GRE Verbal : GRE Verbal Reasoning
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #951 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
She was rightly quite ________________ in approaching the bear she encountered on her hike.
obstreperous
brusque
timorous
boorish
adventurous
timorous
The presence of a bear on a hike is a scary experience. The correct answer choice will give that meaning to the sentence. "Adventurous," "boorish," "obstreperous," and "brusque" all indicate a boldness and directness that does not fit the sentence. "Timorous," meaning fearful or even cowardly, is the correct choice.
Example Question #952 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Although he had lost two fingers in a childhood accident, he was fairly ___________ with woodworking tools.
inadequate
clumsy
adroit
boorish
oafish
adroit
The context around the word indicates the man is quite skilled even with his handicap. Of all the answer choices, the only synonym with skilled is "adroit."
Example Question #953 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The office was unimpressive to vistors, littered with ___________ technology and old furniture.
obsolete
modern
fashionable
curious
contemporary
obsolete
The two best words in the sentence to give a clue to the correct answer are "unimpressive" and "old." The use of these two adjectives with the answer blank means that the correct choice will fit with those words; therefore, "obsolete," meaning something that is out of date or ancient, is the correct answer.
Example Question #642 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Suddenly, the children became _____________, shouting and crying over seemingly nothing.
poised
erratic
histrionic
reserved
recalcitrant
histrionic
The shouting and crying of the children is the best clue to the correct answer. The word which will make the sentence complete needs to have the appropriate sense of shouting and crying. "Histrionic," which means exaggerated or affected emotionalism, is the only answer choice that fits appropriately in the sentence.
Example Question #954 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The couple's ______________ spending habits made them broke in a very short amount of time.
pecunious
parsimonious
odious
ascetic
lavish
lavish
The fact the couple became broke quickly means they were spending money at a rapid pace. The correct answer choice will indicate such an extreme level of spending. "Lavish," meaning wasteful or excessive, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #955 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The man was quite intelligent, but his speech impediment made him seem __________.
officious
exuberant
obtuse
erratic
garrulous
obtuse
The structure of the sentence indicates that the man was not seen as "quite intelligent," even if he really is. The correct answer should be an antonym of "intelligent." "Obtuse," meaning simple or dull, is the right choice.
Example Question #956 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
In order to avoid interactions with people, he used a _____________ manner when he spoke with anyone.
lighthearted
deferent
garrulous
laudatory
brusque
brusque
Since the man is avoiding talking to anyone, it can be inferred that his approach to people was quite short. The correct choice should make it clear the man does not intend to speak much, if at all. "Brusque," meaning blunt or even rude, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #957 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Although still meeting occasionally, the organization had become _____________ regarding activities.
torpid
officious
resplendent
resilient
adamant
torpid
The two phrases of the sentence are placed in such a way that they contrast with each other. The habit of meeting occasionally is put against the group's attitude to activitied, and the correct answer will reflect this. "Torpid," meaning stagnant or inactive, is the best choice.
Example Question #711 : Text Completion
The building's _____________ qualities could not outweigh its structural deficiencies.
aesthetic
rigorous
boorish
histrionic
erratic
aesthetic
The "qualities" the answer describes are something at odds with structural issues, and need to reflect the non-structural elements of a building. "Aesthetic," meaning relating to art and beauty, is the only answer choice that fits.
Example Question #712 : Text Completion
The phone number was ______________, and had not been in use for years.
defunct
portentuous
undersold
overwhelming
inconsistent
defunct
The meaning of the correct answer is essentially evident with "had not been in use." This is the exact definition of "defunct."
All GRE Verbal Resources
