All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #251 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The singer's much ______________ new album, Antimatter, was released unexpectedly yesterday after a long wait, causing a massive amount _________________ in her many fans who were eagerly waiting for the album.
harmful . . . chagrin
dastardly . . . night
anticipated . . . excitement
crafty . . . platitude
maligned . . . heroism
anticipated . . . excitement
"Anticipated" works because the following phrase describes the long wait for the album. "Excitement" also makes sense because the singer's fans were waiting for the album.
Example Question #252 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The _____________ decisions made by the coach, made very hastily and with no regard for the opinions of the team, _____________ many of the players, who felt indignant about their treatment.
patient . . . helped
impetuous . . . angered
foreign . . . praised
nightly . . . shocked
lackadaisical . . . shuttered
impetuous . . . angered
"Impetuous", meaning one in a rushed manner, describes the decisions of the coach that were made quickly. "Angered" makes sense because it describes the indignant players, and their reactions at not being included.
Example Question #253 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The building itself may have been __________, but the food was __________ in their mouths.
dilapidated . . . abominable
disreputable . . . ambrosia
pristine . . . divine
ramshackle . . . detestable
immaculate . . . transcendent
disreputable . . . ambrosia
The word “but” indicates a sentence shift, meaning that the words in the blanks will carry contrasting connotations. Something “disreputable” lacks respect because it looks bad. As far as Greek gods are concerned, “ambrosia” is simply food. For us mortals, it is something that tastes or smells divine. “Disreputable . . . ambrosia” is the correct answer.
Example Question #254 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
They had wanted to enjoy all of the __________ of the hotel, but unfortunately their __________ stay came to an end early the next morning.
amenities . . . ephemeral
facilities . . . deferred
aspersions . . . transitory
superfluities . . . latent
banes . . . fugacious
amenities . . . ephemeral
The fact that they couldn’t enjoy all of something and they had to leave early the next morning both provide clues about what choices could most aptly fit the second blank. “Amenities” are features that make life more comfortable or pleasurable. “Ephemeral” means something is fleeting or lasts only a short time. “Amenities . . . ephemeral” is the correct answer.
Example Question #255 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Jenessa appreciated the apparent _____________ of the new hire; the last worker had been much too ______________ to work on a team that prized flexibility.
bluster . . . cowardly
creativity . . . tractable
cynicism . . . tenacious
propensity . . . controversial
malleability . . . intransigent
malleability . . . intransigent
The two blanks are expressing opposite ideas (though the first is a noun and the second is an adjective). "Flexibility" is the key contextual clue. "Malleability" is a good synonym for "flexibility," while "intransigent" is an antonym.
Example Question #326 : Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The child's joyful, __________________ touched everyone; it was hard to remain ____________________ with the mellifluous sound of youthful laughter filling the air.
harangue . . . truculent
ebullience . . . morose
eloquence . . . didactic
expression . . . halcyon
elegy . . . hopeful
ebullience . . . morose
We are looking for two opposite ideas (a noun and an adjective) - "ebullience" and "morose" are the best fit, as "ebullience" describes "joyful" things, making it hard to stay "morose" or sad in affect.
Example Question #256 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Rhonda felt her cheeks grow __________ as smiling coworkers glanced her way; her boss had extolled her work privately, but she hadn’t expected a formal __________ in front of the whole office.
flushed . . . euphemism
florid . . . encomium
ruddy . . . diatribe
redolent . . . appreciation
fatuous . . . approbation
florid . . . encomium
The clues "smiling coworker" and "extol" (praise) tell us that Rhonda did something positive worthy of praise, which resulted in an "encomium" (formal speech of praise). We can infer that her cheeks grew red ("florid") from this attention.
Example Question #257 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The king’s subjects first accused him of being __________ when he refused to accompany his troops to meet the invading army; the monarch’s __________ was confirmed when it was discovered that he had absconded in the night for safer lands.
craven . . . pusillanimity
weak . . . turpitude
pedantic . . . shame
volatile . . . quiescence
viscous . . . pragmatism
craven . . . pusillanimity
Here were are looking for two related words—synonyms, but different parts of speech. Context clues tell us that the king was a coward, or someone who is "craven" (lacking courage) and expresses "pusillanimity" (cowardliness).
Example Question #1761 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
There had been so much __________ during their marriage that it was surprising that they came to a(n) __________ divorce settlement.
amity . . . cordial
friction . . . vindictive
bickering . . . boorish
discord . . . amicable
reconciliation . . . harmonious
discord . . . amicable
Note the word “surprising.” “Friction” refers to conflict because of a disagreement of ideas or desire. If there had been a lot of friction during their marriage, would it be “surprising” that one or both wanted revenge during the divorce settlement? Not likely. “Discord,” like “friction,” refers to disagreements and conflicts. “Amicable” means to be surprisingly friendly or showing goodwill when you didn’t expect it. “Discord . . . amicable” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1762 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She believed the __________ to not only be ineffective, but __________ as well. There were too many offices and too many complicated tasks for anyone to care about what was simply right and wrong.
administration . . . laudable
protocol . . . decorous
mainstay . . . nefarious
bureaucracy . . . amoral
asperity . . . depraved
bureaucracy . . . amoral
The second sentence describes what should go in the first two blanks. We have the hints of “too many offices” and “too many tasks,” as well as her assertion that no one can care about what is “simply right and wrong.” “Bureaucracy” refers to a complicated administration made up of many departments and divisions, and the word usually has the implication that any procedure is going to be difficult and incredibly complex. “Amoral” refers to being unconcerned with whether something is right or wrong. “Bureaucracy . . . amoral” is the best choice.
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