All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #191 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The student suffered the __________ of his peers thanks to his odd manners and sense of superiority.
admiration
derision
approbation
approval
celebration
derision
The subject has "odd manners and a sense of superiority," which are not things that gather support among peers. The correct answer should mean mockery or scorn, the definition of "derision."
Example Question #192 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The poet pondered endlessly over a clever enough __________ to place in the front page of his book.
epigram
scabbard
subtitle
byline
eulogy
epigram
The use of "clever" to describe the missing word is a fantastic clue to the correct answer. As it is a poet trying to write something for a book, the missing word has to do with writing and must be clever. "Epigram," meaning a short and pithy statement, is the best choice.
Example Question #193 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Jerome's head cold turned out to be the __________ of the party when he accidentally sneezed on the buffet table and got four other guests sick by the end of the night.
paradigm
bane
accolade
enigma
paragon
bane
We're looking for a noun that conveys how Jerome's headcold spoiled the party. Because "bane" means "a person or thing that spoils; a cause of great distress or annoyance," "bane" is the correct answer.
Example Question #194 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The candidate's __________ made a hectic campaign schedule difficult to achieve.
moxie
gratitude
gregariousness
ebullience
lassitude
lassitude
The candidate has trouble with "a hectic campaign schedule," implying an inability to keep up the pace. This means the missing word has to indicate the candidate's problems with the schedule. "Lassitude," meaning weariness and lacking in energy, is the correct answer.
Example Question #195 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The large amount of visiting fans arrived at the game in a virtual __________ of cars and buses.
galleon
mast
armada
jalopy
skiff
armada
"The large amount of visiting fans" would need to be carried in a good number "of cars and buses." The correct answer must reflect the large size of the buses and cars. "Armada," meaning a large fleet of ships, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #196 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The young boy was a __________ who was always the last member of his class to do anything.
stevedore
drone
sprinter
fusillade
dawdler
dawdler
The key phrase in the sentence is that the boy was "the last member of the class to do anything." This means he was slow or even lazy, and the correct answer must reflect this. "Dawdler," meaning someone who lags behind, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #261 : Text Completion
Reformers criticized the new policy that actively promoted bright students for having a __________ of poor performing students behind.
dross
strain
scabbard
levity
drone
dross
The sentence notes certain students are left "behind," due to certain performance standards. This means the correct answer will indicate something that is cut out from the larger group. "Dross," meaning the impurities left after refining and here used metaphorically, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #262 : Text Completion
Despite his popularity, the literary elite considered the author a __________ who only followed writing that made him money.
hack
commandant
monolith
blowhard
lacuna
hack
The sentence indicates the author is both looked down on by "the literary elite" and only sought what "made him money." This indicates that the author was viewed as amateurish and seeking the work that was best financially for him. "Hack," meaning a person who writes whatever makes money despite the level of quality, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #263 : Text Completion
Her __________ toward screaming and stomping made working with small children difficult.
conciliation
monotony
aversion
apprehension
propensity
propensity
"Screaming and stomping" are not things which help "working with small children." Since the subject has a problem "working with small children," the correct word needs to indicate she is "screaming and stomping." "Propensity," meaning a tendency or inclination, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #221 : One Blank Texts
Among his many __________ was a tendency to eat too much between meals.
debacles
contempts
credits
disasters
foibles
foibles
"Easting too much between meals" is a problem for the subject, but is not a large problem. The correct answer should reflect this scale (which rules out debacles and debacles). "Foibles," meaning minor weaknesses or tendencies, is the best choice among the answers.