GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #781 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The mine's product was worthless, as engineers had no way to __________ what was pulled from the ground.
exculpate
deride
pollute
condone
smelt
smelt
The substance "pulled from the ground" is "worthless" because doing the missing word is impossible. The correct answer needs to mean a process that makes raw material valuable. "Smelt," meaning to refine an ore into usable metal, is the correct answer.
Example Question #782 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
His efforts to __________ tax law backfired and got him indicted for fraud.
appease
circumvent
solicit
exculpate
ordain
circumvent
If a person gets indicted, then he is not obeying the law. The correct answer will reflect his dislike or avoidance of "tax law." "Circumvent," meaning to go around or move out of the way of, is the best choice.
Example Question #783 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Throughout all societies, outsider groups have been __________ against by the dominant culture.
celebrated
discriminated
prostrated
alleviated
levitated
discriminated
The missing word is something a "dominant culture" does to "outsider groups." The correct answer will show the strength possessed by the "dominant" over the "outsiders." "Discriminated," meaning to look down on and act against due to difference, is the best choice.
Example Question #784 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Instead of walking directly to his office, he would __________ around to say hello to everyone.
meander
peruse
prostrate
belabor
flaunt
meander
The sentence explicitly contrasts the missing word with "walking directly." The correct answer must mean wandering around, the definition of "meander."
Example Question #781 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The group undertook an advertising campaign to __________ support for their cause.
flaunt
waylay
solicit
decimate
emaciate
solicit
The group has "an advertising campaign" for their own cause. The correct answer will indicate they were attempting to gather support. "Solicit," meaning to ask or seek, is the best choice.
Example Question #786 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The angry mob __________ for the deposed king's head outside the castle.
negotiated
appeased
acquiesced
solicited
clamored
clamored
The sentence deals with an "angry mob" seeking a "king's head." The manner in which they ask for his head should match their anger. "Clamored," meaning shouted or screamed, is the correct answer.
Example Question #787 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The young man decided to __________ his new car by driving it back and forth on the town's main drag.
congeal
deflect
flaunt
portend
conceal
flaunt
The young man is driving his car "on the town's main drag," a highly visible location. This means he wants people to see his new car. "Flaunt," meaning show off or obviously display, is the correct answer.
Example Question #788 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Jealous of her classmate's popularity and hoping to harm her reputation, Rohini __________ several cruel and untrue rumors about her.
hindered
dissembled
contradicted
perpetuated
misdirected
perpetuated
Because "dissembled" means to have concealed, it would be unlikely that Rohini would be trying to hide the rumors. "Contradicted", meaning spoke out against, is also unlikely. "Hindered", meaning slowed, also does not make sense. "Misdirected" also makes little sense because Rohini would want these rumors to be clearly targeted and not misdirected; however, it does make sense that she would "perpetuate, or prolong the existence of, such rumors in order to harm another girl's reputation.
Example Question #789 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
He was well know for his ability to __________, and he rarely used a script while speaking.
scrutinize
debilitate
lionize
extemporize
deliberate
extemporize
The sentence notes that the subject "rarely used a script while speaking." This means the correct answer will indicate not needing a script. "Extemporize," meaning to speak with little preparation or off the cuff, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #102 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The ballplayer's simple mistake saw him __________ by his coach for his errors.
eulogized
advocated
lambasted
pacified
embellished
lambasted
The sentence notes both the player made a "simple mistake" and that the coach did the missing word to the player because he had "errors." The correct answer will show a criticism or anger from the coach. "Lambasted," meaning verbally attacked, is the best option among the answers.
All GRE Verbal Resources
