GRE Verbal : One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #631 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Concerned for his patient’s liver, Donald’s doctor advised him to __________ from alcohol.
procure
rescind
cringe
abstain
indulge
abstain
It is common knowledge that alcohol abuse is deleterious to the health of the liver. Naturally, Donald’s doctor would want him to "abstain" (that is, refrain) from alcohol consumption.
Example Question #632 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The contract had been intentionally __________ by the crooked attorney in order to trick the farmer into signing away his property.
nullified
explicated
obliterated
clarified
obfuscated
obfuscated
The word that fills in the blank must consider three things: 1) The contract still exists; it has not been "obliterated"; 2) The crooked attorney wants the farmer to sign the contract; a "nullified" contract is a non-binding contract, even when signed; and 3) It would not likely be in the crooked attorney’s interests to explain to the farmer how he is cheating him; it would not be in the attorney’s interest to "clarify" or "explicate" the terms of the contract. "Obfuscate" is the answer because it is in the attorney’s interest to deliberately make the contract difficult to understand.
Example Question #633 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I do not know why the President rescinded my invitation; his decision making has always been __________ in mystery.
envisioned
cajoled
tempered
exposed
enshrouded
enshrouded
The word that fills in the blank must help characterize the President’s decision making in light of the writer’s ignorance regarding the President’s motivations. The President’s decision making, for the writer, has always been covered in mystery, so "enshrouded" is the correct answer.
Example Question #634 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In the novel Frankenstein, the author clearly __________ the moral ambiguity of attempting to bring the dead to life.
ingratiates
discerns
assuages
nettles
repudiates
discerns
“Discerns” mean to perceive something, in this case, the moral ambiguity presented as a major theme of Frankenstein.
Example Question #635 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Harold finally worked up the courage to ask for a raise, but he was __________ by news that sales had declined precipitously in the previous quarter.
articulated
enamored
thwarted
emboldened
kindled
thwarted
The sentence says that Harold was going to ask for a raise, but then he found out that sales were down. This means the news prevented him from asking, so "thwarted" is correct. “Thwarted” means that he was hindered from carrying out his plan.
Example Question #636 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her desire to watch the basketball game was surprising, as she usually __________ sporting events as unsophisticated.
celebrated
denigrated
anticipated
feted
extolled
denigrated
The word to pay attention to in this sentence is “surprising,” as it indicates that a negative word is necessary to complete the sentence. The only such word is “denigrated.”
Example Question #637 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Frequently, beginning pilots find themselves unable to trust their instruments, __________ them in the air and leaving them completely upside down.
mystifying
inspiring
supplementing
invigorating
reassuring
mystifying
The sentence is explaining that beginning pilots hurt themselves by not paying attention to the plane’s instruments. The word that best completes the sentence should mean "confusing." “Mystifying” is the closest synonym to "confusing" among the answer choices.
Example Question #638 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Political tensions mounted as raging protestors convulsed through the streets; one could not __________ the feeling of revolution in the air.
contest
finagle
engender
harangue
abhor
contest
You are looking for a verb that means "to deny," which is exactly what "contest" means. None of the other words make sense in the context of the sentence.
Example Question #639 : One Blank Texts
While he may have expected some light ribbing, he was wholly unprepared for the hecklers who used his every word as an occasion to __________ him.
bolster
abrogate
ogle
lampoon
obfuscate
lampoon
The word that we are looking for comes in contrast to the light teasing that he had expected. So we are looking for either a much more intense or less intense contrast. We know it must be more intense since it is being done by "hecklers". Thus we are looking for a word that means, to heckle or ridicule, and that word is "lampoon."
Example Question #640 : One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Apprehensive about the commitment he was making, the groom tried to __________ his fears and go on with the ceremony.
gall
expatiate
quicken
quell
foment
quell
The groom needs to suppress his fears and carry on, the definition of "quell." "Foment" means to initiate/cause while "expatiate" means to speak/write at length.
All GRE Verbal Resources
