All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #123 : One Blank Texts
He thought his business cards would give his start up company a ______________ of legitimacy.
flouting
redaction
paucity
genre
veneer
veneer
"Business cards" for a "start up company" are a minimal level of business ephemera. The correct answer will appropriately reflect this small token of legitimacy. "Veneer," meaning a thin sheet of material, but used here metaphorically, is the best fit.
Example Question #124 : One Blank Texts
Fearful of being long lost in the waters, the ship’s navigator rushed to find his __________, as the ship continued to drift into unknown seas.
cartographer
assistant
sextant
mast
adjutant
sextant
Here one must have the vocabulary to choose correctly. "Sextant" is correct because the navigator would use this instrument to navigate in uncharted seas, using the stars as a reference point. Do not be tempted by "assistant," which would only be a distant second-best. Likewise, "cartographer" doubly does not fit, for the cartographer makes maps, which would not really be needed if one is fearful of being lost. One wishes here to be lost no longer—hence, the usefulness of a "sextant."
Example Question #411 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The old classicist had become a __________ in his old age, having collected many types of ancient currency at archaeological digs, in the course of his long career.
spendthrift
philanderer
bore
curator
numismatist
numismatist
The clear choice can be made only by vocabulary knowledge. Otherwise, this question may lead you to choose any of the other answers. The word "numismatic" means relating to currency, and has a long etymology. Deep beneath the surface of the word is the Greek "nomos," which means custom, usage, or law. This last—law—we see in a word like "autonomy," meaning self ("auto-") rule.
This is related to "numismatics," because in many ways the value of currency is customary (or at least based upon many things that are not of intrinsic value). As Aristotle observed in the Politics, "Others maintain that coined money is a mere sham, a thing not natural, but conventional only, because, if the users substitute another commodity for it, it is worthless, and because it is not useful as a means to any of the necessities of life, and, indeed, he who is rich in coin may often be in want of necessary food."
Example Question #412 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
It is hard to attain __________ even among two people, but this collection of men is particularly divided in their opinions and will never be capable of such perfect agreement.
unanimity
termination
friendship
accord
agreement
unanimity
The key phrase is "perfect agreement." Recognizing this, you can quickly ascertain the correct answer, if you know the meaning of unanimity—complete agreement in a group. It comes from the Latin roots "unus" (one; see "unity," "uniform," "unit," etc.) and "animus" (soul or mind; see "animated," "magnanimous").
Example Question #127 : One Blank Texts
The company required new marketing to reach a younger _________________.
clientele
vignette
refuse
province
precinct
clientele
The "new marketing" is reaching out to new groups—in this particular case a younger one. The correct answer needs to mean customer base, the definition of "clientele."
Example Question #413 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The ________________ between the groups showed up everywhere—from different test scores to divergent career paths.
disparity
spontaneity
gravity
commonality
contemporaneity
disparity
The key words in the sentence are "different" and "divergent." The correct answer needs to underscore the difference between the groups. "Disparity," meaning an inequality, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #414 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Although he viewed himself as an inspirational leader, his employees viewed their boss as an insufferable ______________.
pedant
bon vivant
iconoclast
belligerent
mercenary
pedant
The sentence contrasts how the employees view their boss with how he views himself, (as "inspirational"). The correct answer will indicate that his employees find him uninspiring and dull. "Pedant," meaning someone who overly explains simple concepts, is the best choice.
Example Question #415 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
He was reprimanded for violating ________________ after he ignored regulations to complete the mission.
convention
protocol
aesthetics
forensics
placebo
protocol
The sentence outright states the subject "ignored regulations." This means he was "reprimanded for violating" something related to "regulations." "Protocol," meaning an official procedure or code of behavior, is the correct answer.
Example Question #416 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The Lieutenant was considered a strange choice to lead, as most officers thought he lacked the __________ to see out the mission.
nostalgia
levity
fortitude
ordination
disinterest
fortitude
The Lieutenant must "see out the mission," and the missing word indicates the ability to do that. "Fortitude," meaning strength and bravery, is the correct answer.
Example Question #411 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The investigation revealed the group's chief method of __________ was to threaten violence against family members.
veneration
innovation
deliberation
negotiation
coercion
coercion
The threat of violence indicates the group was using force as their chief tool. The correct answer needs to mean persuade through violence or force, the definition of "coercion."