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 #29 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The college students were ______________ by a speeding ticket on their trip to Florida.
condoned
waylaid
belied
degraded
waived
waylaid
The "trip to Florida" indicates the students were headed somewhere, and the correct answer will show they were delayed. "Waylaid," meaning to hinder or derail, is the best choice.
Example Question #425 : One Blank Texts
He would often complement his lengthy academic texts with shorter books that _____________ the same arguments.
subverted
discombobulated
congealed
recanted
recapitulated
recapitulated
The sentence indicates that the "shorter books" said the "same arguments" as the larger ones. The correct answer will then mean to restate or summarize, which is the definition of "recapitulated."
Example Question #426 : One Blank Texts
Her awkward walk ________________ a grace that was present in her ballet dancing.
reproved
belied
implied
portended
ascertained
belied
The dancer's "awkward walk" is contrasted with her grace while dancing through the missing word. The correct word will indicate the surprising nature of her dancing ability. "Belied," meaning contradicted or misrepresented, is the best choice.
Example Question #427 : One Blank Texts
After being left out in the snow, the glove had ________________ into a rock hard lump.
petrified
elucidated
hydrated
defoliated
congealed
petrified
The phrase "rock hard lump" is the best clue to the answer. The best choice needs to indicate the glove becoming that "rock hard lump." "Petrified," meaning turned into stone or a stone like substance, is the correct answer.
Example Question #429 : One Blank Texts
He frequently criticized his children, _______________ them for minor flaws.
belittling
befuddling
bemusing
beleaguering
beknighting
belittling
The sentence parallels "criticized" and the correct answer, making them synonyms. Of all the answer choices, "belittling" is the only synonym of "criticized."
Example Question #428 : One Blank Texts
The guitarist could not help but __________ the collection of fancy instruments.
disdain
goad
transgress
ogle
ordain
ogle
A guitarist will appreciate a "collection of fancy instruments." The correct answer will indicate the guitarists admiration and appreciation of the collection. "Ogle," meaning to stare or obviously look at, is the best choice.
Example Question #431 : One Blank Texts
The archaeologist was most well known for _________________ a theory on human development with which no other scholars agreed.
recapitulating
substantiating
postulating
suppressing
exemplifying
postulating
Many of the answer choices could fit the sentence, but one choice will fit best. The theory is one "with which no other scholars agreed," which means it is controversial and unproven. "Postulating," meaning hypothesize or propose, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #712 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
The young man decided to ______________ his resumé by interning at a prestigious company.
downplay
waylay
burnish
undermine
execrable
burnish
The "prestigious company" gives a clue that the young man wishes to improve the status of his resumé. "Burnish," meaning to polish or bolster, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #432 : One Blank Texts
The committee always ______________ a great deal, never deciding anything quickly.
recanted
denuded
immoderated
exemplified
deliberated
deliberated
"Never deciding anything quickly" is the key phrase in the sentence. The correct answer will indicate the slowness of the committee. "Deliberated," meaning to think over carefully and slowly, is the best choice.
Example Question #433 : One Blank Texts
The politician always wanted statistics to ________________ the claims he made in his speeches.
transgress
bulwark
buttress
counteract
retract
buttress
The politician is concerned about the claims in his speech, and would want to support them with statistics. The correct answer will mean to strengthen or back up, which is the definition of "buttress."
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