GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1381 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The band's influences were hard to pin down, and they admitted to having an ____________ album collection.

Possible Answers:

atavistic

substantial

confounding

simplistic

eclectic

Correct answer:

eclectic

Explanation:

The intimation of the sentence's first clause is that the band has many influences, and this should be supported by their collection. Words like "substantial" and "confounding" may work, but "eclectic," meaning wide ranging and different, is the correct answer.

Example Question #1382 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Her love of cats was ______________, considering she was highly allergic to them.

Possible Answers:

officious

perpetual

perspicacious

erratic

ironic

Correct answer:

ironic

Explanation:

The "love of cats" is an off trait for someone who is allergic to cats. The correct answer will indicate the strangeness of that love for cats. "Ironic," meaning surprising or unexpected, is the best choice.

Example Question #1383 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The foreign professor was surprisingly ______________ in English, considering he had only picked up the language a year ago.

Possible Answers:

irksome

substantial

personable

eloquent

irreproachable

Correct answer:

eloquent

Explanation:

While a few of the answer choices could fit, one will fit best. The sentence concerns language abilities, and the correct choice will describe that. "Eloquent," meaning fluent and impressive in speech, is the best fit.

Example Question #1384 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The pharmaceutical company claimed their drug had no harmful side effects, but studies showed ________________ consequences for asthmatics.

Possible Answers:

deleterious

tranquil

distinguished

ambiguous

exceptional

Correct answer:

deleterious

Explanation:

While quite a few of the answer choices fit the sentence, the best choice must be found. The contrast with "no harmful side effects" means the correct answer will mean harmful or disastrous, which is the definition of "deleterious."

Example Question #1385 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Rob had always thought that Janine begrudged him his success, but when he landed the big contract her compliments were surprisingly __________ and seemingly genuine. 

Possible Answers:

reluctant

feckless

effusive

sagacious

fatuous

Correct answer:

effusive

Explanation:

Janine's response was surprising, and Rob expected it to be "begrudged," or miserly. This means Janine's response was the opposite of begrudged. "Effusive" describes praise or positive commentary that arrives in large amounts, which works. "Fatuous" means foolish, which wouldn't be positive. "Reluctant" means the same thing as begrudged so it wouldn't be suprising. "Feckless" means careless or without regard, but it has a negative connotation, which also doesn't fit. "Sagacious" means wise, which might be positive but doesn't contrast with praise that is grudging.

Example Question #1386 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

As she scanned the scene of the disaster, Laura knew she must remain __________ in a time of chaos, crisis, and tragedy, as she was a local politican and knew her constituents would look to her as a role model.

Possible Answers:

conciliatory

stoic

brash

vacillating

frantic

Correct answer:

stoic

Explanation:

A disaster has occurred in the community described in the sentence, and Laura is a local politican. Many expect politicians to be strong, stable role models in such crises, and as such "stoic," which means enduring hardship without showing pain, is the best choice here. 

Example Question #1387 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The professor delivered a __________ lecture at the conference droning on in a monotonous voice for an hour when he had only been scheduled to speak for twenty minutes.

Possible Answers:

endemic

prolix

apocryphal

sordid

bombastic

Correct answer:

prolix

Explanation:

We're looking for an adjective that describes how the professor's lecture was lengthy and dull. While both "bombastic" and "prolix" are adjectives that can describe speeches, "bombastic" means high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated, whereas "prolix" means using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy and is the best choice for the context of the sentence.

Example Question #1388 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

She realized that Olivia's praise was __________ and that all of her compliments were actually subtle insults.

Possible Answers:

adulterated

florid

adroit

disingenuous

torpid

Correct answer:

disingenuous

Explanation:

We're looking for an adjective that describes the fake nature of Olivia's compliments, so we're looking for a word that means something like fake. Because of this, "disingenuous," which means not frank, candid, or sincere, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #1389 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.

The inclusion of her late mother's ring into her wedding was a __________ gesture.

Possible Answers:

poignant

obscene

revolting

horrifying

senseless

Correct answer:

poignant

Explanation:

The small use of the ring in the wedding indicate the gesture was quite moving. "Revolting," "horrifying," "senseless," and "obscene" each have too strong of a meaning having to do with shock or terribleness. "Poignant," meaning deeply moving, is the correct answer.

Example Question #1390 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.

His __________ behavior towards his mother often complicated his relationship with his wife, as she felt he was less attentive to her.

Possible Answers:

boorish

obsequious

cynical

aloof

disinterested

Correct answer:

obsequious

Explanation:

The phrase "less attentive" and the structure of the sentence indicate that the man was quite attentive to his mother. "Disinterested," "cynical," "aloof," and "boorish" all would mean he was ignoring or even mistreating his mother. "Obsequious," which means servile or submissive, is the only word that correctly completes the sentence.

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