GRE Verbal : Nouns in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #71 : Text Completion
Travelling from one town to the next, Jason felt more like a than a citizen of any one locale.
rascal
migrant
beggar
miscreant
stranger
migrant
The sense that fits the blank is that Jason feels like a person that is unrooted from any single place. It might be tempting to imagine that such a person is a rascal, a miscreant, or perhaps even a beggar; however, these words do not capture the sense of being unrooted as much as effects often following on that. The same goes for "stranger," though in a slightly more removed way; therefore, the word that makes the most sense is "migrant."
Example Question #71 : Text Completion
His mother decided to give him a sense of __________ by sending him to a manners class.
animalism
debility
obsequiousness
affability
decorum
decorum
The manners class will give the boy the missing word, so the correct answer will be related to manners. "Decorum," which signifies a correct behavior, is the only answer choice that makes sense in the sentence.
Example Question #33 : One Blank Texts
His __________ was legendary, with his most notable contribution being the city's massive art museum.
parsimony
largess
debility
cynicism
puritanicalism
largess
The fact that the subject of the sentence gave an art museum indicates he was quite generous. Of all the answer choices, only "largess" means generosity or giving.
Example Question #33 : One Blank Texts
His love of cats soon became an _____________, and he soon adopted any stray he found.
obsession
therapy
portent
largess
decorum
obsession
All the answer choices can make some level of sense in the sentence, so the task is to find the best choice. The man is essentially seeking out cats all the time, so the correct answer needs to indicate the way his love of cats is dominating his life. "Obsession," meaning a concern that overtakes someone completely, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #72 : Text Completion
The track star did not excel at one single event, but was a champion in the __________ because he could do many events quite well.
sprint
javelin
relay
marathon
decathalon
decathalon
All of the answer choices are track events, but the answer needs to reflect the "many events" in which the athlete excels. "Decathalon," meaning a competition of ten events, should immediately stick out. The root deca- means ten, and decathalon is the only answer choice that reflects many events.
Example Question #73 : Text Completion
The scandalized politician launched ______________ against his accusers, screaming obscenities and calling them names.
tirades
apologetics
campaigns
examinations
expositions
tirades
The key element in the sentence is the obscenities and name-calling. The politician is giving not just any speech, but a nasty one full of hatred and abuse. The only answer choice that fits the sentence then, is "tirade," which means a speech full of nasty words and hatred.
Example Question #81 : Text Completion
The new president refused to comment on the previous regime's policies, out of ___________ to his predecessor.
deference
animosity
hostility
officiousness
posterity
deference
The new president is attempting to show respect and possibly admiration for his predecessor, without commenting or saying too much information. "Deference," which means a polite respect, is the only answer choice that fits the sentence.
Example Question #81 : Text Completion
The ballplayer was highly suspicious, and considered music in the clubhouse a ________ for a loss.
blunderbess
tome
bulwark
portent
eulogy
portent
The fact the ballplayer was suspicious means he was on the lookout for coincidences and signs. "Portent," which means an omen or warning sign, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #82 : Text Completion
He had just published a large work on Medieval France, but was still promising a __________ on the Norman Kings of England within the year.
portent
tome
missive
tenet
pamphlet
tome
The structure of the sentence effectively pairs the two works mentioned, so the missing word is similar to "large work." "Tome," which means a very large book, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #44 : One Blank Texts
He had always been fascinated by _____________, loving how different roots came together to form words.
colonialism
existentialism
entomology
etymology
zoology
etymology
This sentence requires the exact knowledge of the choices' definitions. "Etymology" is the study of words and their origins, and is the correct answer.
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