GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1221 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The football coach's __________ approach to training surprised all the players used to more traditional methods.

Possible Answers:

inane

heterodox

mundane

orthodox

vulgar

Correct answer:

heterodox

Explanation:

The key word in the sentence is "traditional," as the sentence is constructed to contrast the missing word with it.  All of the other information, about football, coaching, and training methods, is unnecessary to find the correct answer. "Heterodox," meaning unorthodox and against tradition, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1222 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

She was noted for being extremely __________, and always had every article of clothing in place.

Possible Answers:

mannered

slovenly

intractable

discombobulated

callow

Correct answer:

mannered

Explanation:

The subject has a careful approach to her appearance, with "every article of clothing in place." This indicates she was always making sure to look appropriate. "Mannered," meaning stylized and affected, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1223 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Despite a history of conflict, he decided to be __________ to his rival when trouble arose.

Possible Answers:

antagonistic

pugnacious

tendentious

adversarial

deferential

Correct answer:

deferential

Explanation:

Although the sentence discusses rivals and "a history of conflict," the construction of the sentence indicates the subject was acting against that history. The correct answer must indicate avoiding conflict or backing down from a fight. "Deferential," meaning showing respect, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1224 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Although an interesting theory, it needed stronger __________ backing, as it largely relied on stories from a handful of individuals.

Possible Answers:

orthodox

anecdotal

empirical

energetic

ambivalent

Correct answer:

empirical

Explanation:

The sentence contrasts the missing word with the theory's reliance on "stories from a handful of individuals."  This means the correct answer will mean not relying on stories, or small samples. "Empirical," meaning experiential and observed, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1225 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

With a red coat and a fake tail, the wrestler was __________ enough to pass as "The Fox."

Possible Answers:

porcine

bovine

equine

vulpine

avian

Correct answer:

vulpine

Explanation:

The answer to this question is fairly straightforward, as "the wrestler" is called "The Fox."  "Vulpine" means fox-like, making it run in parallel with the other answer choices. ("Avian" is bird-like; "bovine" is cow-like; "porcine" is pig-like; "equine" is horse-like).

Example Question #1226 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The __________ teenager managed to not only wreck his car, but injure his leg while doing so.

Possible Answers:

courageous

hapless

composed

fortuitous

perennial

Correct answer:

hapless

Explanation:

The sentence describes an injury on top of "wrecking a car" by the teenager.  The missing word needs to indicate that the teenager has run into a good deal of misfortune. "Hapless," meaning unlucky, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1227 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.

Although I had known him only a short time, our __________ friendship seemed to grow more intimate every day.

Possible Answers:

mercurial

steadfast

continuous

innocuous

burgeoning

Correct answer:

burgeoning

Explanation:

Look for clues as to what kind of word completes this sentence. The word “although” hints that there is some seeming contradiction between concepts in this sentence; in this case, between the short time of the speaker’s acquaintance and the intimacy of their bond. Note that this intimacy is characterized as “growing;” this allows you to know that the correct answer should be a word that implies growth. This words is “burgeoning,” which means growing or flourishing.

Example Question #1228 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.

The professor's teaching style seemed, to many students, __________; however, others appreciated his more classic didactic approach.

Possible Answers:

multifarious

impractical

antediluvian

irascible

superfluous

Correct answer:

antediluvian

Explanation:

The word however clues you in that there is a contradiction between the first clause of the sentence and the second. In this case, the contradiction exists between students who feel the professor's approach is . . . the word you're looking for, and "classic." The word classic tells you the professor's style is probably old-school; the contradiction, then, would be between students who feel this is a positive and those who think it is negative. The word "antediluvian" means outmoded or ancient—the best fit for a description of an "out-of-date" teaching style.

Example Question #1229 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.

The discussion at the colloquium felt very __________—it seemed, at some times, that not even the learned presenters fully understood their topic.

Possible Answers:

exorbitant

harrowing

rambunctious

fervid

esoteric

Correct answer:

esoteric

Explanation:

The dash lets you know that the sentence's second clause should help explain what came before it (in this case, the word you need to figure out). The description "not even the learned presenters fully understood their topic" lets you know that the topic was confusing and possibly obscure. The closest word choice to match that meaning is "esoteric," which means intended to be understood by only a few.

Example Question #1230 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.

Her plan after graduation was still at an __________ stage; she didn't yet know whether she wanted to pursue graduate school or run away to Hollywood to be in show business.

Possible Answers:

anomalous

explicit

inchoate

inhibited

aberrant

Correct answer:

inchoate

Explanation:

You know you are looking for a word to describe a stage of the subject's post-graduation plans. From reading that she still doesn't even know whether grad school or Hollywood is a better option, you can safely infer she probably has not advanced very far in her plans yet; therefore, look for a word that means incomplete or disorganized. "Inchoate" means in an early stage or undeveloped, so it is the best fit for this sentence.

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