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 #371 : Nouns In One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She blamed her roomate's __________ in leaving the window open and letting the cat escape.
hindrance
petulance
deference
subterfuge
negligence
negligence
The phrase "leaving the window open" does not indicate an active deed or intentional action. The correct answer will indicate the roomate's inaction. "Negligence," meaning carelessness or inattention, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #1 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Mark was asked to __________ the professor of his arrival to class, so that they could discuss his recent performance on the final exam.
caché
apprise
enshroud
ensconce
apprise
Apprise—to give notice to; to inform.
Example Question #371 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The author's disdain for his negligent mother was __________ the inclusion of the chapter in his novel involving a distant mother leaving her son alone on the streets to fend for himself.
fraught with
obscured in
lauded in
illluminated by
marred with
illluminated by
The author is implied to have had a negligent mother, and this is alluded to in the inclusion of a chapter involving a negligent mother in his novel. As such, "illuminated by" makes sense in this sentence, as the inclusion of such a scene in his story would hint at the author's feelings about his own mother.
Example Question #2 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The stray dog was skittish around humans, often __________ himself behind walls and trees when he heard people.
breaching
broaching
stunning
presenting
obscuring
obscuring
The dog is essentially hiding from people when he hears them, and the correct answer will in some way be a synonym for hiding. Of all the answer choices, only obscuring means hiding or being unseen.
Example Question #4 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
With his handlebar mustache and loping walk, he ____________ the look of the nineteenth-century baseball player although he was simply reenacting the way the game was played.
subverted
epitomized
misappropriated
underscored
disassociated
epitomized
The structure of the sentence indicates that the ballplayer looked exactly like a nineteenth-century player, despite not being one. The correct answer choice should indicate that he is a model. Epitomized, meaning "embodying and exemplifying the basic elements of something," is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #5 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Although he ___________ in judging the distance across the lake, a strong wind propelled the skipper's boat in record time despite the miscalculation.
obscured
triumphed
excelled
broached
erred
erred
The best word to find the correct answer is "miscalculation," and all the other words are extraneous distractions. The structure of the sentence places many words between the missing word and miscalculation, but the correct choice needs to be close in meaning to miscalculation. Only "erred," meaning to make a mistake, fits the correct meaning of the sentence.
Example Question #6 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
These specific kinds of headaches often ____________ a more serious medical condition is forthcoming.
exaggerate
belie
obviate
defer
portend
portend
Some of the answer choices for this question have the ability to fit in this sentence, but the word "forthcoming" gives the best clue of the answer. "Portend," meaning to predict or foretell, is the only answer choice that indicates the headaches will signal a more serious condition.
Example Question #7 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The employees tried to avoid calling attention to their boss' old mannerism, but ____________ could always be heard in meetings.
expectorating
shunning
guffawing
lavishing
tittering
tittering
The tone and structure of the sentence make it clear the were trying not to embarass their boss, but could not avoid it. "Tittering," which means to giggle quietly and softly, gives the appropriate meaning to the sentence.
Example Question #8 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The teacher was concerned with the way her students dressed, but found it difficult to ____________ the topic of fashion.
examine
broach
exhaust
laud
annihilate
broach
The sentence makes it clear the teacher was uncomfortable talking about fashion. The use of the phrase "found it difficult" means that the correct choice will be a word indicating starting a conversation or discussion, which is the definition of "broach."
Example Question #9 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The most frightening side effect of the insecticide was that it often also caused the trees to _____________.
dehydrate
undermine
extirpate
extrapolate
defoliate
defoliate
The key word in the whole sentence is "trees," as it means the correct answer needs to be word having to do with trees. Of all the choices, only "defoliate," meaning to cause leaves to fall off, has anything to do with trees.
All GRE Verbal Resources
