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 #169 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The police found it difficult to __________ their approach in such an unfamiliar situation.
undulate
calcify
calibrate
renege
compromise
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 #171 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
In times of financial trouble, economists have noticed people are more willing to do illegal acts to __________ their legal salaries.
stifle
endow
augment
obliterate
uproot
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 #172 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The new drugs only sought to __________ the symptoms, not to completely cure the disease.
complicate
discount
obliterate
mitigate
obscure
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.
redouble
assuage
exacerbate
escalate
palanquin
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 #173 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The disease had a nasty habit of __________ in impoverished communities, spreading through whole neighborhoods in a matter of days.
proliferating
eluding
staunching
ducking
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 #174 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The principal hated the students' protests, and felt he had to __________ them at all costs.
pine
flaunt
boast
scotch
muse
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 #175 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The young boy was arrogant, and had a tendency to __________ whenever he walked.
gambol
strut
prune
strain
amble
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 #176 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The girl was the most talented athlete on the field, and would __________ with the other players instead of outright beating
wag
pine
sap
muse
toy
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 #177 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
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
atrophied
abandoned
plundered
absconded
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 #178 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
denied
hypothesized
averred
prevaricated
defended
averred
All GRE Verbal Resources
