All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #181 : Text Completion
The Stock Market Crash took many people from the heights of the good life to living in __________.
philanthropy
frugality
penury
munificence
luxury
penury
The sentence compares "the heights of the good life" to "living in" the missing word. Therefore, the correct answer needs to mean the opposite of "the good life." "Penury," meaning poverty and neediness, is the best choice.
Example Question #182 : Text Completion
The students massed in protest presented a __________ of the police force's trouble.
utopia
legion
portent
diorama
genre
diorama
The missing word describes how the students appeared in light of "the police force's troubles." The correct answer must indicate a reflection or observation of the issues. "Diorama," meaning a model or representation, is the correct answer.
Example Question #183 : Text Completion
Although the teens claimed they had nothing to drink, their __________ was obvious.
sobriety
inebriation
poise
fraud
disdain
inebriation
The teens are the missing word, which goes against the claim "they had nothing to drink." The correct answer must indicate they were actually drinking. "Inebriation," meaning intoxication and drunkenness, is the best fit.
Example Question #184 : Text Completion
The teaching method was criticized for wanting __________ among students, not allowing the most talented to shine.
parity
disinterest
whimsy
tractability
obsequiousness
parity
"Not allowing the most talented to shine" is the key phrase in the sentence. The phrase indicates that the "teaching method" is trying to keep students even. "Parity," meaning equality or balance, is the best fit.
Example Question #185 : Text Completion
After the first day of the road trip, he decided to become the __________ of the group's travels in his journal.
rancor
paragon
usurper
underminer
chronicler
chronicler
The subject is putting down the "group's travels in his journal." This means he is recording the actions and circumstances of the group's trip, the description of the work of a "chronicler."
Example Question #186 : Text Completion
Suggested to be played at a brisk pace, the band instead played the song like a __________.
vignette
stanza
smorgasbord
celebration
dirge
dirge
The way the band played the song is at odds with the suggested "brisk pace." The correct answer will mean a slow or not as fast song. "Dirge," meaning a sad and mournful song, is the best choice.
Example Question #187 : Text Completion
His essay on puddles contained surprising __________ for dealing with such a light subject.
profundity
levity
debility
vacuousness
brevity
profundity
The essay is on a "light subject," but has a "surprising" amount of the missing word. The correct answer must be an antonym of "light." "Profundity," meaning depth and insight, is the best choice.
Example Question #188 : Text Completion
Some psychologists believe teens' __________ is a put on, and that they care more deeply than they admit.
masochism
fervor
apathy
irascibility
altruism
apathy
The sentence explicitly contrasts that teens "care more deeply" with their "put on" of the missing word. The correct answer will mean the opposite of caring deeply. "Apathy," meaning disinterest or lack of emotion, is the best choice.
Example Question #189 : Text Completion
The __________ of a parent will spur a child to action, as a forbidden act is always more tempting to try.
solace
condoning
torpor
nonchalance
disapprobation
disapprobation
The sentence discusses a "forbidden act," in a parallel way to the missing word. The correct answer must therefore match this sense of being fordbidden. "Disapprobation," meaning disapproval or condemnation, is the best choice.
Example Question #190 : Text Completion
The __________ of their supporters was unmatched, and their chants drowned out everything else.
apathy
ambivalence
disinterest
nonchalance
fervor
fervor
Having chants that have "drowned out everything else" indicates the supporters were quite loud. The correct answer will tell why they were so vocal. "Fervor," meaning passion or enthusiasm, is the best fit.