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 #541 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The police found it difficult to __________ their approach in such an unfamiliar situation.
undulate
calibrate
compromise
calcify
renege
calibrate
The sentence describes "an unfamiliar situation" that the police must approach. This means the correct word has to show the police carefully looking at the situation. "Calibrate," meaning to assess or adjust carefully, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #542 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
In times of financial trouble, economists have noticed people are more willing to do illegal acts to __________ their legal salaries.
endow
obliterate
augment
uproot
stifle
augment
The missing word describes what people do with "their legal salaries," and that they are doing this in "financial trouble" and with "illegal acts." Both of these facts contribute to a sense that the correct answer should mean increasing or making bigger, the definition of "augment."
Example Question #543 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The new drugs only sought to __________ the symptoms, not to completely cure the disease.
complicate
obscure
discount
mitigate
obliterate
mitigate
The drugs will not "completely cure the disease," which means they will not fully take care of the symptoms. The correct answer will need to indicate this lessening, without describing a complete healing. "Mitigate," meaning to make less severe, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #568 : One Blank Texts
Sleeping with a nightlight can often help to __________ a child's fear of the dark.
palanquin
escalate
exacerbate
redouble
assuage
assuage
To "assuage" is a verb that means to lessen or pacify; therefore, sleeping with a light on will help the child to have less fear of the dark.
Example Question #544 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The disease had a nasty habit of __________ in impoverished communities, spreading through whole neighborhoods in a matter of days.
eluding
ducking
proliferating
staunching
gamboling
proliferating
The sentence provides one great clue to the answer: the disease is "spreading through whole neighborhoods." This means the correct answer must be a synonym of "spreading." "Proliferating," meaning growing and flourishing, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #545 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The principal hated the students' protests, and felt he had to __________ them at all costs.
scotch
muse
boast
pine
flaunt
scotch
The "principal hated the students' protests," which indicates that he does not want them to continue. The correct answer has to show him trying to end the protests. "Scotch," meaning to prevent or disable, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #611 : Text Completion
The young boy was arrogant, and had a tendency to __________ whenever he walked.
amble
prune
strain
strut
gambol
strut
The sentence both describes the boy as "arrogant," and notes that the missing word describes what he does when he walks. The correct answer therefore must mean a showy and boasting manner of walking, the definition of "strut."
Example Question #612 : Text Completion
The girl was the most talented athlete on the field, and would __________ with the other players instead of outright beating
pine
wag
toy
sap
muse
toy
The sentence describes the girl as not "outright beating" her opponents, despite being "the most talented athlete on the field." This indicates she was not directly playing against her opponents, and the correct answer must reflect this. "Toy," meaning to play and fool around with mockingly, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #613 : Text Completion
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The minister seemed so humble and pious that the parishioners were shocked when he __________ with the chapel coffer.
blasphemed
absconded
abandoned
atrophied
plundered
absconded
In this sentence, the parishioners' shock hints at a contradiction between the minister's seeming humility and his subsequent action. Noting that "coffer" refers to a collection of valuables, you might infer that the minister somehow robbed the church. "Plundered" would make sense, except for the word "with" following the blank (one might "plunder with" a sword, but not with a chapel coffer); therefore "absconded" is the best option in this case.
Example Question #614 : Text Completion
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
averred
denied
prevaricated
hypothesized
defended
averred
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