GRE Verbal : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #1025 : One Blank Texts
Her knowledge of the woods proved __________ to finding a way out when the group got lost.
injurious
detrimental
vital
inconsequential
dormant
vital
"Her knowledge of the woods" came into play "when the group got lost." As this knowledge found a way out, it proves it is important, which should be reflected in the correct answer. "Vital," meaning essential and important, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1026 : One Blank Texts
Many scholars now say violence is __________ in humans, and did not develop through time.
rising
contemporary
emerging
evolutionary
primordial
primordial
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the possibility violence "did not develop over time." This means the correct answer needs to mean violence was always present. "Primordial," meaning since the beginning of time, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1027 : One Blank Texts
The bizarre rules of the cult required everyone to be _________ thanks to the leader's hatred of his deformed right hand.
obliqueness
acquiescent
orthodox
mundane
sinistral
sinistral
The sentence gives one very large clue, by noting the leader has a "hatred of his deformed right hand." The correct answer will therefore indicate left-handedness, the exact definition of "sinistral."
Example Question #1028 : One Blank Texts
Although the story was proved to be __________, many people believed it anyway.
wholesome
fervent
fabricated
straightforward
congruent
fabricated
The sentence says "many people believed" the story, even though it was the missing word. The correct answer needs to show that the story should not be believed. "Fabricated," meaning constructed or fake, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1029 : One Blank Texts
The kids had to make sure their stories were __________ so their parents would not catch any differences.
explicit
congurent
duplicitous
discreet
patronizing
congurent
The kids are trying to avoid having their parents "catch any differences" in their stories. This means the correct answer has to reflect an attempt to make the stories similar. "Congruent," meaning matching or in line with, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1030 : One Blank Texts
The student's plea for a new class was so __________ that the principal was convinced to start it.
pretentious
errant
fervent
underwhelming
disjointed
fervent
The principal was "convinced" because the "student's plea" has the missing word. The correct answer must indicate that the student had a quality that made the principal relent on the class. "Fervent," meaning passionate and deeply held, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1031 : One Blank Texts
The agreement was __________ and a team of lawyers could do nothing to break it.
ironclad
discreet
underwhelming
forbearing
somatic
ironclad
Since "a team of lawyers could do nothing to break it," the agreement must be quite firm. The correct answer must mean unable to be changed or unbreakable, the definition of "ironclad."
Example Question #1032 : One Blank Texts
The man was physically fine after his fall, but still had many __________ problems.
synaptic
cognitive
musculature
brawn
atavistic
cognitive
The key to the sentence is that "the man was physically fine," but had other problems. This means the correct answer will indicate something not having to do with the body. "Cognitive," meaning having to do with thinking, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1033 : One Blank Texts
The young woman was __________ in her religious beliefs, and nothing could shake them.
fervid
austere
limpid
macerated
slight
fervid
"Nothing could shake" the young woman's "religious beliefs," which are described by the missing word. This means the correct answer must indicate how deep and powerful the beliefs are. "Fervid," meaning passionate or intense, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1034 : One Blank Texts
The quarterback had a __________ gift for making the right decision that few other players possessed.
colloquial
preternatural
malignant
dormant
picayune
preternatural
The sentence notes the gift described by the missing word is one "few other players possessed." This indicates the correct answer has to show something rare or unique. "Preternatural," meaning beyond the usual, is the best choice among the answers.
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