GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #443 : One Blank Texts
The young boy was extremely lazy, and had to be ______________ just to get off the couch.
degraded
deterred
buttressed
negated
cajoled
cajoled
Being on the couch is an indication of the boy's laziness, so the correct answer will reflect that the boy had a hard time getting off the couch. "Cajoled," meaning coaxed or convinced, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #444 : One Blank Texts
His medical troubles were so costly, his savings account was ____________ in a matter of weeks.
waylaid
perused
depleted
bolstered
elucidated
depleted
The "medical troubles" are outright noted as "costly," which means a savings account would be used "in a matter of weeks." "Depleted," meaning to use up or get rid of, is the correct answer.
Example Question #445 : One Blank Texts
The accused man hoped his TV interview would _________________ his side of the story.
obviate
congeal
confound
illuminate
obscure
illuminate
The "accused man" is agreeing to an interview, and presumably wants to give information. The correct answer will indicate telling a story or explaining. "Illuminate,"meaning to make clear—literally to put light on something—is the correct answer.
Example Question #446 : One Blank Texts
The most famous legend concerns the first man to __________________ the length of the island on foot.
totter
ordain
elucidate
riddle
traverse
traverse
The references to going "the length of the island on foot" indicate the correct answer has to do with travel. "Traverse," meaning to move across, is the only such word among the answer choices.
Example Question #447 : One Blank Texts
Although he ________________ violence in his life, his favorite movies were bloody action adventures.
ordained
recapitulated
deplored
embraced
condoned
deplored
The sentence contrasts the subject's love of violent movies with the missing word. This means the corrct answer will indicate disapproval of violence. "Deplored," meaning to loathe or be revolted, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #448 : One Blank Texts
The teenager hoped the fact he was just tagging along with friends would _______________ him from the underage drinking charge.
condone
recant
elucidate
exculpate
beleaguer
exculpate
Both the teenager's excuse, "tagging along," and the "charge" indicate he is trying to get out from under something. The correct answer should mean to free someone from blame, the definition of "exculpate."
Example Question #735 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
After receiving a credit card, he used it to _____________ a large amount of debt quite quickly.
congeal
alleviate
buttress
amass
goad
amass
A credit card is the avenue for building debt, and getting a "large amount . . . quite quickly" means he built it up. "Amass," meaning to gather or accumulate, is the correct answer.
Example Question #449 : One Blank Texts
The boss' attempts at humor centered on ____________________ his employees, and frequently backfired.
perpetuating
espousing
deprecating
exculpating
gibbering
deprecating
The fact the humor "backfired" on the boss indicates the tone was probably unkind to the employees. The correct answer will mean to criticize or insult, the definition of "deprecating."
Example Question #451 : One Blank Texts
The businessman told his wife he wouldn't be able to make their dinner because he was with work his boss had given him and had to take overtime.
blamed
inundated
supported
advanced
estranged
inundated
He is swamped or overwhelmed with work, which is why he has to take overtime. The only answer that makes sense is that he is inundated with work, overwhelmed/flooded.
Example Question #452 : One Blank Texts
Health problems can result when people try to __________ their stress by overeating.
usurp
placate
assuage
enhance
vacillate
assuage
We need a word that means lessen or reduce, which "assuage" does. "Placate" is similar but means to appease or pacify, (usually a person).
All GRE Verbal Resources
