GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #1493 : Text Completion

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

She had a business ____________ that was _____________ among her male co-workers, which is why she progressed in the ranks much faster than anticipated.

Possible Answers:

acumen . . . unrivaled

ignorance . . . unparalleled

ingenuity . . . inferior

illiteracy . . . unsurpassed

perception . . . egregious

Correct answer:

acumen . . . unrivaled

Explanation:

“Egregious” means really bad, so this will not work given the fact that she progressed quickly. Similarly, “ignorance” and “illiteracy” can also be eliminated. This leaves us with “acumen . . . unrivaled” as the correct answer.

Example Question #1494 : Text Completion

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Since the weapon had never misfired before, they had to decide whether it was _______________ or a(n) ________________ in the manufacturing.

Possible Answers:

random . . . canard

fetid . . . irregularity

equable . . . botch

adventitious . . . blunder

incidental . . . perfidy

Correct answer:

adventitious . . . blunder

Explanation:

A “canard” is a false story or rumor. “Perfidy” is a betrayal of trust. “Adventitious” looks similar to “adventure,” but it actually means happening by chance and not an essential part. A “blunder” is a careless mistake. “Adventitious . . . blunder” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1495 : Text Completion

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The crazy ________________, determined at all costs to collect every grievance of the public, received __________________ allegations against him that weakened the efficacy of his reports.

Possible Answers:

teacher . . . pleasant

procrastinator . . . fleeting

matchmaker . . . incredulous

fireman . . . unfortunate

ombudsman . . . deleterious

Correct answer:

ombudsman . . . deleterious

Explanation:

"Ombudsman" works as the answer, as it matches the description in the following clause of someone who collects grievances of the public. "Deleterious" works as the other answer because it talks about the harmfulness of the claims. Completion questions of this type simply require that you understand the full context of the sentence, and recognize the word for the noun that is the subject of the sentence, and the adjective matching the way they are being described from the context of the given portions of the sentence.

Example Question #1496 : Text Completion

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Although the stock market can seem like an ______________ juggernaut of information that no one could ever learn, with ______________ one can begin to spot patterns.

Possible Answers:

lazy . . . gumption

simple . . . ignorance

weak . . . studiousness

clear . . . trying

inscrutable . . . practice

Correct answer:

inscrutable . . . practice

Explanation:

"Inscrutable" makes sense as it describes the juggernaut of information, which cannot be easily understood. "Practice" also makes sense because it describe the process by which one can learn the stock market

Example Question #1741 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Faye knew how to do the difficult work of crafting the ______________, but had never done the _______________ work of actually shaping the metal.

Possible Answers:

proclivity . . . volatile

die . . . pedestrian

shard . . . prosaic

guy . . . occult

strut . . . singular

Correct answer:

die . . . pedestrian

Explanation:

A "die" is a tool used for shaping things (usually metal). "Pedestrian" means commonplace or simple. "Prosaic" has a similar meaning to "pedestrian," but a "shard" isn't typically used to shape metal.

Example Question #1742 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The two couples were arrested on suspicion of _____________ after a prolonged exchange of _____________ remarks was said to have gotten out of hand. 

Possible Answers:

fracas . . . adulatory

affray . . . denigrating

altercation . . . obsequious

perfidy . . . disparaging

infidelity . . . besmirching

Correct answer:

affray . . . denigrating

Explanation:

Since the two couples were arrested, it’s safe to say the remarks that got out of hand weren’t positive or complimentary. It is highly unlikely that the couples were arrested for “infidelity” or “perfidy,” which refers to a betrayal of trust, especially since the word that fits in the first blank is the result of escalated negative remarks. An “affray” is a noisy brawl. “Denigrating” refers to speaking damagingly or being derogatory. “Affray . . . denigrating” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1743 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Every time she tried to tell her story, he would cut her off. By the end of the party, she had proclaimed his actions to be an outright _________________, but he would never interrupt on purpose — it was simply his _________________ nature. 

Possible Answers:

provocation . . . reticent

indignity . . . taciturn

felicitation . . . effusive

affront . . . garrulous

homage . . . loquacious

Correct answer:

affront . . . garrulous

Explanation:

Someone who was “reticent” or “taciturn” would be quieter and less inclined to engage in conversation. These traits do not describe the male character in the sentences. “Affront” refers to something done to cause offence. “Garrulous” means talkative. “Affront . . . garrulous” is the correct response.

Example Question #310 : Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

What the car lacked in interior space, it more than made up for in ______. It zigzagged, hugged the curves and was the overall ______ vehicle for racing. 

Possible Answers:

legerity . . . abject

agility . . . quintessential

elegance . . . impeccable

refinement . . . consummate

nimbleness . . . subordinate

Correct answer:

agility . . . quintessential

Explanation:

“Elegance” and “refinement” refer to something that is tasteful and of high quality. For the first blank, we want something a bit more specific. We want a definition that includes zigzagging, hugging the curves and racing. “Agility” is the ability to move quick and graceful. “Quintessential” means the perfect example. “Agility . . . quintessential” is the correct answer.

Example Question #71 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

He held a(n) ________________ view when it came to the popular beliefs of string theory, and he was thus considered a(n) ________________ among the scientific community.

Possible Answers:

agnostic . . . anomaly

biddable . . . deviation

dubious . . . standard

acquiescent . . . aberration

skeptical . . . norm

Correct answer:

agnostic . . . anomaly

Explanation:

If someone is obedient and goes along with the wishes of others, they are not abnormal or different. To be correct, the two words must agree with one another. “Agnostic” means to be doubtful or noncommittal about something. “Anomaly” refers to someone or something that is abnormal. “Agnostic . . . anomaly” is the best response.

Example Question #72 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Since it was mainly a(n) ______ community, it was only sensible that the majority of the ______ went to farms.

Possible Answers:

agrarian . . . subsidies

rural . . . encomiums

bucolic . . . sinecures

urban . . . appropriations

metropolitan . . . endowments

Correct answer:

agrarian . . . subsidies

Explanation:

A “sinecure” is a cushy job (often political) that requires very little work. This type of job would be hard to find in a farming community. “Agrarian” means that something is related to rural land and farming. A “subsidy” refers to financial assistance from the government to an undertaking that supports the general public. “Agrarian . . . subsidies” is the correct answer.

Tired of practice problems?

Try live online GRE prep today.

1-on-1 Tutoring
Live Online Class
1-on-1 + Class
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors