GRE Verbal : One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #531 : One Blank Texts
Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.
The philosopher courted controversy by deriding the values that are commonly cherished by our society, such as piety and charity, instead __________ an ethic of selfishness.
hypothesizing
venerating
marginalizing
equivocating
critiquing
venerating
In this question, you might not know what exactly "deriding" means, but you can guess by context clues that the philosopher "courted controversy" because she opposed traditional values like piety and charity in some way. The word "instead" lets you know that this clause is telling you what the philosopher proposed in the place of these values; "venerating" means revering or respecting, making it the best fit to describe how the philosopher felt about the ethic in which she believed.
Example Question #532 : One Blank Texts
Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.
The heavy overcast that hung over the beach all day completely __________ the sunblock and beach umbrella I had brought along.
necessitated
obviated
adulterated
mitigated
anticipated
obviated
Understanding that the word overcast as used here means a cloudy sky, you can deduce that you are looking for a word that describes what cloudy weather would do for sunblock and a beach umbrella. You can safely reason that it would render them useless. That's why the best word choice in this case would be "obviated," which means rendered unnecessary.
Example Question #138 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Jenny thought that adding more salt to the reciple would enhance it, but the cake was __________.
complimented
adulterated
purified
appreciated
adulterated
To "adulterate" means to taint or debase.
Example Question #139 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The Spanish tried to __________ their influence through the use of their extensive armada.
aggrandize
adulterate
dwindle
dilute
aggrandize
"Aggrandize" means to strengthen or exalt.
Example Question #511 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The runner took some aspirin the an attempt to __________ the intense pain in her leg.
abate
augment
escalate
burgeon
abate
To "abate" means to lessen in degree or intensity.
Example Question #512 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
His blustery speech was somewhat __________ by his many mistatements and factual errors.
upheld
mitigated
ameliorated
bolstered
attenuated
attenuated
The sentence contrasts the subject's "blustery speech" with the "many mistatements and factual errors." This means the correct answer must show the difference between the speech and the errors. "Attenuated," meaning weakened or diminished, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #513 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Facing an unarmed and poorly trained crew, the pirates quickly __________ the container ship.
battled
augmented
quarried
commandeered
garbled
commandeered
The sentence describes pirates approaching an "unarmed and poorly trained crew" of a ship, with the missing word being the verb in the sentence. The correct answer will indicate the pirates' fighting or taking the ship. "Commandeer," meaning to grab possesion and forcibly take, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #514 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
One reporter tried to __________ the local principal by spreading rumors of infidelity, but the school's parents knew better than to believe the rumors.
enliven
invigorate
flatter
denigrate
denigrate
To "denigrate" means to defame or belittle.
Example Question #515 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The political club was forced to __________ its newest member, after she publically spoke against their views.
contend
sanction
repudiate
approbate
repudiate
To "repudiate" means to disown or abandon, which is what a club would be forced to do with a contrary member.
Example Question #516 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Once DNA testing proved his innocence, the inmate on death row was __________.
castigated
exculpated
condemned
denounced
exculpated
To "exculpate" means to exonerate or to clear of blame.
All GRE Verbal Resources
