GRE Verbal : Text Completion
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #681 : Text Completion
The conflagration was used to __________ invasive plant species and allow pioneering plants to reform a healthy ecoological system in the forest.
extirpate
enervate
desiccate
stimulate
bolster
extirpate
Since a fire was used in the forest, it is presumed that the fire was used to "extripate," or eradicate, invasive plants from harming native plants.
Example Question #682 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young woman _____________ at the suggestion she was at like her mother, who she rarely got along with growing up.
swooned
bristled
fawned
revered
tittered
bristled
The fact that the young woman did not get along with her mother provides a clue to the proper meaning of the sentence. When a comparison was made, the young woman would not have appreciated and even outright disliked. Of the answer choices, only "bristled," meaning to show annoyance and irritation, correctly completes the sentence.
Example Question #683 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even when he tried to give a simple answer, the professor had a tendency to __________ on his subject.
pontificate
clarify
excise
abridge
simplify
pontificate
The structure of the sentence makes it clear that the professor cannot give a simple answer, so the correct answer will mean the opposite. "Simplify," "excise," "abridge," and "clarify" all mean to make simple in one way or another, and can all be struck out. Only "pontificate," meaning to speak excessively and even arrogantly, is correct in the sentence.
Example Question #684 : Text Completion
The leader never himself committed any violence, but always seemed to __________ it from his underlings.
condemn
excise
condone
belabor
peruse
condone
The leader is attempting to distance himself from the violence of his underlings, while still having their violent actions continue. The answer will uphold this double standard on the leader's part. Of all the answer choices, "condone," meaning to support quietly or overlook, best fits the sentence.
Example Question #685 : Text Completion
Kind words do little to situations that require more than nice phrases in order to be improved.
ameliorate
retract
allay
enlighten
augment
ameliorate
The sense of the the sentence indicates that kind words fail to help in improvement of a bad situation. It is perhaps tempting to choose "augment" because of its sense of "increase." Certain verbal associations might lead one to choose "retract" or "allay," but these do not apply. "Ameliorate" fits best, as it means "to improve" or "make better."
Example Question #686 : Text Completion
Her ability to predict what her students would do made them think she was a __________.
contemporary
liturgy
pedant
paragon
sibyl
sibyl
The sentence explicitly notes that she has an "ability to predict what her students would do," which is the best clue to the answer. The correct answer must indicate someone who can see the future. "Sibyl," meaning a prophetess, after a Greek myth, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #687 : Text Completion
The slip and fall __________ an already existing injury.
corroborated
obviated
exacerbated
cogitated
illustrated
exacerbated
The key to the answer is the phrase "already existing injury." This means the injury described by the sentence took the existing injury and made it worse, the definition of "exacerbated."
Example Question #688 : Text Completion
His appetite was limitless, and no meal could ever truly __________ him.
ingratiate
fawn
doff
satiate
obviate
satiate
The subject's "appetite was limitless," which means one meal would not be enough. The correct answer should mean to satisfy or fill up, the definition of "satiate," which is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #689 : Text Completion
After multiple injuries from playing with the toys, they were __________ at the school.
approved
ogled
proscribed
solaced
demurred
proscribed
The toys have caused "multiple injuries," so presumably they are not wanted at a school. The correct answer must mean forbidden or outlawed, the definition of "proscribed."
Example Question #690 : Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
While he was once a great athlete, he had let his fitness __________ once he was no longer playing every day.
languish
expand
improve
restore
encroach
languish
The structure of the sentence indicates that the athlete is no longer as fit as he used to be. The correct answer choice needs to indicate that he has let himself go. "Languish," meaning suffer or decline, is the only choice that makes sense in the sentence.
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