GRE Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #141 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
His blustery speech was somewhat __________ by his many mistatements and factual errors.
mitigated
ameliorated
attenuated
upheld
bolstered
attenuated
The sentence contrasts the subject's "blustery speech" with the "many mistatements and factual errors." This means the correct answer must show the difference between the speech and the errors. "Attenuated," meaning weakened or diminished, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #142 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Facing an unarmed and poorly trained crew, the pirates quickly __________ the container ship.
quarried
commandeered
garbled
augmented
battled
commandeered
The sentence describes pirates approaching an "unarmed and poorly trained crew" of a ship, with the missing word being the verb in the sentence. The correct answer will indicate the pirates' fighting or taking the ship. "Commandeer," meaning to grab possesion and forcibly take, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #513 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
One reporter tried to __________ the local principal by spreading rumors of infidelity, but the school's parents knew better than to believe the rumors.
invigorate
flatter
enliven
denigrate
denigrate
To "denigrate" means to defame or belittle.
Example Question #514 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The political club was forced to __________ its newest member, after she publically spoke against their views.
contend
sanction
repudiate
approbate
repudiate
To "repudiate" means to disown or abandon, which is what a club would be forced to do with a contrary member.
Example Question #515 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
Once DNA testing proved his innocence, the inmate on death row was __________.
condemned
exculpated
denounced
castigated
exculpated
To "exculpate" means to exonerate or to clear of blame.
Example Question #143 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
He was __________ a deal, but found the terms unsuited to his liking and refused it.
impugned
scorned
tendered
rejected
abhorred
tendered
The fact the subject "rejected" the deal indicates that he had a choice regarding it. The correct answer needs to be a neutral word, which can rule out all but one choice. "Tendered," meaning offered or given in a negotiation, is the correct answer choice.
Example Question #144 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
After hours of consideration, the man still __________ about his final decision.
warped
brooked
ignored
waffled
rejected
waffled
The sentence contrasts the man doing the missing word "about his final decision," and the fact he had given it "hours of consideration." The correct answer will indicate he has not made up his mind. "Waffled," meaning to equivocate or go back and forth, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #145 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Although he claimed to be unfairly _________, the evidence of his misbehavior was slowly stacking up.
privileged
impugned
accompanied
exhumed
honored
impugned
The sentence describes the subject's belief he was "unfairly" having the missing word done to him. This is despite the fact the "evidence of his misbehavior" is expanding, which means the correct answer should indicate criticism. "Impugned," meaning to challenge or question someone's honor, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #146 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Being wrong was a possibility the cocksure know it all could never __________.
brook
dismiss
combat
eliminate
refuse
brook
The sentence describes the subject as a "cocksure know it all." This means that he would never be able to understand how he could be wrong, and the correct answer will reflect this. "Brook," meaning to consider or approach, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #147 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
To make the gift fancier, the books were _________ with custom trim on their covers.
sabotaged
eroded
embossed
undermined
defaced
embossed
The missing word describes something done to "make the gift fancier." The correct answer, therefore, must indicate a special task to personalize or improve the books. "Embossed," meaning to decorate with a special stamp, is the correct answer choice.
All GRE Verbal Resources
