GRE Verbal : One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #561 : One Blank Texts
The lack of agreement between the groups made the negotiator __________ the issue for a later session.
undermine
broach
table
weaken
expose
table
The negotiator does the missing word to the issue because the two sides have a "lack of agreement" on it. The correct answer needs to show the negotiator has done something to deal with the issue. "Table," meaning to put away for a future discussion, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #562 : One Blank Texts
The company was struggling until they found an investor to __________ their breakthrough project.
undermine
underwrite
personify
discount
pinch
underwrite
The sentence both calls the company "struggling" and that the investor helped their "breakthrough project." This means the correct answer needs to demonstrate some sort of assistance or insurance. "Underwrite," meaning to help fund or endorse, is the best choice among the answer.
Example Question #563 : One Blank Texts
Giving the flower the proper fertilizer and watering it frequently should allow your new plant to __________.
expire
wither
burgeon
succumb
perish
burgeon
To "burgeon" is a verb that means to flourish or to grow rapidly. Proper care of the flower will allow it to flourish.
Example Question #564 : One Blank Texts
Her tendency to __________ aspects of her job caused resentment among her coworkers.
prone
savor
embrace
shirk
enhance
shirk
The key element of the sentence is that her behavior "caused resentment among her coworkers." This indicates the correct answer must show her doing something to anger her coworkers. "Shirk," meaning to avoid or ignore, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #565 : One Blank Texts
The police found it difficult to __________ their approach in such an unfamiliar situation.
calibrate
compromise
calcify
renege
undulate
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 #566 : One Blank Texts
In times of financial trouble, economists have noticed people are more willing to do illegal acts to __________ their legal salaries.
uproot
augment
endow
obliterate
stifle
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 #567 : One Blank Texts
The new drugs only sought to __________ the symptoms, not to completely cure the disease.
mitigate
obscure
obliterate
complicate
discount
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.
palanquin
escalate
exacerbate
redouble
assuage
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 #569 : 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
gamboling
ducking
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 #570 : One Blank Texts
The principal hated the students' protests, and felt he had to __________ them at all costs.
pine
scotch
flaunt
boast
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.
All GRE Verbal Resources
