Example Question #4 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Even the small amount of contaminant __________ the chemical enough that the technicians had to dump it.
ameliorated, adulterated
shunned, eschewed
alloyed, adulterated
capitulated, alloyed
ameliorated, shunned
alloyed, adulterated
The contaminant obviously contaminated the chemical, making it less pure. Both "alloy" (as a verb, pronounced al-LOY) and "adulterate" mean this. "Ameliorate" means to make something better.
Example Question #5 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The mayor was __________ for his speech, which nearly everyone agreed was inappropriate and offensive.
malingered, riposted
censured, lambasted
praised, malingered
lauded, praised
censured, lauded
censured, lambasted
Since they did not like the speech, the people obviously harshly criticized the mayor. Synonyms for this are "censured" and "lambasted."
Example Question #6 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The king had a good heart, but lacked courage. He was too __________ to take any risks that would have bettered the lives of his people.
astute, insipid
astute, genteel
insipid, frugal
timorous, genteel
pusillanimous, timorous
pusillanimous, timorous
The context suggests that the king would better the lives of his people if he were not too afraid to take risks. “Pusillanimous” and “timorous” mean “cowardly”, so these make sense. “Frugal” or “insipid” (dull, boring) could make sense in context, but have no synonym in this list.
Example Question #7 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
When insulted, the man at the bar struck back verbally, but made it clear that he did not wish to __________ any physical violence.
disseminate, foment
reciprocate, disseminate
unleash, retaliate
instigate, foment
reciprocate, instigate
instigate, foment
The man does not want to start any trouble, which would be to “instigate” and “foment." Both mean to start or cause something to happen. “Reciprocate” and “retaliate” could be synonyms, but they don't make sense since no physical violence has occurred yet.
Example Question #8 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
A local car dealer has received negative publicity over the last month because of fraud allegations from former customers. The car dealer recently claimed that all his cars have have been sold for their market value, a spurious statement that has angered former customers. The customers have suggested that a technically correct but elusive statement does not absolve the dealer of responsibility.
As used in the above passage, "spurious" most accurately means which of the following?
deceitful
false
antagonistic
confused
coercive
deceitful
"Spurious" could be used to describe a misleading statement that is either false or deceitful. Since the statement in this passage was technically correct, "spurious" in this context more accurately means "deceitful" than "false."
Example Question #9 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The political change in 1979 was not merely a change in power. Instead, it was a cataclysmic shift, ushering in a new era through hostility.
As used in the passage above, "cataclysmic" most accurately means which of the following?
political uprising
disastrous
politically destructive
disorderly
violent destruction
political uprising
While several answers could fit, "political uprising" most accurately defines the word as it is used here. "Cataclysmic" is generally used in the context of government and politics and that is the context here as well. Further, "cataclysmic" indicates an uprising but not necessarily destruction or disaster.
Example Question #9 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Certain dog breeds undoubtedly pose a greater danger than others. Yet, dangerous dog breeds provide protection to their owners that less dangerous dogs could not provide. Lawmakers are justified in restricting which dog breeds may be kept as pets, but they must not __________ ownership of dangerous dog breeds entirely.
Which of the following best completes the paragraph?
contravene
contain
prohibit
qualify
permit
prohibit
"Prohibit" most logically completes the paragraph. The passage makes the point that dangerous dogs provide the benefit of protection. This answer accounts for that assertion.
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