GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1431 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her famous wit was as __________ as the chemicals she worked with, which could burn clean through the skin.
arcane
infallible
pellucid
purified
caustic
caustic
We need words that make sense for both a sarcastic wit and corrosive chemicals, like "biting" and "caustic."
Example Question #1432 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The man had charm and a sense of fun, but the lack of real content in his words eventually caused him to be dismissed as __________.
vacuous
enthralling
provocative
infatuating
prosaic
vacuous
"Vacuous" means foolishly silly and empty, which seems to fit the description of this man. "Prosaic" means boring, and the description contradicts this.
Example Question #1433 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The farmer had trouble generating enough harvest on his land and envied his neightbor's __________ fields.
meager
parsimonious
fecund
impotent
felicitous
fecund
"Fecund" means fertile and productive. "Felicitous," or apt, does not have quite the same connotation.
Example Question #1434 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The doctor was so __________ about helping the sick in developing countries that she left her home and opened a clinic.
arduous
enervated
ardent
temperate
congruent
ardent
"Ardent" means passionate, and the doctor is passionate concerning the cause to leave her home. "Enervated" actually means weakened, while "arduous" means hard and demanding a lot of work, which does not fit a description of a person.
Example Question #1435 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Because of all the scams that exist on the web, no one dared give him their credit card number, even though he actually had a __________ online business.
fallacious
transcendental
veritable
mendacious
spurious
veritable
The company is set apart from the scams, so it must be genuine or true, the definition of "veritable." "Fallacious," "spurious," and "mendacious" all imply that the business is false in some way, while "transcendental" does not make sense in context.
Example Question #1436 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He made a habit of __________ magazines at newsstands, but never bought any.
effacing
recapitulating
perusing
consecrating
belaboring
perusing
The sentence indicates the subject deals with the magazines, despite the fact he "never bought any." The correct answer will indicate reading or handling the magazines. "Perusing," meaning to browse through, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1437 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The office building was infested, and the ants were particularly __________.
irksome
mundane
perturbed
personable
affable
irksome
The fact of an infestation, and the existence of ants in the building, indicates an annoying problem. "Personable" and "affable" are too positive for the sentence, while "mundane" does not indicate a problem. The use of "perturbed" indicates the ants, not the people in the building, are bothered. "Irksome," meaning annoying or infuriating, is the correct answer.
Example Question #1438 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The rolling fields were covered with peaceful-looking shrubs and the flocks of local herdsmen; the __________ scene looked like it could inspire any poet.
bucolic
prolific
flowing
limpid
generous
bucolic
Clearly, the scene being described is implied to be peaceful and serene; however, do not be tempted by "limpid" or "flowing." These are very possible, but the associations of the pastoral scenery are more related to the word "bucolic" (having to do with idyllic pastoral environments) than these. Elimination is key for working out this sentence because of the potential ambiguity.
Example Question #1 : Two Blank Texts
Fill in the blanks with the best answers.
The judge, despite occupying a _________ role, demonstrated her _________ when she ruled in favor of the district lawyer.
disinterested . . . animosity
prominent . . . animosity
partisan . . . prejudice
prominent . . . prejudice
disinterested . . . prejudice
disinterested . . . prejudice
"Despite" is hint that the two blanks are opposites. Here "partisan" is an adjective that means inclined to favor one side over the other—it's the opposite of what we want. The judge may be prominent, but that doesn't describe why she shouldn't be taking sides. "Disinterested" is the best choice, which means free from bias. "Prejudice" answers the second blank the best, as the opposite of neutrality and impartiality.
Example Question #2 : Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Sarah was __________ and Jordan was __________, so they made a good couple: one talked while the other listened.
talkative . . . extroverted
garrulous . . . laconic
gregarious . . . introverted
flirtatious . . . forgiving
meek . . . chary
garrulous . . . laconic
The definitions of the words in the two blanks are given in the last phrase: “garrulous” means overly talkative, while “laconic” means reserved and tight-lipped.
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