GRE Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #131 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The author liked to __________ the ending to his books, so a clever reader would know what to expect early on in the novel.
transgress
foreshadow
obviate
eviscerate
subvert
foreshadow
The sentence explains that "a clever reader would know what to expect" about the ending "early on in the novel." This means the author would be giving clues and details in the early chapters of the novel. "Foreshadow," meaning to indicate and signal a future event, is the correct answer.
Example Question #132 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The mayor sought to __________ his municipal tax plan by lining up sponsors on the City Council.
misconstrue
subvert
undergird
transgress
disavow
undergird
The Mayor needs City Council sponsors for "his municipal tax plan." This means the correct answer will show an increase in support. "Undergird," meaning to build up or strengthen, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #133 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The schoolteacher frequently __________ her students, which made her deeply unpopular with both students and fellow faculty.
complimented
denigrated
appreciated
encouraged
foreshadowed
denigrated
The teacher's actions, described by the missing word, is "deeply unpopular with both students and fellow faculty." This indicates the correct answer is something negative and unliked. "Denigrated," meaning belittled and criticized, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #134 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
While the detective believed the witness, he still needed to __________ the story with other evidence.
misconstrue
obfuscate
corroborate
counteract
retract
corroborate
The sentence does note that "the detective believed the witness," but also notes he needs "other evidence." Since the detective trusts the witness, he needs to back up the story. "Corroborate," meaning validate and corroborate, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #135 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The oblivious young man __________ the woman's friendliness as being hit on, and was shocked when she rejected him.
corroborated
immoderated
complicated
exacerbated
misconstrued
misconstrued
The sentence notes the young man was "rejected" even though he thought the woman was "hitting on him." This indicates the correct answer has to mean misinterpreted or wrongly understood, the definition of "misconstrued."
Example Question #136 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.
The philosopher courted controversy by deriding the values that are commonly cherished by our society, such as piety and charity, instead __________ an ethic of selfishness.
venerating
hypothesizing
marginalizing
critiquing
equivocating
venerating
In this question, you might not know what exactly "deriding" means, but you can guess by context clues that the philosopher "courted controversy" because she opposed traditional values like piety and charity in some way. The word "instead" lets you know that this clause is telling you what the philosopher proposed in the place of these values; "venerating" means revering or respecting, making it the best fit to describe how the philosopher felt about the ethic in which she believed.
Example Question #137 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Choose the answer choice that best completes the following sentence.
The heavy overcast that hung over the beach all day completely __________ the sunblock and beach umbrella I had brought along.
necessitated
obviated
adulterated
anticipated
mitigated
obviated
Understanding that the word overcast as used here means a cloudy sky, you can deduce that you are looking for a word that describes what cloudy weather would do for sunblock and a beach umbrella. You can safely reason that it would render them useless. That's why the best word choice in this case would be "obviated," which means rendered unnecessary.
Example Question #138 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Jenny thought that adding more salt to the reciple would enhance it, but the cake was __________.
complimented
adulterated
purified
appreciated
adulterated
To "adulterate" means to taint or debase.
Example Question #139 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
The Spanish tried to __________ their influence through the use of their extensive armada.
aggrandize
adulterate
dwindle
dilute
aggrandize
"Aggrandize" means to strengthen or exalt.
Example Question #511 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The runner took some aspirin the an attempt to __________ the intense pain in her leg.
abate
augment
escalate
burgeon
abate
To "abate" means to lessen in degree or intensity.
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