GRE Verbal : One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #789 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
He was well know for his ability to __________, and he rarely used a script while speaking.
scrutinize
debilitate
lionize
extemporize
deliberate
extemporize
The sentence notes that the subject "rarely used a script while speaking." This means the correct answer will indicate not needing a script. "Extemporize," meaning to speak with little preparation or off the cuff, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #501 : One Blank Texts
The ballplayer's simple mistake saw him __________ by his coach for his errors.
embellished
eulogized
pacified
advocated
lambasted
lambasted
The sentence notes both the player made a "simple mistake" and that the coach did the missing word to the player because he had "errors." The correct answer will show a criticism or anger from the coach. "Lambasted," meaning verbally attacked, is the best option among the answers.
Example Question #502 : One Blank Texts
For his own safety, the accused criminal was __________ from the public's wrath in an undisclosed location.
reproved
cloistered
breached
broached
fortified
cloistered
The "accused criminal" is taken to "an undisclosed location" to avoid the "public's wrath." This means the "accused criminal" is being hidden away and isolated, the definition of "cloistered," which is the correct answer.
Example Question #503 : One Blank Texts
His inability to succeed at chess __________ him of the idea he excelled at any game.
disabused
emboldened
engendered
lavished
disaffected
disabused
The subject thought he "excelled at any game," but his experience with chess was different. The correct answer needs to indicate that the subject was wrong. "Disabused," meaning to have someone's mind changed, is the best choice.
Example Question #504 : One Blank Texts
The new laws __________ new issues none of its supporters believed would develop.
engendered
disabused
atoned
averred
engrafted
engendered
The "new laws" had things that developed despite what its supporters thought would happen. This means they caused or brought into being, the definition of "engendered," which is the correct answer.
Example Question #505 : One Blank Texts
Fad diets are potenially harmful because they often involve __________ certain food groups, vital to a healthy body, and eventually lead to nutritional deficiency.
ignoring
allowing
consuming
abnegating
devouring
abnegating
"Consuming," "devouring," and "allowing" all indicate that dieters are encouraged to eat all the food groups, which is not the case. "Ignoring" could make sense, but "abnegating," meaning denying oneself, conveys the sense of active denial more and is the better choice.
Example Question #506 : One Blank Texts
No amount of petting would __________ the crazed horse, which would have trampled everyone in sight if he had not been restrained.
aggravate
impede
mollify
provoke
inhibit
mollify
"Inhibit" and "impede," which both mean to hold back, do not make sense because the horse is already restrained from trampling everyone. To "aggravate" or "provoke," both meaning to excite, would only upset the horse more. Only "mollify," meaning soothe, is a good choice.
Example Question #507 : One Blank Texts
The prisoner's display of remorse was so moving that the judge agreed to __________ her sentence.
mitigate
requite
censure
cozen
exacerbate
mitigate
Since the prisoner had remorse, or regret, for her crimes, it makes logical sense for the judge to reduce the prison sentence—so mitigate, to make less severe, works. Note that exacerbate is an antonym to mitigate.
Example Question #508 : One Blank Texts
His newfound popularity __________ a great deal of jeaulousy among his old friends that were not as successful.
quashed
acquiesced
obviated
engendered
condoned
engendered
The sentence explicitly notes that the subject had "friends that were not as successful." This means that the subject's friends became jealous. "Engendered," meaning caused or brought into being, is the correct answer.
Example Question #509 : One Blank Texts
Her desire for vengeance was __________ when misfortune befell her rival, and she let him be.
importuned
embellished
debilitated
acquiesced
slaked
slaked
Since "she let him be," the subject did not pursue her desire for vengeance any further. This indicates that her rival's misfortune was something that helped her desire go away. "Slaked," meaning quenched or satisfied, is the correct answer.
All GRE Verbal Resources
