GRE Verbal : Verbs and Adjectives or Adverbs in Two-Blank Texts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #1781 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

Normally __________, the author __________ herself with the audience during and after the book reading.

 
Possible Answers:

caustic ... vilified

pedantic . . . palliated

 

choleric . . . remonstrated

 

bucolic ... flaunted

brusque . . . ingratiated

 
Correct answer:

brusque . . . ingratiated

 
Explanation:

The word "normally" and the comma are clues that there is a change, and the blanks will likely be opposites. So the correct answer is "brusque"—abrupt or curt in manner or speech—and "ingratiated"—to please someone or seek favor.

 

Example Question #1 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Everyone knew the doctoral student was             from her successful publications, but in her thesis defense she couldn't              the claims she was making.

Possible Answers:

perspicacious, substantiate

personable, indulge

personable, substantiate

perspicacious, indulge

languid, refute

Correct answer:

perspicacious, substantiate

Explanation:

The doctoral student has published successfully, so she must be intelligent or insightful enough to do this, the definition of "perspicacious." "Substantiate," meaning to provide evidence, is the only answer that makes sense in the second sentence.

Example Question #2 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

The __________ smell of the strange cheese was __________ with the perfume of various oils and herbs.

Possible Answers:

erratic . . . poised

languid . . . emaciated

mellow . . . decimated

terse . . . pragmatic

acrid . . . obscured

Correct answer:

acrid . . . obscured

Explanation:

The smell of the cheese is different from the "perfume of various oils and herbs." This means it is pungent or sharp, the definition of "acrid." It is being hidden or covered, the definition of "obscured," by the herbs and oils.

Example Question #3 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

The little girl's __________ story moved many to give when the organization used it to __________ funds.

Possible Answers:

terse . . . adulate

abrasive . . . rebuke

anarchic . . . ameliorate

poignant . . . solicit

exhaustive . . . exculpate

Correct answer:

poignant . . . solicit

Explanation:

The girl's story "moved many to give," and this points to both answers, as the story is strong enought to get funds for the organization. "Poignant," meaning deeply moving, and "solicit," meaning to ask or seek out, combine for the correct answer.

Example Question #1785 : Gre Verbal Reasoning

The group leader attempted to __________ the reports of each member in order to create an integrated, __________ solution which would please the whole group.

Possible Answers:

sunder . . . amenable

sunder . . . intransigent

amalgamate . . . amenable

amalgamate . . . intractable

divide . . . intractable

Correct answer:

amalgamate . . . amenable

Explanation:

Amalgamate—to mix or merge as to make a combination.

Amenable—agreeable.

The group leader wanted to combine the individual contributions so that all of the group members were happy with the outcome.

Example Question #4 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

The __________ divisions, although resisted by some, continued to __________ the political party.

Possible Answers:

looming . . . pervade

quotidian ... pervade

exigent . . . polarize

verdant . . . coalesce

ephemeral . . . inculcate

Correct answer:

exigent . . . polarize

Explanation:

Our hint for the second blank is "divisions", so we're looking for words that match that. "Polarize" is our best choice, which means "to divide into two groups." But we still have to check the other word—"exigent" means "pressing," so it works as well.

Example Question #5 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

The master thief's partners in crime thought him a very __________ individual because he would only __________ his plan to them, keeping the details to himself.

Possible Answers:

ecclectic . . . ameliorate

pithy . . . mitigate

taciturn . . . precipitate

enigmatic . . . adumbrate

obsequious . . . articulate

Correct answer:

enigmatic . . . adumbrate

Explanation:

For the first blank, we need an adjective that means something like secretive. Either "enigmatic" (difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious) or "taciturn" (reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little) could work.

For the second blank, we need a verb that means to reveal only a small part of, since the master thief kept most of the details of his plan to himself. In choosing between "precipitate" (cause something (usually something bad) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely) and "adumbrate" (to suggest, disclose, or outline partially), "adumbrate" is the better choice, so the answer is "enigmatic . . . adumbrate."

Example Question #6 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

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

When the pipe burst in the apartment building and began to flood the hallway, the plumber did a __________ job of quickly __________ it, saving the residents' rooms from being damaged.

Possible Answers:

officious . . . breaching

commendable . . . exacerbating

laudable . . . occluding

hapless . . . inhibiting

indifferent . . . usurping

Correct answer:

laudable . . . occluding

Explanation:

For the first blank, we're looking for a word with a positive connotation, since the plumber did a good job in quickly stopping the leak. Knowing this, we can eliminate the answer choices that begin with "indifferent," "hapless," and "officious," all words with neutral or negative meanings, leaving us with "laudable" and "commendable," two words with positive connotations. For the second blank, we're looking for a word that means stopping or blocking. Since "exacerbating" means making worse and "occluding" means obstructing an opening, the correct answer is "laudable . . . occluding."

Example Question #7 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

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

The __________ smell coming from her locker and the fruit flies swarming around it made Becky __________ her decision to leave the old bagged lunches piled up behind her textbooks over the previous weekend.

Possible Answers:

salutary . . . obviate

fetid . . . rue

innocuous . . . malinger

noisome . . . expiate

lugubrious . . . repudiate

Correct answer:

fetid . . . rue

Explanation:

For the first blank, we need a word that can describe a smell—specifically, a stink. "Fetid" and "noisome" might each work in the first blank, as each word can mean smelling terrible, so we are left with "rue" and "expiate" for the second. Since "rue" means regret greatly and "expiate" means atone or make amends for, the correct answer is "fetid . . . rue."

Example Question #1 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.

His __________ approach to relationships often __________ him from seeing the good in people.

Possible Answers:

cynical . . . precluded

generous . . . equivocated

obsolete . . . alleviated

expedient . . . sanctioned

arcane . . . precipitate

Correct answer:

cynical . . . precluded

Explanation:

The subject's "approach to relationships" affects how he sees others. The "cynical" approach, or looking for the worst in others, would "preclude," or prevent, the subject from "seeing the good in people."

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