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 #405 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

Always smiling and __________ Aaron could cheer even the most __________ personality.

Possible Answers:

grinning . . . farcical

smirking . . . frowning

giddy . . . irate

placid . . . tumultuous

jovial . . . sullen

Correct answer:

jovial . . . sullen

Explanation:

Since this sentence focuses merely on Aaron’s ability to cheer others, the best option will be that one which describes him in terms of cheerfulness and contrasts that with those who are not so cheerful. When someone is “jovial,” he or she is cheerful. The word comes from the description of Jove / Jupiter in Roman mythology. A person born under the influence of the planet Jupiter was believed to exhibit the cheerful personality characteristic of the God with the same name. For whatever one might say about the source of this word, it has stuck in English usage, though Jove has been left far behind. When someone is “sullen,” he or she is gloomy or bad tempered.

Example Question #31 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

When Lauren learned that the forecast predicted __________ weather and snow storms, she decided that wearing her scarf, hat, and mittens as well as a down coat would be ___________.

Possible Answers:

warm . . . necessary

chilly . . . unnecessary

frigid . . . prudent

hot . . . smart

icy . . . ridiculous

Correct answer:

frigid . . . prudent

Explanation:

Because we know that the forecast predicted snow storms, we can infer that it also predicted cold weather. So, we need to pick out an answer choice for the first blank that means something like "cold." Either "frigid," "chilly," or "icy" could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that describes the action of wearing a scarf, hat, and mittens if one knows the weather is going to be cold and snowy. Since wearing those items is a good idea, either "smart," "necessary," or "prudent" ("acting with or showing care and thought for the future") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "frigid" and "prudent" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "frigid . . . prudent."

Example Question #32 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

While the liberal arts have traditionally been seen as __________, involving individual opinions and personal feelings, especially in comparison to more __________ fields like math and science, which are based on facts, theories, and laws.

Possible Answers:

objective . . . subjective

quantitative . . . qualitative

unbiased . . . quantitative

subjective . . . objective

qualitative . . . emotional

Correct answer:

subjective . . . objective

Explanation:

For the first blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "involving individual opinions and personal feelings." So, either "subjective" (" based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions") or "qualitative" ("relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "based on facts, theories, and laws." Either "objective" ("not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts") or "quantitative" ("relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "subjective" and "objective" appear in the same answer choice in the correct order, so the correct answer is "subjective . . . objective."

Example Question #2594 : Sat Critical Reading

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

__________ lawns have become __________, with many people choosing to install fake, manmade grass to cut down on their lawn maintenance.

Possible Answers:

fashionable . . . real

authentic . . . pedestrian

artificial . . . commonplace

arid . . . verdant

manufactured . . . uncommon

Correct answer:

artificial . . . commonplace

Explanation:

We can infer that because "many people [are] choosing to install fake, manmade grass," we need to pick out a combination of words that either means "real lawns have become rare" or "fake lawns have become common." While "artificial" and "manufactured" are both similar in meaning to "fake" and "manmade," only "artificial" lines up with a word for the second blank that means "common" - "commonplace." "Manufactured" lines up with "uncommon," so it can't be the answer, because if many people are installing fake lawns, manufactured lawns cannot be uncommon. Similarly, "authentic . . . pedestrian" cannot be the correct answer either, because if many people are installing fake grass, authentic lawns are not likely in the process of becoming "pedestrian," or commonplace. The correct answer is "artificial . . . commonplace" because it best fits the context of the sentence.

Example Question #33 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Fill in the blanks with the best answers.

In an effort to deliver a more __________ curriculum for her young students, the teacher referenced __________ themes in her lecture.

Possible Answers:

apposite . . . au courant

canonical . . . farcical

apposite . . . farcical

prosaic . . . farcical

prosaic . . . au courant

Correct answer:

apposite . . . au courant

Explanation:

In this question, there are more possibilities for the blanks: the teacher can use popular themes to deliver a new curriculum, or classical themes to deliver a classical curriculum, etc. Here only "apposite" and "au courant" match with each other; "apposite" means appropriate while "au courant" refers to something up-to-date. "Canonical" and "prosaic" are valid options for the first blank, but do not have an adequate matching word for the second blank. Be careful of similar sounding words with completely different meanings: apposite / opposite, opprobrious / appropriate.

Example Question #34 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

He was __________ and known to make friends easily with his friendly, __________ banter.

Possible Answers:

inimical . . . seditious

pragmatic . . . cogent

gregarious . . . loquacious

meticulous . . . meretricious

sardonic . . . inchoate

Correct answer:

gregarious . . . loquacious

Explanation:

To be "gregarious" means to be social and to enjoy companionship. To be "loquacious" is to be talkative. In this case, it makes sense that a gregarious, social person would be talkative.

Example Question #38 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Harry was __________ that he had come in second in the school-wide Science Fair because he hadn't expected to place in the top five, but George, who had expected to win first prize, wasn't so __________ when he came in fourth.

Possible Answers:

ecstatic . . . morose

euphoric . . . gleeful

afraid . . . rambling

upset . . . bellicose

recalcitrant . . . pleased

Correct answer:

euphoric . . . gleeful

Explanation:

Considering the first blank, we know that Harry "hadn't expected to place in the top five" in the Science Fair, but ended up "com[ing] in second," so we can infer that Harry was very happy about this and that we need to pick out an adjective to describe him that means something like "very happy." Either "euphoric" ("characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness") or "ecstatic" ("feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement") could be correct. For the second blank, we know that George "had expected to win first prize" but "came in fourth," so we can infer that he wasn't so happy with that turnout. So, we need to pick out another word that means something like "happy." Either "gleeful" ("exuberantly or triumphantly joyful") or "pleased" ("feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction, especially at an event or a situation") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "euphoric" and "gleeful" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "euphoric . . . gleeful."

Example Question #35 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Sally wore a(n) __________ dress that involved feathers, fringe, sequins and a long train, and while her boyfriend Fred was initially shocked by her appearance, he eventually __________ that the outfit suited her outgoing personality perfectly.

Possible Answers:

ostentatious . . . denied

simple . . . proclaimed

colorful . . . contested

demure . . . admitted

flamboyant . . . conceded

Correct answer:

flamboyant . . . conceded

Explanation:

For the first blank, we can infer that because Sally's dress "involved feathers, fringe, sequins and a long train," we need to pick out a word that means something like "complex" or "conspicuous." Neither "simple" or "demure" can be correct, because they are antonyms of "complex" and "conspicuous," but either "flamboyant" (when describing clothing, "noticeable because brightly colored, highly patterned, or unusual in style") or "ostentatious" ("characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we can infer that we need to pick out a word that means something like "eventually agreed"; either "admitted" or "conceded" ("admitted that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "flamboyant" and "conceded" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "flamboyant . . . conceded."

Example Question #36 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Many thought the news anchor’s ___________ style would lead to a decrease in viewership, but his ambition proved too ___________ for the critics. 

Possible Answers:

congenial . . . volatile

caustic . . . bucolic

abrasive . . . resilient

pusillanimous . . . stalwart

acerbic . . . cantankerous

Correct answer:

abrasive . . . resilient

Explanation:

The first blank requires an adjective that would lead to “a decrease in viewership.” “Congenial” does not fit. “Pusillanimous,” which means cowardly, is also not a suitable fit, since proving his ambition is mentioned shortly thereafter. To overcome the critics, he needs to be resilient. “Abrasive . . . resilient” is the correct answer.

Example Question #37 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

She enjoyed harvesting the _____________ resources of the land. By the time the first snowflakes began to fall, her ______________ disposition dumbfounded the neighbors.

Possible Answers:

teeming . . . outlandish

wanting . . . self-assured

prodigious . . . sanguine

copious . . . eccentric

scant . . . optimistic 

Correct answer:

prodigious . . . sanguine

Explanation:

At first glance, “eccentric” or “outlandish” might look like suitable fits for the second blank. However, we must consider how it fits in the context of all the information given. Since she “enjoys harvesting,” it is logical to assume that the resources of the land are abundant. It can then be inferred that these resources have prepared her for winter, in which case she would have an optimistic outlook. “Prodigious . . . sanguine” is the most correct answer.

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