GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #512 : One Blank Texts
After receiving many calls asking for support with simple issues that could be __________ with very little effort, the computer repairman grew highly frustrated.
verified
complicated
caclified
rectified
enumerated
rectified
The computer support man here is being bombarded with calls about simple problems that could be fixed easily, and thus he is frustrated. "Rectified" means solved or fixed, and so it is the best choice for this sentence.
Example Question #513 : One Blank Texts
In order to __________ her husband into buying her a new cocktail dress and heels, she used blandishments to help her cause.
forfend
undermine
hector
entreat
inveigle
inveigle
In this sentence, the best word choice is that she wanted to coax, or "inveigle," her husband into buying her shoes and a dress. She is not necessarily bullying him or asking him earnestly. Instead, she is coaxing him by using flattery.
Example Question #514 : One Blank Texts
Due to their tight budget, the city council concluded that they could only __________ the construction of a new parking lot if local businesses promised to provide more funding for the project.
approbate
renege
apprise
flout
palliate
approbate
We're looking for a word similar to "approve," so the only answer choice that makes sense is "approbate," which means to sanction or to approve formally.
Example Question #515 : One Blank Texts
"Don't __________," the reporter demanded of the political candidate. "I don't want to hear any more ambiguous answers—I want facts."
exacerbate
equivocate
denigrate
palliate
excoriate
equivocate
We can tell from the context of the sentence that the word for the blank needs to mean something similar to answer ambiguously. Because of that, the answer is "equivocate," which means use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.
Example Question #516 : One Blank Texts
The knight's squire __________ his silver shield with a soft cloth until not a speck of dirt remained on it, and he could see his face reflected in its surface.
propitiated
rarefied
cadged
admonished
burnished
burnished
We know that whatever the squire did to the shield resulted in it being very clean and shiny enough for him to see his reflection in it. Given this, the correct answer is "burnished," or polished (something, usually metallic) by rubbing.
Example Question #517 : One Blank Texts
While a hard worker, his tendency to __________ after and kiss up to his boss made him disliked in the office.
fawn
offend
doff
badger
usurp
fawn
The sentence pairs the missing word with the subject's tendency to "kiss up" to his boss. This means the correct answer will mean something quite similar to "kiss up." "Fawn," meaning to behave sycophantically or grovel, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #518 : One Blank Texts
The emergency measures sought to __________ the drought conditions by taking water to the region.
complicate
exculpate
alleviate
exacerbate
populate
alleviate
The action being done by the water is taken towards drought conditions. As a drought is a lack of water, this means the correct answer will mean helping or making less severe, the definition of "alleviate."
Example Question #519 : One Blank Texts
The only way the toothless dog could eat meat was having it __________ into gummable bits.
cordoned
minced
palpitated
lanced
parsed
minced
The "gummable bits" mentioned at the end of the last sentence provides the best clue to the answer. The action taken by the missing word must produce the small bites a "toothless dog" can eat. "Minced," meaning chopped into very small pieces, is the correct answer.
Example Question #521 : One Blank Texts
The old married couple often seemed to dislike each other, __________ over the most minor things in life.
emulsifying
embedding
quibbling
placating
calcifying
quibbling
Since it appears the couple "seemed to dislike each other," it is safe to assume the missing word indicates some kind of disagreement. The fact it is over "the most minor things" also helps lead to the correct answer. "Quibbling," meaning arguing about small matters, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #127 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The criminal's __________ finally ended when he tried to fool an undercover policeman.
lassitude
ingenuity
conniving
derision
conniving
Since the subject is a "criminal" who is trying to "fool an undercover policeman," it is safe to assume the missing word has a negative connotation. The correct answer should mean scheming or tricking, the definition of "conniving."
All GRE Verbal Resources
