All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #581 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
During her childhood, her unusual features caused a good deal of __________ from unkind classmates
taunting
toadying
encouragement
disregarding
lauding
taunting
The sentence describes what "unkind classmates" did to a girl with "unusual features." The correct answer will indicate both the meanness of her classmates, and the way the subject was singled out. "Taunting," meaning teasing or mocking, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #582 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The small amount of angry letters became a virtual __________ after the second airing of the controversial program.
esoterica
minutia
drivel
barrage
seepage
barrage
The sentence contrasts the "small amount of angry letters" to the missing word. The correct answer, therefore, needs to indicate a large amount or at the least not small. "Barrage," meaning a deluge or extended gunfire, and used somewhat metaphorically, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #583 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The man's once harmless obsession quickly veered into a full blown __________.
insomnia
nadir
placebo
trifle
psychosis
psychosis
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the man's "once harmless obsession." The correct answer needs to mean something problematic mentally, but much stronger. "Psychosis," meaning a severe mental disturbance, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #584 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Wanting to present himself as a __________, the boy began wearing rebellious and politically-charged clothing.
conformist
quack
personification
paragon
dissident
dissident
The key words in the sentence are "rebellious and politically-charged clothing." This means the correct answer has to show the teenager is hoping to look like he is being difficult or politically different. "Dissident,"meaning someone who is a noncomformist or rebel, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #585 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The pronounced __________ of the samples indicated there was little diversity in the soil.
heterodoxy
terminality
orthodoxy
homogeneity
plausibility
homogeneity
The sentence explains that the soil has "little diversity." This means the correct answer has to indicate a sameness or uniformity, which is the definition of "homogeneity."
Example Question #586 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
With his face paint, replica jersey, and team merchandise, the young man was the __________ of a diehard fan.
iconoclasm
personification
restoration
amortization
indemnification
personification
The sentence both calls the young man a "diehard fan," and notes all the things that indicate this. The correct answer needs to enhance this sense of the man's fanhood. "Personification," meaning the perfect embodiment of an idea or concept, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #587 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The __________ of the story diminished over time, as she added more non factual details to the narrative.
absurdity
superfluousness
plausibility
extraordinariness
ridiculousness
plausibility
The storyteller keeps adding "non factual details to the narrative." This indicates she is decreasing the story's believability or acceptability, the definition of "plausibility," which is the correct answer.
Example Question #588 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The boxer's greatest attribute was his __________, as he almost never got punched out or beat down.
delicacy
wariness
fragility
resilience
equivocation
resilience
The sentence actually describes the missing word as meaning the boxer "never got punched out or beat down." This means the correct answer has to indicate toughness or strength. "Resilience," meaning perseverance or an ability to come back, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #589 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Although the plan was perfectly figured out, a random __________ threw them off and doomed it to failure.
atom
minutia
furrow
vagary
purist
vagary
The sentence describes a plan "perfectly figured out," which nonetheless was "doomed to failure." This indicates the correct answer will mean something that harms even perfect planning. "Vagary," meaning an unaccountable problem or freak mistake, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #590 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Her __________ of her intellectual inferiors meant she never paid attention to what her classmates were interested in.
calibration
reinterpretation
resuscitation
discountenance
recantation
discountenance
The sentence notes that the subject "never paid attention" to others' interests. This habit is the best clue to finding the missing word, as the correct answer must parallel this phrase in meaning. "Discountenance," meaning to show disapproval of, is the best choice among the answers.