GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1951 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

She pretended to come from a(n) ________________ dynasty, but her ________________ wealth and counterfeit ways were obviously an act.

Possible Answers:

ephemeral . . . feigned

affluent . . . affected

prosperous . . . lamentable

indigent . . . prodigious

aristocratic . . . hapless

Correct answer:

affluent . . . affected

Explanation:

“Counterfeit” means pretended, and it provides a clue for the word we are looking for in the second blank. “Feigned” means pretended, but so does “affected,” which refers to pretending to possess something in order to impress others. “Affluent . . . affected” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1952 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

The works of art were far beyond the appreciation of casual viewers. The _______________ qualities were as ________________ as it were possible.

Possible Answers:

transcendent . . . bourgeois 

aesthetic . . . esoteric

consummate . . . monotonous

neophyte . . . recondite

tyro . . . abstruse

Correct answer:

aesthetic . . . esoteric

Explanation:

The words that should go in the blanks are hinted at in the first sentence. We know we are dealing with art that is appreciated by only a select few. “Aesthetic” refers to the academic characterization of beauty. “Esoteric” means that something is understood by or meant for a special few. “Aesthetic . . . esoteric” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1953 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

He went to every game, cheered for every player, and exhibited the most _________________ responses to every ________________ call made by the coach.

Possible Answers:

acerbic . . . astute

fallow . . . slipshod

vitriolic . . . asinine

defunct . . . imprudent

caustic . . . perspicacious

Correct answer:

vitriolic . . . asinine

Explanation:

It would not make sense that he would be critical to keen or wise calls made by the coach. “Astute” and “perspicacious” can be eliminated. A “vitriolic” response is severely critical and intended to hurt feelings. When something is “asinine,” it is incredibly stupid. “Vitriolic . . . asinine” is the best answer.

Example Question #1954 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

Some artists are _______________ about every detail that goes into a project; others use ________________ techniques to rid themselves of all the tedious decision-making.

Possible Answers:

imprudent . . . fortuitous

nonchalant . . . haphazard

conscientious . . . premeditated

scrupulous . . . studious

meticulous . . . aleatory

Correct answer:

meticulous . . . aleatory

Explanation:

There is a shift between the first and second sentences. The two blanks must be opposite in meaning, or at least close to it. “Aleatory” comes from a Latin word that refers to playing games with dice. This is mind, it makes sense that the word describes something happening by chance. “Meticulous” means exhibiting extreme care in the little details. Together, these form the correct answer.

Example Question #1955 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

The biggest hurdle to overcome in her diet was breaking the habit of reaching for a(n) _______________ snack instead of a(n) __________________ one.

Possible Answers:

insipid . . . nourishing

unpalatable . . . salutary

ambrosial . . . saccharine

scrumptious . . . alimentary

delectable . . . nectarous

Correct answer:

scrumptious . . . alimentary

Explanation:

Since habitually reaching for a bland or bad-tasting snack is rarely a problem, “insipid” and “unpalatable” can be eliminated. “Scrumptious” means something is tasty. “Alimentary” means something is nourishing. “Scrumptious . . . alimentary” is the correct answer.

Example Question #1708 : Text Completion

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

The _______________ little boy, hurt by even the most inoffensive comments, did not do well in the presence of the very _________________ teacher, who said whatever was on his mind.

Possible Answers:

sleek . . . chill

sly . . . calm

ungrateful . . . bashful

loving . . . subtle

sensitive . . . blunt

Correct answer:

sensitive . . . blunt

Explanation:

"Sensitive" works because it describes someone who gets hurt easily; "Blunt" works because it describes someone who speaks his or her mind very freely.

"Loving" seems like it could work at first glance, but "subtle" doesn't work as the second word choice, as the teacher said whatever was on his mind.

"Ungrateful" doesn't work in context here, as no clues have been given about the boy's level of gratitude, only his sensitivity. The whole answer, thus, doesn't work. 

"Sly," meaning cunning or deceitful, doesn't work to describe the boy as he has only been described to be hurt be the most inoffensive of comments. The whole answer, thus, doesn't work.

"Sleek," meaning smooth or glossy, doesn't work here, as no indications have been given about the boy's physical appearance, only his personality.

Example Question #1956 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

"Speak now or forever hold your peace" said the _____________ priest, rushing past all of the vows he had promised the couple he'd read, much to the _______________ and sadness of the bride.

Possible Answers:

adept . . . knowing

impractical . . . crying

sleepy . . . obvious

impatient . . . horror

wry . . . inchoate

Correct answer:

impatient . . . horror

Explanation:

"Impatient" works because it describes the actions of the priest who rushed past the vows. "Horror" works because it describes the state of the bride, which we know is a grim one due to the word "sadness" directly following horror.

"Wry," meaning having a dry sense of humor, doesn't work, as no indications have been made about the priests' sense of humor.

"Sleepy" doesn't work, because no indications have been made about how much or little sleep the priest has gotten.

"Adept," meaning advanced, doesn't work, as no indications have been given about the priest's skill level. 

"Impractical," meaning not adapted for action, doesn't work here as the word typically isn't used to describe another human being.

Example Question #520 : Two Blank Texts

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

The ______________ school system, having just opened it's first physical location, was maligned by the _____________ moms who worried their kids were in the hands of people with no experience.

Possible Answers:

unabashed . . . sour

deep . . . open

power-hungry . . . truthful

inchoate . . . concerned

respectful . . . inoperative 

Correct answer:

inchoate . . . concerned

Explanation:

"Inchoate" works because it means new, and it describes the state of the school, which we know is new because it just opened its first physical location. "Concerned" works because we know the moms are worried about the school not having experience. 

"Deep" doesn't work because no indications have been made about the extensiveness of the school network. 

"Power-hungry" doesn't work, because a school system typically wouldn't be described with adjectives reserved for humans, except in specific cases. Thus, the whole answer is incorrect.

"Respectful" doesn't work, because a school system typically wouldn't take adjectives reserved for humans, and no indications have been made that this example is different. Thus, the whole answer is incorrect. 

"Unabashed," meaning demonstrating no shame or fear, doesn't work to describe the school system; again, this is a very human adjective.

Example Question #521 : Two Blank Texts

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

The ____________ monk, who spoke only once a year, impressed even the most ____________ of monks with his determination and consistency.

Possible Answers:

youthful . . . knowledgeable 

taciturn . . . experienced

grieving . . . gaudy

quiet . . . blue

doubtful . . . caring

Correct answer:

taciturn . . . experienced

Explanation:

"Taciturn" works because it described a person who does speak much--and, we're told here that the monk speaks once a month. "Experienced" is harder to get, but given the extremity of the taciturn monk's practice, it should be surprising that even experienced monks would be impressed by him, a sentiment expressed in the sentence above.

While "quiet" may ostensibly work to describe the monk, "blue" doesn't makes sense in describing the monks who were impressed by the non-speaking monk. 

"Youthful" doesn't work to describe the monk who doesn't talk, as no indications have been given about his age, making the entire answer choice incorrect.

"Doubtful" doesn't work to describe the monk, as no indications have been given about his believability, making the entire answer choice incorrect. 

"Grieving" doesn't work to describe the monk, as no indications have been made that the monk has lost a loved one, making the entire answer choice incorrect.

Example Question #522 : Two Blank Texts

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

The _______________ guitar tuner, who hadn't eaten all day due to a major inflow of business, went to the _________________ Chinese restaurant against his better judgment, despite it's being known for the thousands of calories in every meal.

Possible Answers:

tripping . . . thrashing

hungry . . . unhealthy

beckoning . . . enlivening 

crashing . . . free

trusting . . . helping

Correct answer:

hungry . . . unhealthy

Explanation:

"Hungry," meaning to desire food, works here because we know the guitar tuner hasn't eaten all day. "Unhealthy," meaning bad for one's well being, works because we are told the Chinese restaurant has thousands of calories in every meal.

"Trusting" doesn't work because no indications have been made about the tuner's propensity to trust, invalidating the answer.

"Beckoning," meaning making a gesture to come nearer, doesn't work because no indications have been made to suggest the tuner is doing such, invalidating the answer. 

"Tripping," meaning to be falling, doesn't work as the guitar tuner has not been portrayed as doing such, invalidating the answer.

"Crashing" doesn't work, as the guitar tuner has not been portray as colliding with any objects, invalidating this answer.

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