All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1601 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
When the article _______________ that the candidate had a long and troubling history of _________________, there was a massive movement made by presidential supporters to boycott the paper.
insinuated . . . rectitude
asserted . . . veracity
exculpated . . . impropriety
rescinded . . . corruption
alleged . . . malfeasance
alleged . . . malfeasance
The backlash made by the presidential supporters implies that something bad or denigrating had been written about the candidate. Therefore, we can cross “veracity” and “rectitude” off the list. To “allege” is to accuse without proof, and “malfeasance” means wrongful behavior by a public official. These two form the correct response.
Example Question #1602 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the _________________ of the Middle East has been in flux since the chaos following Arab Spring, the U.S still ______________ that intervention was the correct course of action.
paucity . . . vilifies
scarcity . . . paucity
temerity . . . plays
capacity . . . interjects
stability . . . asserts
stability . . . asserts
"Stability" makes since for the first answer, because the word "chaos" indicates that whatever is in flux must be the opposite of this word. The word "assert" makes sense as the verb choice, because the other verb choices doesn't make sense in the context of the blank.
Example Question #1603 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He was a strict _______________ to the local church, unrivalled in his devotion. But after a neighboring chapel burned down and his congregation ______________ with another, he never passed through the church doors again.
aesthete . . . consolidated
votary . . . venerated
defamer . . . coalesced
adherent . . . amalgamated
disciple . . . abated
adherent . . . amalgamated
If “aesthete” sounds like a plausible choice, know that it refers to a person who has a great love of art. “Aesthetic” is a similar word, which concerns the appreciation of beauty. An “adherent” is a supporter. To “amalgamate” means to mix or merge. “Adherent . . . amalgamated” is the correct response.
Example Question #1604 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
When the bickering grew louder, they ________________ the meeting in order to retain what little _____________ remained.
perpetuated . . . civility
deferred . . . gaffe
suspended . . . ribaldry
protracted . . . propriety
adjourned . . . decorum
adjourned . . . decorum
“Ribaldry” is being indecent or vulgar. A “gaffe” is a mistake made in front of others. Neither of these words fit in the second blank. “Perpetuated” and “protracted” suggests that they lengthened the amount of time the meeting took, which would have been an unwise decision. “Decorum” is proper behavior. “Adjourned . . . decorum” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1605 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He was always thinking ahead, especially in work; he had _____________ more than a thousand hours in vacation time so that he would have a(n) ______ in case something happened.
accrued . . . buffer
truncated . . . cushion
amassed . . . canard
dissipated . . . bulwark
cumulated . . . apogee
accrued . . . buffer
To “truncate” means to shorten, which does not make sense given the context. If he was always thinking ahead, it’s only logical that he would save his hours for vacation in case he needed them sometime in the future. To “accrue” means to grow in value or size. A “buffer” is something that protects against annoyance or harm. Together, these form the correct answer.
Example Question #1606 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Virtual reality is sure to ______________ all of our current technologies; it will be as significant as the _____________ of the printing press.
mitigate . . . inauguration
supplant . . . advent
oust . . . abolishment
venerate . . . emergence
supersede . . . extirpation
supplant . . . advent
“Mitigate . . . inauguration” is not a bad choice. “Mitigate” means to make milder or to lessen the force or influence; however, the word choice of “significant” and reference to the “printing press” implies that this will be a greater development than to simply “mitigate.” This will be revolutionary. It will take over. Thus, “supplant . . . advent” is the best answer.
Example Question #1607 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He was a crowd favorite. His __________________ on the basketball court ________________ his small stature; however, the moment the whistle blew and the game started, he shut them up quickly with basket after basket.
antagonists . . . cajoled
adversaries . . . derided
associates . . . ridiculed
corrival . . . wheedled
colleagues . . . disparaged
adversaries . . . derided
“Cajole” and “wheedle” refer to influencing or persuading someone by flattery — neither of which are the word we want, given the context. For the first blank, it would seem likely that his allies are not looking down on his stature, especially considering that “he was a crowd favorite.” “Adversaries . . . derided” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1608 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The eruption of the ancient _________________, standing above the cloud and spewing a large amount of fire, ________________ the town underneath; luckily, everyone escaped.
customers . . . restrained
police . . . maligned
volcano . . . incinerated
reporters . . . enlightened
dogs . . . understood
volcano . . . incinerated
"Volcano" is the only word that makes sense in context, as the following clause discusses the raining down of fire, which is a thing that pretty much only volcanoes, of the objects given in the answers, do. No other nouns fit there. "Incinerated" fits as the following word, as the previous clause discusses the raining of fire, and the following clause discusses the fortune that everyone escaped.
Example Question #1609 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The politician was convinced of his ______________ because of the screaming fans outside of his door, so he made the controversial decision to ______________ preparing for the debate to get more sleep.
popularity . . . neglect
weakness . . . appreciate
pleasure . . . enliven
love . . . strengthen
strength . . . begin
popularity . . . neglect
"Popularity" makes sense given the description of the fans outside of the door. "Neglect" also works because it describes his stopping an action to get ready for sleep. This question was asking you to find an appropriate abstract noun, and a verb action based on the missing dynamic created by that abstract concept.
Example Question #1610 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The dictator displayed a _____________ for theft, using his power to _____________ for himself any property that he fancied.
proclivity . . . tout
alchemy . . . pervade
propensity . . . appropriate
vexation . . . rarefy
derision . . . obfuscate
propensity . . . appropriate
"Proclivity" means natural predisposition. "Appropriate," as a verb, means to confiscate or take for one's own use. "Proclivity" has a similar meaning to "propensity," but "tout" means to publicly praise and therefore doesn't fit in the second blank.