GRE Verbal : Nouns in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #43 : One Blank Texts
The young orphan looked to his parents' photographs as a ______________ to his own past.
misnomer
riddle
chimera
legend
eulogy
legend
The orphan is attempting to find something through his parents' photographs. The orphan is using the photographs as a guide. In this sense, "legend," referring to the key of a map, is the choice that best fits the sentence.
Example Question #44 : One Blank Texts
While the graffiti never became too serious a problem, it continued to be a ____________ for the police department.
boon
wane
paradigm
goad
bane
bane
The graffiti might not be "too serious," but it is still problematic for the police. The correct answer choice will indicate both the problems and the smallness of them. "Bane," meaning a consistent bother, is the correct answer.
Example Question #23 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The show is not just a good musical, but almost a perfect model of the ___________.
connoiseur
genre
jargon
effigy
ephemera
genre
The key word in this sentence is "musical." As a musical is a particular category or type of show, the correct answer is "genre," which has that exact definition.
Example Question #45 : One Blank Texts
The fierce ___________ between the two rivals slowly turned into a warm friendship.
affability
rancor
inimitability
familiarity
fraternity
rancor
The sentence both indicates the two were rivals and contrasts the answer with "warm friendship." The correct answer choice should make it clear the rivalry was quite intense. Of the choices, only "rancor," meaning resentment or a bad feeling, fits the sentence appropriately.
Example Question #46 : One Blank Texts
His small writings on the beat scene made him known as "The ____________ of Jazz."
Bastion
Paragon
Bard
Bane
Cudgel
Bard
In this sentence, many of the choices could fit, but the best fit needs to be found. The phrase "small writings" is the best indicator of the right answer. "Bard," a word for writer or poet, is the word that best fits in the sentence.
Example Question #45 : One Blank Texts
Despite a campaign to save the old courthouse, the ________ proved too crumbling to be restored.
bulwark
aesthetics
paradigm
buttress
edifice
edifice
The "old courthouse" is what is described by the answer, so the correct choice will be able to identify the courthouse. "Edifice," meaning building or structure, is the best choice.
Example Question #91 : Text Completion
The talk show host drew _____________ from critics for his confrontational interviews.
adoration
ardor
effusion
acclimation
ire
ire
The host is described as "confrontational" in the sentence; the host is also mentioned as having critics. Those critics would be upset and angry with the host. Of all the choices, only "ire," meaning anger, has the appropriate meaning.
Example Question #92 : Text Completion
The owner insisted the contract was phrased so that the employee had to work in _____________ for the company, and could never leave.
perpetuity
mutiny
intemperance
perspicacity
acuity
perpetuity
The last phrase of the sentence, "could never leave," is the key to finding the answer. The correct answer will essentially mean "never leave." "Perpetuity," meaning forever or eternity, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #29 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Instead of being generous and gracious, his speech became a ___________ against his opponent.
pontification
concession
rant
retraction
pose
rant
The speech is defined as not being "generous and gracious." The correct answer, then, should mean an angry or even nasty speech, which is the definition of "rant."
Example Question #24 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Her ______________ was impressive for such a young girl, and her father liked to show off her wit.
deference
obsequiousness
obtuseness
perspicacity
irascibility
perspicacity
The sentence finishes by talking about the girl's wit, and parallels her wit to the answer blank. The correct choice will mean sharpness or clerverness, which is the definition of "perspicacity."
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