GRE Verbal : Parts of Speech in Two-Blank Texts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #461 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The Summa logicae of William of Ockham was a(n) ________________ work for many later logic texts, all of which owed a great debt to this weighty, _________________ work of philosophy.

Possible Answers:

impenetrable . . . recondite

seminal . . . substantial

intriguing . . . airy

momentous . . . technical

facile . . . esoteric

Correct answer:

seminal . . . substantial

Explanation:

The general idea of this sentence is that the Summa logicae was a kind of source text for other, later logic texts. (They "owed a great debt" to the work.) Whenever something is called a "seminal" work, it is an important source in this way. Actually, the word "seminal" comes form the Latin word for "seed." Hence, seminal things are like "seeds" that grow into other things that bud forth from them. The Latin word semina has many derivatives in English. "Insemination" is the process of making someone pregnant; it is the process of placing the male "seed" into the female egg. (Granted, the idea of "male seed" is certainly a bit of old-fashioned Aristotelian biology.) Likewise, as "seminary" where Christian clergy are trained actually means seedbed—as though the people being trained are like seeds that will grow into fully mature clergy members. 

As for the second blank, you are just looking for a synonym for "weighty." The word "substantial" is a fine synonym in this way. Think of it as just meaning "it has a lot of substance." This is really all that we can say: the text was no small affair!

Example Question #462 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The old monk loved to tell visitors the _____________ story about he building. They ________________ believed that it had received its name because of its use in storing sauerkraut when, in fact, this was far from the truth regarding the edifice’s use. Even the monk did not know that his story was not true!

Possible Answers:

amusing . . . wholly

apocryphal . . . gullibly

enthralling . . . invariably

captivating . . . uniformly

intriguing . . . solely

Correct answer:

apocryphal . . . gullibly

Explanation:

The first blank is actually quite easy, so long as you pick up on the correct clues. The story about the tower is not really true. It is a kind of "tall tale." While it does seem that this was an interesting story for the visitors, it is better to express the idea of the tale being based on doubtful information. This is what it means for something to be apocryphal. Since even the monk did not know that his story was false, we can guess that it had arisen from some apocryphal sources. At least among the options provided, this is the best word.

The people were apparently naive in believing the tale. Hence, the word "gullibly" expresses the fact that they so willingly believed the story about the so-called "sauerkraut tower."

 

Example Question #461 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The ___________ notebook, purchased at the dollar store and looking noticeably cheap, was  a prime target for the _____________ mom who bought all items at a discount regardless of appearance.

Possible Answers:

secretive . . . salacious

sunny . . . sad

hip . . . hurried

tawdry . . . frugal

terrible . . . tacky

Correct answer:

tawdry . . . frugal

Explanation:

"Tawdry", meaning cheap looking, works because it describes the cheap look for the notebook that came from a dollar store. "Frugal" works because it describes the mom who seeks out cheap things.

Example Question #462 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The _______________ room, sucked of all moisture, made the young infant quite _________________, leading his mom to install a humidifier to keep him appeased.

Possible Answers:

cold . . . ebullient

desiccated . . . uncomfortable

calming . . . soothsaying 

hot . . . sure

psychotic . . . prurient 

Correct answer:

desiccated . . . uncomfortable

Explanation:

"Desiccated" works because it describes an environment completely without moisture; "uncomfortable" works because it describes the infant who needed appeasing.

Example Question #463 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The _______________ teens, who spent much of their time engaging in lewd talk, finally had an outlet to discuss these matters appropriately in their ____________ physical education class, which just started this year.

Possible Answers:

egregious . . . frightening

prurient . . . nascent

lively . . . soft

quaint . . . gruff 

scruffy . . . enchanting

Correct answer:

prurient . . . nascent

Explanation:

"Prurient", meaning interested in sexual matters, works here because the teens are engaged in lewd talk. "Nascent", meaning new, works here because the physical education class just started this year.

Example Question #464 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The _________________ birds, singing the sweetest songs, were muted by the ______________ cat, who stalked and ate them one by one. 

Possible Answers:

bright . . . ungrateful

mellifluous . . . hungry 

green . . . tricky

sly . . . trippy

dull . . . tired

Correct answer:

mellifluous . . . hungry 

Explanation:

"Mellifluous", meaning sweet and melodious, works because it describes the singing birds. "Hungry" works as it provides reason for the cat eating the birds.

Example Question #465 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The ________________ babysitter, known for her crazy temper, was not well suited to take care of the ________________ children who never calmed down

 

Possible Answers:

cunning . . . insulting 

fiery . . . rambunctious

surly . . . pleasant

unctuous  . . . jubilant

crafty . . . careful

Correct answer:

fiery . . . rambunctious

Explanation:

"Fiery" works because it describes the short temper of the babysitter. "Rambunctious" works because it describes children who never calm down.

Example Question #466 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

Trying to stop the ___________________ dog, foaming at the mouth, the _______________ veterinarian, fearful due to never having dealt with crazy animals, injected him with tranquilizer as a last resort.

Possible Answers:

strong . . . freezing

enlivening . . . punchy

iron . . . easy

cheesy . . . loose

rabid . . .  frightened

Correct answer:

rabid . . .  frightened

Explanation:

"Rabid" works as an adjective because it provides a reason for why the dog would be foaming at the mouth. "Frightened" works as a descriptor for the veterinarian, as the following phrase alludes to his fear.

Example Question #467 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The ____________ youth, in and out of jail, finally received an ______________ after one of his friends was put in prison for life, and now has his life on track.

Possible Answers:

ungrateful . . . determination

drowsy . . . mite 

frisky . . .  heartache

troubled . . . awakening

selfish . . . present

Correct answer:

troubled . . . awakening

Explanation:

"Troubled" works as an adjective for the youth, who has been to jail many times and seems to have problems. "Awakening" describes the change the youth experienced after his friend went to prison, and the subsequent turn around he experienced in his life. 

Example Question #468 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts

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

The _________________ witch, appearing elegantly on the coastline and not hinting at her danger, bewitched the _______________ sailors (who simply thought her to be a young maiden) into doing her bidding.

Possible Answers:

oscillating . . . mild

respectable . . . obvious

enchanting . . . unsuspecting

young . . . devilish

flatlined . . . curious

Correct answer:

enchanting . . . unsuspecting

Explanation:

"Enchanting" works because it matches the description of the witches' elegance from the following sentence. "Unsuspecting" works because it describes the sailors, who didn't know the witch was dangerous.

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