GRE Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Texts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #81 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

His success at the Olympics quickly made the tiny country ________________ him as a national hero.

Possible Answers:

venerate

desecrate

implicate

denigrate

explicate

Correct answer:

venerate

Explanation:

The fact the subject is a "national hero" means he is revered. The correct answer will indicate such a strong connection between the country and the subject. "Venerate," meaning to worship or revere, is the best choice.

Example Question #82 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

In the __________ of this life, in which we pass from one undertaking to another, it is not possible to imagine that one can find complete __________, though much happiness might be achieved.

Possible Answers:

alterations . . . quietude

peregrinations . . . beatitude

woes . . . joy

dolors . . . satisfaction

vacillations . . . fulfillment

Correct answer:

peregrinations . . . beatitude

Explanation:

Do not be tempted by "vacillations," which implies a back-and-forth motion. What is key here is to note the phrase "pass from one undertaking to another." This implies a passing from one thing to the next. This is best captured by "peregrinations." Although this strictly means a journey or pilgrimage in the physical sense (which would work as well in context, at least broadly speaking), taken metaphorically it is perfect.

The word comes from the Latin peregrinatio, meaning journey or pilgrimage. It is related to the root for words like "peregrine," which means foreign or wandering in English. Such words have at their base per and ager. The former is a preposition with many derivatives in English (e.g. "permanent", "perfect", "perturbed"). It means "through" or (when used as a prefix and not as a preposition) "thoroughly;" (for us here, it means "through"). Ager means field in Latin, and in English finds derivatives such as "agricultural" and "agrarian."  To go per agros is to go "through the fields"—like a traveller or a pilgrim.

"Beatitude" comes from the Latin beatus, meaning blessed. Related words are "beatify" and the Biblical "Beatitudes."

Example Question #83 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

The older doctor insisted his younger colleagues had been __________ in school, and never saw the darker parts of their job as residents.

Possible Answers:

denigrated

embroiled

belittled

coddled

nettled

Correct answer:

coddled

Explanation:

The phrase "never saw the darker parts of the job" is the key to finding the missing word.  This phrase indicates the correct answer will show the younger doctors were kept from the negative elements of medicine. "Coddled," meaning indulged or pampered, is the most appropriate choice.

Example Question #84 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

Although he claimed to remain loyal, he was later found to be __________ enemy propaganda.

Possible Answers:

deploring

emulating

disseminating

recanting

enduring

Correct answer:

disseminating

Explanation:

The basic fact of the sentence is that the subject was in some way spreading "enemy propaganda," and issues of loyalty should be ignored. "Disseminating," meaning to spread and circulate, is the best choice.

Example Question #85 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

The pitcher was widely credited with __________ new techniques, which were widely copied.

Possible Answers:

innovating

deploring

disseminating

perusing

traversing

Correct answer:

innovating

Explanation:

There are multiple choice that could fit the sentence, but the best choice must be found.  The phrase "new techniques" indicate the pitcher created those techniques. "Innovating," meaning creating and pioneering, is the best choice.

Example Question #86 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

The propaganda effort by the government sought to __________ attention from its internal problems.

Possible Answers:

confound

debunk

ordain

allay

divert

Correct answer:

divert

Explanation:

The "propaganda effort" is in response to "internal problems." This means the government would want to take attention away from the problems. "Divert," meaning to distract or detour, is the correct answer.

Example Question #87 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

His concerns about the ship's safety were __________ by the sterling record of the craft.

Possible Answers:

ogled

burnished

assuaged

enflamed

beleaguered

Correct answer:

assuaged

Explanation:

The "sterling record" affected the "concerns about the ship's safety." A "sterling record" will do away with safety concerns. "Assuaged," meaning to calm, is the correct answer.

Example Question #88 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

She was rarely impulsive, and always had to __________ a great deal over decisions.

Possible Answers:

bemoan

cogitate

jeopardize

postulate

transgress

Correct answer:

cogitate

Explanation:

A few answer choices could work in the sentence, but once will work best. If "she was rarely impulsive," then she made her decisions carefully. "Cogitate," meaning to ponder and think over deeply, is the best answer choice.

Example Question #89 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

Each side claimed the other __________ the conflict, asserting that their fighting was in self-defense.

Possible Answers:

instigated

recused

deliberated

debilitated

equivocated

Correct answer:

instigated

Explanation:

The sides both claim "self-defense," which indicates that they blame the other side for starting the conflict. The correct answer should mean to start or provoke, the definition of "instigate."

Example Question #90 : Verbs In One Blank Texts

The gang was able to __________ the jewels through befriending and tricking the guard.

Possible Answers:

condone

elude

evade

ratify

purloin

Correct answer:

purloin

Explanation:

The "gang" did something with the jewels by "tricking the guard." This means they got past the guard, presumably to commit a crime. "Purloin," meaning to acquire in a suspicious or illegal manner, is the correct answer.

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