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 #1633 : Text Completion

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

After experiencing dwindling profits for the fourth quarter, MerCorp had to ____________________ on its promise of bonuses for top salespeople. In fact, the company's financial situation was so dire that it was not even _________________ enough to pay for its employees' regular paychecks. 

Possible Answers:

vacillate . . . tenuous

abscond . . . penurious

obfuscate . . . ostentatious 

divulge . . . infelicitous 

renege . . . solvent

Correct answer:

renege . . . solvent

Explanation:

For the first blank, we're looking for something that means go back on or "renege." For the second blank, we need something that means financially sound or "solvent."

Example Question #1634 : Text Completion

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

Once the baby's mother left, he became utterly __________________; the sitter tried rocking him, singing to him, feeding and changing him, but nothing would ____________________ the screaming infant. 

Possible Answers:

implacable . . . mollify

garrulous . . . assuage

trenchant . . . mitigate

volatile . . . pervade

inchoate . . . rarefy

Correct answer:

implacable . . . mollify

Explanation:

For the first blank, we need something that means unable to be appeased or "implacable." For the second blank we're looking for something that means soothe. "Mollify" is a good fit. 

 

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