GRE Verbal : Style, Intensity, and Connotation in One-Blank Texts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : One Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Many thought that Harry was merely happy about the news when, in fact, he was __________ to hear the report.

Possible Answers:

lax

elated

joyous

surprised

dispirited

Correct answer:

elated

Explanation:

This sentence indicates a kind of intensification. Many people seemed to think that Harry would merely be happy. The word "merely" provides the best indication that we want to describe him has being something more than "merely happy." A great intensifier for "happy" is "elated," which describes someone who is extremely happy.

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