GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1261 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The boy was kicked out of school for __________ behavior, which put the school in repeated difficult situations.

Possible Answers:

innocuous

irreproachable

indecorous

understated

precocious

Correct answer:

indecorous

Explanation:

The boy is being "kicked out of school," indicating the behavior is not what the school would deem appropriate. The correct answer needs to indicate his poor behavior. "Indecorous," meaning inappropriate or unseemly, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1262 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The emotions were __________ in him until his mother's cutting remark made them explode out of him.

Possible Answers:

volatile

slack

pervasive

dormant

extemporaneous

Correct answer:

dormant

Explanation:

The subject's emotions "explode out of him" only after the "cutting remark" from his mother. This indicates the emotions were not well shown before the remark. "Dormant," meaning laying inactive or not above the surface, is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #1263 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The teacher believed the poor student had __________ intelligence other teachers had not brought out in him, but that she could.

Possible Answers:

explosive

limpid

palpable

torrential

latent

Correct answer:

latent

Explanation:

The sentence describes the teacher thinking she could "bring out" the intelligence in the "poor student." This means the missing word has to indicate something hidden or underdeveloped, the definition of "latent."

Example Question #1264 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The __________ animal was an easy target for the predators hunting the pack.

Possible Answers:

problematic

plodding

veiled

concealed

unobtrusive

Correct answer:

plodding

Explanation:

The animal described by the missing word is an "easy target" for predators, who are presumably looking for the obvious animal. The correct answer should make the subject of the sentence stick out in some way. "Plodding," meaning exremely slow and heavy, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1265 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The time it took to travel to the wedding was __________ and meant he could not attend.

Possible Answers:

prohibitive

unassuming

negotiable

modest

unprepossessing

Correct answer:

prohibitive

Explanation:

The subject of the sentence "could not attend" the wedding, because of the travel requirements. The correct answer will indicate the travel was problematic or there wa a great deal of it. "Prohibitive," meaning exorbitantly expensive or impossible, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1266 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The film followed the familiar trope where an unattractive girl gets a makeover into a highly __________ woman.

Possible Answers:

complicating

duping

mitigating

arresting

enervating

Correct answer:

arresting

Explanation:

The sentence describes "the familiar trope" of woman changing from "an unattractive girl" into a woman described by the missing word. The correct answer will mean the opposite of "unattractive." "Arresting," meaning attracting attention or striking, is the best chocie among the answers.

Example Question #1267 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The mother was extremely __________ and sought to play off her children's emotions.

Possible Answers:

manipulative

perfunctory

generous

pithy

indigent

Correct answer:

manipulative

Explanation:

The sentence describes the woman as seeking to "play off her children's emotions." The correct answer needs to parallel this playing of emotions. "Manipulative," meaning scheming and calculating, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1268 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The musician was highly __________, and few critics understood what he would do next.

Possible Answers:

enigmatic

psychotic

restorative

dull

mundane

Correct answer:

enigmatic

Explanation:

The key words in the sentence are that "few critics understood" the musician. The correct answer should indicate an unpredictability or strangeness to the musician's career. "Enigmatic," which means puzzling or mysterious, which is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1269 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The boys' attempts to take the car were almost admirably __________, as they were nearly certain to be caught.

Possible Answers:

irreproachable

perspicacious

serene

foolhardy

clever

Correct answer:

foolhardy

Explanation:

The sentence notes the boys "were nearly certain to be caught," which is the best description of the plan besides the missing word. The correct answer must show that the boys were neither careful nor wise. "Foolhardy," meaning reckless and imprudent, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #1270 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Since the lawyer had a large salary, she felt it was best to help the __________ with free legal help.

Possible Answers:

dormant

sinistral

indigent

affluent

dillettante

Correct answer:

indigent

Explanation:

The sentence describes how the subject gives "free legal help" because she "had a large salary." This indicate the legal help was given to people who could not pay. "Indigent," meaning the extremely poor and needy, is the correct answer choice.

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