GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #821 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Jenny thought that adding more salt to the reciple would enhance it, but the cake was __________.
appreciated
adulterated
purified
complimented
adulterated
To "adulterate" means to taint or debase.
Example Question #139 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The Spanish tried to __________ their influence through the use of their extensive armada.
aggrandize
adulterate
dwindle
dilute
aggrandize
"Aggrandize" means to strengthen or exalt.
Example Question #136 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The runner took some aspirin the an attempt to __________ the intense pain in her leg.
burgeon
augment
escalate
abate
abate
To "abate" means to lessen in degree or intensity.
Example Question #533 : One Blank Texts
His blustery speech was somewhat __________ by his many mistatements and factual errors.
mitigated
ameliorated
bolstered
upheld
attenuated
attenuated
The sentence contrasts the subject's "blustery speech" with the "many mistatements and factual errors." This means the correct answer must show the difference between the speech and the errors. "Attenuated," meaning weakened or diminished, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #534 : One Blank Texts
Facing an unarmed and poorly trained crew, the pirates quickly __________ the container ship.
battled
commandeered
quarried
garbled
augmented
commandeered
The sentence describes pirates approaching an "unarmed and poorly trained crew" of a ship, with the missing word being the verb in the sentence. The correct answer will indicate the pirates' fighting or taking the ship. "Commandeer," meaning to grab possesion and forcibly take, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #575 : Text Completion
One reporter tried to __________ the local principal by spreading rumors of infidelity, but the school's parents knew better than to believe the rumors.
denigrate
invigorate
flatter
enliven
denigrate
To "denigrate" means to defame or belittle.
Example Question #576 : Text Completion
The political club was forced to __________ its newest member, after she publically spoke against their views.
contend
approbate
sanction
repudiate
repudiate
To "repudiate" means to disown or abandon, which is what a club would be forced to do with a contrary member.
Example Question #577 : Text Completion
Once DNA testing proved his innocence, the inmate on death row was __________.
castigated
exculpated
condemned
denounced
exculpated
To "exculpate" means to exonerate or to clear of blame.
Example Question #541 : One Blank Texts
He was __________ a deal, but found the terms unsuited to his liking and refused it.
scorned
impugned
tendered
abhorred
rejected
tendered
The fact the subject "rejected" the deal indicates that he had a choice regarding it. The correct answer needs to be a neutral word, which can rule out all but one choice. "Tendered," meaning offered or given in a negotiation, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #542 : One Blank Texts
After hours of consideration, the man still __________ about his final decision.
ignored
brooked
waffled
rejected
warped
waffled
The sentence contrasts the man doing the missing word "about his final decision," and the fact he had given it "hours of consideration." The correct answer will indicate he has not made up his mind. "Waffled," meaning to equivocate or go back and forth, is the best choice among the answers.
All GRE Verbal Resources
