All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #51 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
When the ______________ thief attempted to ________________ with the jewels, he bumped his head on a security camera and was knocked unconscious.
bawdy . . . abscond
convivial . . . depart
addled . . . abjure
discombobulated . . . absquatulate
disconcerted . . . eschew
discombobulated . . . absquatulate
“Bawdy” has a negative connotation, but it doesn’t fit here. The definition of “bawdy” is inappropriate or obscene. “Discombobulated” and “absquatulate” are pseudo-Latin words that may sound complex, but their definitions are simple. “Discombobulated” means confused. “Absquatulate” means to run off with something. Together, these form the correct answer.
Example Question #1832 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ______________ movement began in the deep south, where poor dental hygiene became so common that it sparked a revolution to _____________ from all added sugars.
impecunious . . . shun
general . . . exculpate
extant . . . refrain
demotic . . . renege
grassroots . . . abstain
grassroots . . . abstain
“Extant” means that something old is still around. It is not a bad fit, but there is nothing else mentioned in the sentence to say the movement has been around a long time. “Grassroots” means involving the common people. “Abstain” is to refrain from consuming. Together, these form the most accurate answer.
Example Question #1833 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The test questions were so _____________ that several students began to cry. No one could even ______________ Figure 1.1 to say nothing of finding a possible solution.
esoteric . . . encipher
mettlesome . . . deduce
recondite . . . preen
abstruse . . . decipher
limpid . . . fathom
abstruse . . . decipher
“Encipher” means to convert into code. “Limpid” is the opposite of the word we want. “Abstruse” means intellectually challenging. “Decipher” means to discover the meaning of, or crack the code. These last two words form the correct response.
Example Question #326 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ______________ attitude of the old man frustrated his children, for his refusal to ______________ his lifestyle would surely lead to his death.
reactionary . . . rue
cross . . . lament
senile . . . regulate
obdurate . . . amend
conservative . . . dominate
obdurate . . . amend
The old man seems to be unwilling to change his lifestyle. Even more appropriately, he seems to be unwilling to improve his lifestyle. Hence, the best option is "amend", meaning to improve or change for the better. As regards his attitude, we could say that it is hard and durable as a rock—unchanging indeed! Hence, the word "obdurate," which comes from Latin roots for "hard," is the best option.
Example Question #1834 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Peter’s rage had been ______________ for some time, but it all the sudden ____________, ending its long period of dormancy.
renounced . . . inculcated
forgotten . . . irritated
gelid . . . liquidated
quiescent . . . erupted
filtered . . . vexed
quiescent . . . erupted
The first blank of this sentence is clearly a synonym that is related to the word "dormancy." This word comes from the Latin "dormire," meaning to sleep. We see the same base in English words like "dormitory" and "dormant." The word "quiescent" is a synonym for "dormant." It comes from the same root as "quiet" but also can mean to be still or unmoving. At last, however, Peter's rage "came forth." The word "erupted" works very well for this, for from its very roots it means to break out. This sentence makes Peter's rage out to be almost like a dormant volcano, just waiting to erupt!
Example Question #1835 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
It took him awhile to _______________ to his ________________ surroundings, seeing as how his old neighborhood was crawling with high school dropouts.
conform . . . proletarian
acclimate . . . erudite
impugn . . . highbrow
adapt . . . destitute
placate . . . sapient
acclimate . . . erudite
“Impugn” means to challenge something you believe is wrong. “Proletarian” and “destitute” have the opposite definitions of what we need. The correct answer is “acclimate . . . erudite.”
Example Question #1836 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since the professor had a habit of ______________ when it came to exam preparation, many of the students had a hard time believing him when he claimed they alone were _______________ for their poor grades in the class.
prevaricating . . . irreproachable
exculpating . . . liable
explicating . . . culpable
equivocating . . . accountable
babbling . . . inculpable
equivocating . . . accountable
If the professor were clear about the exams, then the students would be inclined to place more blame on themselves. For this reason, “explicating” can be eliminated. “Inculpable” means blameless, so this word doesn’t work given the context. To “equivocate” means to be ambiguous or unclear; this coupled with “accountable” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1837 : Gre Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The famous and _____________ statue led people to consistently ____________ the harsh terrain to catch a quick glimpse
unknown . . . play
no-name . . . undermine
anonymous . . . walk
underground . . . inhibit
revered . . . navigate
revered . . . navigate
"Revered" is the option that makes sense, as it matches the adjective directly preceding it. The choice "navigate" is the only verb that makes sense in the context of the harsh terrain.
Example Question #331 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The hearty meal ________________ the hungry teen boys, who were also _____________ because they just ran around without drinking any water.
satiated . . . famished
annoyed . . . soft
tired . . . bright
stopped . . . alive
perplexed . . . inundated
satiated . . . famished
"Satiated" is the proper response because it refers to the action that a big meal gives to hungry boys--making them full. The word "famished" refers to their not having had much water recently.
Example Question #332 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Subject to extreme fines, the jaywalker immediately _____________ to the sidewalk to avoid the glances of the _____________ police, desperate to hand out tickets
sashayed . . . innervated
bolted . . . dogged
rolled . . . tired
sat . . . mad
eased . . . loving
bolted . . . dogged
"Bolted" is suggested by the fines that the jaywalker would incur and the desire to avoid them. "Dogged" refers to the effort of the desperate police trying to give out tickets