GRE Verbal : Nouns in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #305 : Text Completion
In order to perfect his craft, the minister heavily studied __________.
homiletics
gerontology
iconoclasm
atheism
partiality
homiletics
The subject of the sentence is a "minister" who is trying "to perfect his craft." This means he would be studying something related to the profession of being a minister. "Homiletics," meaning the study of preaching and giving sermons, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #306 : Text Completion
The man's great athleticism was surprising considering his run was more like a __________.
lope
wobble
sprint
sloth
amble
lope
The contrast of the missing word and the subject's "great athleticism" provides the best clue to the answer. The correct answer will indicate the subject moved with a non-athletic looking movement. "Lope," meaning a smooth and almost lazy gait, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #307 : Text Completion
The grandfather's old __________ made the kids roll their eyes, but usually held a grain of truth.
nexuses
saws
liturgies
inconsistencies
errors
saws
The fact "the kids roll their eyes" at the missing word, which still held some "grain of truth," indicates the grandfather is saying something familiar or hackneyed. "Saws," meaning old and worn out sayings, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #308 : Text Completion
The elaborate ritual the group eventually undertook became a veritable __________ for their meetings.
inconsequence
licentiousness
errata
epithet
liturgy
liturgy
The sentence describes the group's "elaborate ritual" for their meetings, which is then further described by the missing word. This means the correct answer will have a sense of ritual or tradition. "Liturgy," meaning a guide for a church service, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #309 : Text Completion
The __________ of the two shipping routes became a major commercial center thanks to its many connections.
dormancy
confusion
divergence
nexus
prohibition
nexus
The best clue to the sentence is the fact that the missing word has "many connections." The correct answer will indicate a meeting point or junction, which is the definition of "nexus.
Example Question #310 : Text Completion
Once a lively and gracious person, in his old age he became a terrible __________.
curmudgeon
icon
exemplar
mentor
paragon
curmudgeon
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the subject's past as a "lively and gracious person." This means the correct answer will describe a person who is not "lively and gracious." "Curmudgeon," meaning a grumpy and irritable old person, is the best choice among the answer.
Example Question #247 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The __________ of the strategy was routinely questioned by people who did not understand the plot's details.
exclusion
imperfection
ineffectuality
incomprehensibility
efficacy
efficacy
The sentence notes that certain people "did not understand the plot's details," and they are the ones questioning the plan for the missing word. This means the correct answer needs to show the plan's effectiveness or workability, the definition of "efficacy."
Example Question #241 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
His desire to jump into a field in which he had little experience made his new colleagues view him as a __________.
monolith
debutante
facade
receptacle
dilletante
dilletante
The sentence notes the subject has "little experience" in the field, and that this causes the perception described by the missing word. The correct answer needs to demonstrate this inexperience and messing with the established colleagues. "Dilletante," meaning someone who dabbles or an amateur, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #242 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Despite being a complete __________, he outplayed many experienced members of the team.
platitude
dissident
neophyte
ringer
analogue
neophyte
The sentence notes that the subject "outplayed many experienced members." This indicates the missing word means not experienced. "Neophyte," meaning a beginner or a new convert, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #243 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The speech was promised to be somber, but quickly moved into a joyous __________.
aberration
commingling
eulogy
panegyric
liturgy
panegyric
The sentence specifically notes the missing word is "joyous." The sentence also contrasts the missing word with its intended "somber" tone. "Panegyric," meaning a praising and laudatory speech, is the best choice anong the answers.
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