All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #451 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
She was ___________ for her unusual approach to the test, but her success vindicated her.
lauded
disparaged
venerated
hallowed
championed
disparaged
If "success vindicated her," then presumably she had to be vindicated for something. This means her "unusual approach" was looked down on. "Disparaged," meaning to be criticized and dismissed, is the correct answer.
Example Question #452 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
His success at the Olympics quickly made the tiny country ________________ him as a national hero.
implicate
venerate
denigrate
explicate
desecrate
venerate
The fact the subject is a "national hero" means he is revered. The correct answer will indicate such a strong connection between the country and the subject. "Venerate," meaning to worship or revere, is the best choice.
Example Question #82 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
In the __________ of this life, in which we pass from one undertaking to another, it is not possible to imagine that one can find complete __________, though much happiness might be achieved.
dolors . . . satisfaction
woes . . . joy
peregrinations . . . beatitude
alterations . . . quietude
vacillations . . . fulfillment
peregrinations . . . beatitude
Do not be tempted by "vacillations," which implies a back-and-forth motion. What is key here is to note the phrase "pass from one undertaking to another." This implies a passing from one thing to the next. This is best captured by "peregrinations." Although this strictly means a journey or pilgrimage in the physical sense (which would work as well in context, at least broadly speaking), taken metaphorically it is perfect.
The word comes from the Latin peregrinatio, meaning journey or pilgrimage. It is related to the root for words like "peregrine," which means foreign or wandering in English. Such words have at their base per and ager. The former is a preposition with many derivatives in English (e.g. "permanent", "perfect", "perturbed"). It means "through" or (when used as a prefix and not as a preposition) "thoroughly;" (for us here, it means "through"). Ager means field in Latin, and in English finds derivatives such as "agricultural" and "agrarian." To go per agros is to go "through the fields"—like a traveller or a pilgrim.
"Beatitude" comes from the Latin beatus, meaning blessed. Related words are "beatify" and the Biblical "Beatitudes."
Example Question #453 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The older doctor insisted his younger colleagues had been __________ in school, and never saw the darker parts of their job as residents.
belittled
denigrated
embroiled
nettled
coddled
coddled
The phrase "never saw the darker parts of the job" is the key to finding the missing word. This phrase indicates the correct answer will show the younger doctors were kept from the negative elements of medicine. "Coddled," meaning indulged or pampered, is the most appropriate choice.
Example Question #454 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Although he claimed to remain loyal, he was later found to be __________ enemy propaganda.
disseminating
emulating
enduring
deploring
recanting
disseminating
The basic fact of the sentence is that the subject was in some way spreading "enemy propaganda," and issues of loyalty should be ignored. "Disseminating," meaning to spread and circulate, is the best choice.
Example Question #455 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The pitcher was widely credited with __________ new techniques, which were widely copied.
innovating
perusing
disseminating
traversing
deploring
innovating
There are multiple choice that could fit the sentence, but the best choice must be found. The phrase "new techniques" indicate the pitcher created those techniques. "Innovating," meaning creating and pioneering, is the best choice.
Example Question #456 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The propaganda effort by the government sought to __________ attention from its internal problems.
confound
allay
ordain
debunk
divert
divert
The "propaganda effort" is in response to "internal problems." This means the government would want to take attention away from the problems. "Divert," meaning to distract or detour, is the correct answer.
Example Question #457 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
His concerns about the ship's safety were __________ by the sterling record of the craft.
assuaged
ogled
enflamed
beleaguered
burnished
assuaged
The "sterling record" affected the "concerns about the ship's safety." A "sterling record" will do away with safety concerns. "Assuaged," meaning to calm, is the correct answer.
Example Question #771 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
She was rarely impulsive, and always had to __________ a great deal over decisions.
jeopardize
cogitate
bemoan
postulate
transgress
cogitate
A few answer choices could work in the sentence, but once will work best. If "she was rarely impulsive," then she made her decisions carefully. "Cogitate," meaning to ponder and think over deeply, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #772 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Each side claimed the other __________ the conflict, asserting that their fighting was in self-defense.
instigated
recused
debilitated
deliberated
equivocated
instigated
The sides both claim "self-defense," which indicates that they blame the other side for starting the conflict. The correct answer should mean to start or provoke, the definition of "instigate."