GRE Verbal : Two Adjectives or Adverbs in Two-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #121 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The _________________ DVDs looked legitimate from the outside. However, their appearance turned out to be merely ________________; once opened, the illegally copied disks had no content and would not play.
pirated . . . specious
pristine . . . credulous
mercurial . . . prosaic
fake . . . subjective
immutable . . . variegated
pirated . . . specious
The main clue for the first blank is illegally copied, which is a perfect definition for "pirated." For the second blank, we're looking for something that means looks good (legitimate) on the outside but is not actually good ("would not play"). "Specious" is a good fit.
Example Question #563 : Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After Karen's tutor told her that the first draft of her thesis seemed a bit ____________________, Karen removed the redundant parts and created a much more _______________ version.
pithy . . . prolix
pragmatic . . . quixotic
astringent . . . laconic
convoluted . . . amenable
superfluous . . . succinct
superfluous . . . succinct
The key context clue here is "redundant." If the first draft was redundant, it must have had extra, unnecessary information; in other words, it was "superfluous." Once revised, the draft was briefer and to the point, or "succinct."
Example Question #123 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ________________ lawyer, who never once lied in court, didn't accept ________________ clients who try to lie to get him to defend their cases
insensitive . . . engrossing
unbelievable . . . pleadable
almighty . . . creepy
truthful . . . deceitful
tawdry . . . tremulous
truthful . . . deceitful
"Truthful," meaning always speaking honestly, works here because it describes the lawyer who never lies. "Deceitful," meaning not speaking honestly, works here because it describes the clients who try to lie to the lawyer.
"Tawdry," meaning showy but cheap, doesn't work to describe the lawyer, as no indications have been given about his physical appearance, invalidating the answer choice.
"Insensitive" doesn't work, as the lawyer has primarily been described as someone who tells the truth, invalidating the answer.
"Almighty" doesn't work, as no indications have been given about the lawyer's power, invalidating the answer.
"Unbelievable" doesn't work, as no indications have been given about the lawyer's believability, invalidating the answer.
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