GRE Verbal : Nouns in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #81 : Text Completion
The young orphan looked to his parents' photographs as a ______________ to his own past.
eulogy
riddle
misnomer
legend
chimera
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 #82 : Text Completion
While the graffiti never became too serious a problem, it continued to be a ____________ for the police department.
wane
bane
boon
paradigm
goad
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 #47 : One Blank Texts
The show is not just a good musical, but almost a perfect model of the ___________.
jargon
genre
effigy
ephemera
connoiseur
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 #83 : Text Completion
The fierce ___________ between the two rivals slowly turned into a warm friendship.
familiarity
rancor
affability
fraternity
inimitability
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 #84 : Text Completion
His small writings on the beat scene made him known as "The ____________ of Jazz."
Cudgel
Bard
Bastion
Paragon
Bane
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 #50 : One Blank Texts
Despite a campaign to save the old courthouse, the ________ proved too crumbling to be restored.
paradigm
bulwark
buttress
edifice
aesthetics
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
acclimation
ire
effusion
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 #51 : One Blank Texts
The owner insisted the contract was phrased so that the employee had to work in _____________ for the company, and could never leave.
perpetuity
perspicacity
acuity
intemperance
mutiny
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 #27 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Instead of being generous and gracious, his speech became a ___________ against his opponent.
rant
pose
concession
pontification
retraction
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 #52 : One Blank Texts
Her ______________ was impressive for such a young girl, and her father liked to show off her wit.
obsequiousness
deference
obtuseness
irascibility
perspicacity
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."
All GRE Verbal Resources
