GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1181 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
His __________ approach to life eventually caught up with him when he aged quickly.
irreproachable
measured
intemperate
disingenuous
pragmatic
intemperate
The sentence directly ties the subject's lifestyle, described by the missing word, to the fact that he "aged quickly." This means the correct answer will indicate that the subject's lifestyle was destructive or problematic. "Intemperate," meaning excessive or immoderate, is the best choice.
Example Question #1182 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
After her first break up, the teenager spent a month being __________ and never smiling.
ebullient
effervescent
lugubrious
garrulous
obstreperous
lugubrious
The sentence gives two clues to the missing word, both the "break up" and the teenager's "never smiling" after it. This means the correct answer will mean sad or depressive, the definition of "lugubrious."
Example Question #1183 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
He was __________ at the shocking news, and refused to talk for months afterward.
unenthused
nonplussed
exasperated
disinterested
reproofed
nonplussed
The subject's reaction to the news meant he "refused to talk for months afterward." This means the correct answer needs to carry an appropriate sense of bewilderment. "Nonplussed," meaning confused or completely shocked, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1184 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
His __________ attempt at impressing his date with his magic skills ruined any chance he had at a second date.
nimble
fortuitous
adroit
nascent
artless
artless
The subject's magic tricks "ruined any chance he had at a second date." This means his date was not impressed with his magic, and it was highly unsuccessful. "Artless," meaning lacking in skill or clumsy, is the correct answer.
Example Question #1185 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The ignorant utterances were shocking to hear from someone as __________ as the lawyer.
obsequious
mundane
noisome
erudite
boorish
erudite
"The ignorant utterances" are a "surprise" when coming from the lawyer, who is described by the missing word. The correct answer will therefore mean the opposite of "ignorant." "Erudite," meaning well learned or scholarly, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1186 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The usually cheerful girl became quite __________ after her grandmother's passing.
gregarious
irksome
plaintive
affable
excitable
plaintive
The structure of the sentence explicitly contrasts the missing word with the girl's "usually cheerful" nature. The correct answer will be an antonym of "cheerful" in some manner. "Plaintive," meaning sad or mournful, is the best choice.
Example Question #1187 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The Duchess of Devonshire Georgiana Spencer enjoyed an enormous amount of influence, with her fashions and political opinions often being __________ among the masses.
prevalent
disdained
disregarded
spurned
rebuffed
prevalent
If Georgiana Spencer's ideas were to be "rebuffed" or "spurned," that would indicate that they had been rejected by the greater populace. On the other hand, if her ideas were "disregarded," that would mean that they had been ignored. And had they been "disdained," her ideas would have been hated by most people. Thus "prevalent," meaning widespread, is the best choice.
Example Question #1188 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Ebenezer Scrooge, the avaricious protagonist of Charles Dickens' A Christms Carol, commences the novel as an incredibly self-serving character, doing only what was __________ to his own financial interests.
inimical
unhelpful
disadvantageous
detrimental
beneficial
beneficial
Self-interested Scrooge would be doing things that were good for his financial interests, but "detrimental to," "disadvantageous to," "inimical to," and "unhelpful to" all mean bad for. "Beneficial" means advantageous and is definitely the best choice.
Example Question #1189 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Trying to maximize the natural light in her room while still maintaining privacy, Susan chose her fabric curtain to be the most __________.
gossamer
stifling
impenetrable
opaque
gossamer
Gossamer—something extremely light, flimsy, or delicate.
Example Question #1190 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The fact that she first chose blue paint, then yellow, then green reinforced Marco’s frustration with his __________ mother.
peremptory
trenchant
decisive
capricious
capricious
Capricious—variable; flightly; mercurial.
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