GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #229 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The once promising issue now proved a __________ that no politician could deal with and survive electorally.
concatenation
quagmire
quarantine
godsend
blessing
quagmire
The sentence explictly notes that the "once promising issue" now makes politicians unable to "deal with" it. The correct answer must therefore mean something that traps or complicates. "Quagmire," literally a marsh or bog, and here used metaphorically, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #230 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
With the typical mohawk, leather jacket, and combat boots, he perfectly fit the __________ of the punk rocker.
paradox
indemnity
perfidy
stereotype
quandary
stereotype
The sentence describes the subject as being a "punk rocker" and wearing the "typical" "punk rock" items of a "mohawk, leather jacket, and combat boots." The correct answer must mean the usually understood image or fixed idea, the definition of "stereotype."
Example Question #541 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
While the student body president believed he was using stirring rhetoric, the teachers saw his speech as __________.
oratory
uncompromising
rational
drivel
sensible
drivel
The sentence contrasts the student's own view of his speech as "stirring rhetoric" with the teacher's viewpoint described by the missing word. The correct answer must in some way be an opposite to "stirring rhetoric." "Drivel," meaning nonsense or useless words, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #542 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The __________ of the politician's views continued no matter how many clarifying statements he made on the issues.
misrepresentation
instransigence
virulence
insurgency
archetype
misrepresentation
While some answer choices could make sense, only one will fit perfectly. The sentence describes the many "clarifying statements" the politician had to make, which means the perspective of his views is wrong or misguided. "Misrepresentation," meaning a deliberately deceiving description, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #233 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The day ended with no real __________, as the detective had not yet figured out who the culript was after following multiple leads.
inauguration
onset
denouement
inception
denouement
"Denouement" is a resolution, outcome, or solution.
Example Question #234 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The blue-collar worker abhored the rich; that is, until he won the lottery and moved to the Hamptons and lived among his fellow __________.
vagabonds
sybarites
transients
hobos
sybarites
A "sybarite" is a person who leads a life of luxury; a hedonist.
Example Question #235 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The divorce lawyer was adept at diffusing __________ between warring couples.
compromises
reconciliations
imbroglios
agreements
imbroglios
An "imbroglio" is a bitter disagreement or entanglement.
Example Question #236 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Being a physics __________, Mary was having difficulty understanding vectors.
prodigy
wunderkind
neophyte
virtuoso
neophyte
A "neophyte" is someone who is a novice or a beginner.
Example Question #237 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
In a rally, the far right politician let loose an intense __________ against his left wing opponents and their allies.
refutation
dialectic
diatribe
recitation
approbation
diatribe
There are two clues in the sentence that help pinpoint the best answer, the fact the missing word is described as "intense," and that a "right wing politician" was discussing "left wing opponents." This indicates the subject's speech was angry or critical. "Diatribe," meaning a violent denunciation or tirade, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #238 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Supporters of term limits for the legislature argue that incumbents who get voted in for ages will create a virtual __________.
sanctuary
orthodoxy
refuge
gerontocracy
meritocracy
gerontocracy
The sentence discusses a problem that could arise from a lack of term limits, meaning "meritocracy," "sanctuary," and "refuge" can be struck out because of their positive connotation. "Orthodoxy," meaning rigid adherence to tradition, does not work in the sentence very smoothly. "Gerontocracy," meaning a government ruled by the elderly, is the best choice among the answers.
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