All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1041 : One Blank Texts
The lenthy course in traffic engineering made him a __________ expert in the field.
desultory
perfidious
veritable
flailing
mundane
veritable
The sentence intensifies its description of the subject as an "expert" with the missing word. The correct answer will show the man was a genuine "expert." "Veritable," literally meaning able to be proved, but often used as modifier to mean nearly true, is the best choice in the sentence.
Example Question #1042 : One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The hikers were __________ as they began their ascent of the beautiful mountain.
guiless
ebullient
inured
felicitous
soporific
ebullient
The choice that makes the most sense is "ebullient," full of excitement and energy.
Example Question #1043 : One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
Although Bill has a temper, his anger is always __________, and his calm temperament often returns quite quickly.
irascible
dormant
porous
ebullient
ephemeral
ephemeral
The choice that makes the most sense is "ephemeral," lasting for a short time.
Example Question #1044 : One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The __________ man was never to be trusted; even though he seemed to be telling the truth, James knew there was a better chance he was lying.
mercurial
malleable
meticulous
maudlin
mendacious
mendacious
The choice that makes the most sense is "mendacious," lying; habitually dishonest.
Example Question #1045 : One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The boxing coach has never given up on a fighter that has __________ talent.
latent
irresolute
lethargic
lucid
laconic
latent
The choice that makes the most sense is "latent," undeveloped potential; hidden.
Example Question #1046 : One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The survival expert is totally __________ to the harsh climate.
infernal
inert
inflated
inundated
inured
inured
The choice that makes the most sense is "inured," accustomed or hardened, especially to something unpleasant.
Example Question #1047 : One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The __________ bellboy was to Annie more annoying than helpful.
obsolete
officious
opportune
notable
objective
officious
The choice that makes the most sense is "officious," assertive and meddlesome in an annoying way; pushy in offering something.
Example Question #1048 : One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
Professor Robinson's monotone voice and complicated examples were too __________ for Jimmy to keep his eyes open.
rarefied
laconic
viable
tangential
soporific
soporific
The choice that makes the most sense is "soporific," tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.
Example Question #1049 : One Blank Texts
Earthquakes are a __________ problem for that area's residents, who experience two or three significant ones per year, every year.
ephemeral
sporadic
felicitous
perennial
anomalous
perennial
Because we know that the residents of the area being described deal with two or three earthquakes "per year, every year," we know that earthquakes are a recurring problem in the state and need an adjective for the first blank that suggests this. We can discard "felicitous," which means well chosen or suited to the circumstances, as well as "ephemeral," (lasting for a very short time) "anomalous," (different from what is normal or expected) and "sporadic," (occurring at irregular intervals; having no pattern or order in time). We are left with the best answer choice, "perennial," which means lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.
Example Question #1050 : One Blank Texts
The cleric hated turning from spiritual matters to what he saw to be merely affairs.
pharisaical
quotidian
tedious
blue-collar
mundane
mundane
The sense of opposition in this sentence is indicated by the word "merely." Don't be tricked by this into some of the words such as "tedious" or even "blue-collar." The opposition is to "spiritual;" therefore, "mundane" is the best answer. Usually, this word is used in the sense of lacking interest or perhaps boring (or even tedious); however, its root is from the Latin "mundus" meaning world or universe. In English, this etymology is reflected in the extended meaning of "mundane" which signifies being earthly in distinction to heavenly or spiritual.