GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #641 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

The college president made certain to store copies of all his correspondence for __________.

Possible Answers:

ephemera

posterity

restoration

aesthetics

hyperbole

Correct answer:

posterity

Explanation:

The phrase "made certain to store copies" is an important one in the sentence, as it indicates the president wants to save his correspondence for some reason. With this in mind, "posterity," meaning the future or generations to come, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #642 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

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

The captain's attempt to __________ the mutiny was unsuccessful, and his crew placed him in a rowboat and sailed away.

Possible Answers:

engage

reform

encourage

assist

thwart

Correct answer:

thwart

Explanation:

The second clause of the sentence indicates the mutiny was accomplished, so the captain unsuccessfully tried to stop the mutiny. Of all the answer choices, only "thwart," meaning prevent or frustrate something, carries the correct meaning.

Example Question #331 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

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

The town hoped the sandbags acted as a __________ against the rising floodwaters.

Possible Answers:

valve

bulwark

decoy

salve

sieve

Correct answer:

bulwark

Explanation:

"Rising floodwaters" are not something anyone wants near them, and the town is presumably hoping to stop them. The correct choice will show the town was fortifying itself.  "Bulwark," meaning a barrier or fortification, is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #332 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.

The holiday could not come quickly enough for the CEO, who needed a __________ from his hectic work schedule.

Possible Answers:

departure

renewal

reenergizing

respite

failsafe

Correct answer:

respite

Explanation:

The fact that he needed a holiday indicates what the CEO needed was a rest. While "renewal" and "reenergizing" might look potentially correct, they do not make sense when followed by "from his hectic work schedule." Of the given answer choices, only "respite," meaning a break during which one can rest, works appropriately in context with the mention of a "holiday" and the CEO's "hectic work schedule."

Example Question #333 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.

The house had a ___________ of structural problems, from warped floors and crumbling beams to termite infestations and moldy carpets.

Possible Answers:

myriad

portent

decoy

bastion

dearth

Correct answer:

myriad

Explanation:

The list of issues that makes up the second part of the sentence indicates there were many problems, and the correct answer will indicate that. "Myriad," meaning a variety or large numbers, is the best choice.

Example Question #334 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.

Motivated by his __________ for power, Alexander the Great invested all his resources in far-reaching military campaigns intended not only to amass territories but also gain the respect of local peoples.

Possible Answers:

fondness

voracity

distaste

apathy

abhorrence

Correct answer:

voracity

Explanation:

"Abhorrence," meaning hate, and "distaste," meaning dislike, do not work in the sentence, because they each would imply that Alexander wanted to avoid gaining more power. "Apathy," meaning indifference, would indicate that Alexander did not care very much about power, so that would not make sense either. "Fondness" could work, but the sentence is stressing just how much effort Alexander put into getting power, so "voracity," meaning hunger, is the better choice.

Example Question #335 : Nouns In One Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.

As soon as their opponents issued their statement, the organization released a strong __________.

Possible Answers:

consecration

retraction

recapitulation

consolation

rebuttal

Correct answer:

rebuttal

Explanation:

The key word in finding the correct answer is "opponents." The organization will be saying something directly against what their opponents' statement said. "Rebuttal," meaning a countering and oppositional statement, is the best fit among the choices.

Example Question #648 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The novelist crafted his newest work around correspondence between the protagonist and his wife, finding ___________ to reveal particular features of his characters.

Possible Answers:

epistles

totems

artifacts

fragments

keepsakes

Correct answer:

epistles

Explanation:

The use of "correspondence" indicates the main storytelling device in the novel is a series of letters. Epistle is simply another word for letter, and is the correct answer.

Example Question #649 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Her speaking style was marked by its impressive ___________, striving to make her point with as few words as possible.

Possible Answers:

resplendence

esotericism

extremism

indulgence

brevity

Correct answer:

brevity

Explanation:

"As few words as possible" is the key phrase in the sentence for finding the answer. "Resplendence," "indulgence," and "extremisim" would mean an excess of words, while "esotericism" would conflict with a desire to make a clear point. "Brevity" is the correct answer.

Example Question #650 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Many athletes can never handle becoming popular superstars, the ___________ of millions can seem smothering.

Possible Answers:

criticism

apathy

adulation

indifference

cynicism

Correct answer:

adulation

Explanation:

"Popular superstar" gives the best clue to the correct answer. Many of the answer chocies would work with the second clause of the sentence, but only "adulation," meaning worship or strong love, makes sense with the entire sentence.

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