GRE Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #506 : One Blank Texts
Fad diets are potenially harmful because they often involve __________ certain food groups, vital to a healthy body, and eventually lead to nutritional deficiency.
ignoring
devouring
abnegating
allowing
consuming
abnegating
"Consuming," "devouring," and "allowing" all indicate that dieters are encouraged to eat all the food groups, which is not the case. "Ignoring" could make sense, but "abnegating," meaning denying oneself, conveys the sense of active denial more and is the better choice.
Example Question #507 : One Blank Texts
No amount of petting would __________ the crazed horse, which would have trampled everyone in sight if he had not been restrained.
inhibit
provoke
impede
aggravate
mollify
mollify
"Inhibit" and "impede," which both mean to hold back, do not make sense because the horse is already restrained from trampling everyone. To "aggravate" or "provoke," both meaning to excite, would only upset the horse more. Only "mollify," meaning soothe, is a good choice.
Example Question #508 : One Blank Texts
The prisoner's display of remorse was so moving that the judge agreed to __________ her sentence.
mitigate
censure
requite
exacerbate
cozen
mitigate
Since the prisoner had remorse, or regret, for her crimes, it makes logical sense for the judge to reduce the prison sentence—so mitigate, to make less severe, works. Note that exacerbate is an antonym to mitigate.
Example Question #509 : One Blank Texts
His newfound popularity __________ a great deal of jeaulousy among his old friends that were not as successful.
condoned
obviated
engendered
acquiesced
quashed
engendered
The sentence explicitly notes that the subject had "friends that were not as successful." This means that the subject's friends became jealous. "Engendered," meaning caused or brought into being, is the correct answer.
Example Question #510 : One Blank Texts
Her desire for vengeance was __________ when misfortune befell her rival, and she let him be.
debilitated
embellished
slaked
acquiesced
importuned
slaked
Since "she let him be," the subject did not pursue her desire for vengeance any further. This indicates that her rival's misfortune was something that helped her desire go away. "Slaked," meaning quenched or satisfied, is the correct answer.
Example Question #111 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
In an attempt to appear more professional, the young woman __________ a business suit for her interview.
intimated
rebutted
donned
doffed
recanted
donned
The young woman is "attempting to appear more professional" with her "business suit." The use of a piece of clothing is the best clue to the answer. "Donned," meaning put on, usually in regards to an article of clothing, is the correct answer.
Example Question #112 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
A planetary transit occurs when one planet passes in front of another planet or the sun and temporarily __________ a portion of the farther planet’s disc.
Foments
Ratifies
Occludes
Refutes
Reifies
Occludes
"Occludes" means blocks from sight. It is the only word that fits.
Example Question #113 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
After receiving many calls asking for support with simple issues that could be __________ with very little effort, the computer repairman grew highly frustrated.
enumerated
caclified
complicated
verified
rectified
rectified
The computer support man here is being bombarded with calls about simple problems that could be fixed easily, and thus he is frustrated. "Rectified" means solved or fixed, and so it is the best choice for this sentence.
Example Question #114 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
In order to __________ her husband into buying her a new cocktail dress and heels, she used blandishments to help her cause.
entreat
hector
forfend
undermine
inveigle
inveigle
In this sentence, the best word choice is that she wanted to coax, or "inveigle," her husband into buying her shoes and a dress. She is not necessarily bullying him or asking him earnestly. Instead, she is coaxing him by using flattery.
Example Question #115 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Due to their tight budget, the city council concluded that they could only __________ the construction of a new parking lot if local businesses promised to provide more funding for the project.
renege
flout
apprise
approbate
palliate
approbate
We're looking for a word similar to "approve," so the only answer choice that makes sense is "approbate," which means to sanction or to approve formally.
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