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 #271 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The man's once harmless obsession quickly veered into a full blown __________.
placebo
trifle
psychosis
nadir
insomnia
psychosis
The sentence contrasts the missing word with the man's "once harmless obsession." The correct answer needs to mean something problematic mentally, but much stronger. "Psychosis," meaning a severe mental disturbance, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #272 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Wanting to present himself as a __________, the boy began wearing rebellious and politically-charged clothing.
conformist
paragon
quack
personification
dissident
dissident
The key words in the sentence are "rebellious and politically-charged clothing." This means the correct answer has to show the teenager is hoping to look like he is being difficult or politically different. "Dissident,"meaning someone who is a noncomformist or rebel, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #336 : Text Completion
The pronounced __________ of the samples indicated there was little diversity in the soil.
heterodoxy
terminality
orthodoxy
homogeneity
plausibility
homogeneity
The sentence explains that the soil has "little diversity." This means the correct answer has to indicate a sameness or uniformity, which is the definition of "homogeneity."
Example Question #273 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
With his face paint, replica jersey, and team merchandise, the young man was the __________ of a diehard fan.
restoration
iconoclasm
indemnification
amortization
personification
personification
The sentence both calls the young man a "diehard fan," and notes all the things that indicate this. The correct answer needs to enhance this sense of the man's fanhood. "Personification," meaning the perfect embodiment of an idea or concept, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #274 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The __________ of the story diminished over time, as she added more non factual details to the narrative.
plausibility
superfluousness
absurdity
ridiculousness
extraordinariness
plausibility
The storyteller keeps adding "non factual details to the narrative." This indicates she is decreasing the story's believability or acceptability, the definition of "plausibility," which is the correct answer.
Example Question #275 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
The boxer's greatest attribute was his __________, as he almost never got punched out or beat down.
wariness
delicacy
fragility
resilience
equivocation
resilience
The sentence actually describes the missing word as meaning the boxer "never got punched out or beat down." This means the correct answer has to indicate toughness or strength. "Resilience," meaning perseverance or an ability to come back, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #276 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Although the plan was perfectly figured out, a random __________ threw them off and doomed it to failure.
minutia
vagary
atom
purist
furrow
vagary
The sentence describes a plan "perfectly figured out," which nonetheless was "doomed to failure." This indicates the correct answer will mean something that harms even perfect planning. "Vagary," meaning an unaccountable problem or freak mistake, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #277 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Her __________ of her intellectual inferiors meant she never paid attention to what her classmates were interested in.
recantation
discountenance
calibration
resuscitation
reinterpretation
discountenance
The sentence notes that the subject "never paid attention" to others' interests. This habit is the best clue to finding the missing word, as the correct answer must parallel this phrase in meaning. "Discountenance," meaning to show disapproval of, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #278 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Although managing water levels was only a small part of the job description, once a drought went into effect it became the basic __________ of the city manager.
imperative
lacuna
reconnaissance
esoterica
indifference
imperative
"Managing water levels" was not a key part of the job until "a drought went into effect." Both the structure of the sentence and the fact a drought is a lack of water indicate the correct answer has to indicate the new important place of "managing water levels." "Imperative," meaning something that must happen or be taken care of, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #592 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Although in reality he was quite nice, his lack of social skills often left people assuming he was a __________.
cavalier
sir
boor
miscreant
gentleman
boor
A "boor" is a person who is rude or insensitive.
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