GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1311 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The smart boy was quite __________ when it came to studying, believing good grades would naturally come to him.
seminal
complacent
adept
vigorous
pedantic
complacent
The "smart boy" believes "good grades would naturally come to him." This indicates he thinks he does not need to work very hard "when it comes to studying." "Complacent," meaning self-satisfied to the point of being lazy, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #1312 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The service on the website was __________, and prevented people from staying on it for too long.
exemplary
stellar
unwavering
intermittent
germane
intermittent
The service prevents "people from staying on it too long." This indicates the service was highly inconsistent, which should be reflected in the correct answer. "Intermittent," meaning sporadic or irregular, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1313 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Her knowledge of the woods proved __________ to finding a way out when the group got lost.
vital
detrimental
dormant
inconsequential
injurious
vital
"Her knowledge of the woods" came into play "when the group got lost." As this knowledge found a way out, it proves it is important, which should be reflected in the correct answer. "Vital," meaning essential and important, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1314 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Many scholars now say violence is __________ in humans, and did not develop through time.
rising
evolutionary
contemporary
primordial
emerging
primordial
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the possibility violence "did not develop over time." This means the correct answer needs to mean violence was always present. "Primordial," meaning since the beginning of time, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1315 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The bizarre rules of the cult required everyone to be _________ thanks to the leader's hatred of his deformed right hand.
mundane
acquiescent
sinistral
obliqueness
orthodox
sinistral
The sentence gives one very large clue, by noting the leader has a "hatred of his deformed right hand." The correct answer will therefore indicate left-handedness, the exact definition of "sinistral."
Example Question #1316 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Although the story was proved to be __________, many people believed it anyway.
fabricated
wholesome
fervent
straightforward
congruent
fabricated
The sentence says "many people believed" the story, even though it was the missing word. The correct answer needs to show that the story should not be believed. "Fabricated," meaning constructed or fake, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1317 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The kids had to make sure their stories were __________ so their parents would not catch any differences.
patronizing
explicit
discreet
duplicitous
congurent
congurent
The kids are trying to avoid having their parents "catch any differences" in their stories. This means the correct answer has to reflect an attempt to make the stories similar. "Congruent," meaning matching or in line with, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1318 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The student's plea for a new class was so __________ that the principal was convinced to start it.
underwhelming
fervent
pretentious
disjointed
errant
fervent
The principal was "convinced" because the "student's plea" has the missing word. The correct answer must indicate that the student had a quality that made the principal relent on the class. "Fervent," meaning passionate and deeply held, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1319 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The agreement was __________ and a team of lawyers could do nothing to break it.
ironclad
underwhelming
forbearing
somatic
discreet
ironclad
Since "a team of lawyers could do nothing to break it," the agreement must be quite firm. The correct answer must mean unable to be changed or unbreakable, the definition of "ironclad."
Example Question #1320 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The man was physically fine after his fall, but still had many __________ problems.
atavistic
synaptic
brawn
cognitive
musculature
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.
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