All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 :One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Raised in a wealthy and permissive home, Arthur developed the fatal tendency of indulging even the basest of his impulses; no one ever accused him of being__________.
blithe
abstemious
laconic
abrasive
hedonistic
abstemious
We know that we are looking for a word that is the opposite of how Arthur has been described, since "no one has ever" characterized him this way. So we are looking for a word that is the opposite of indulgent, and since an "abstemious" person isa person who practices self-denial, abstemious is correct.
Example Question #1 :Conjunctions And Text Logic In One Blank Texts
Fill in the blanks with the best answer.
Rather than increasing the opportunities to drill for natural gas, the bill intends to__________oil production near national and state parks.
provoke
exonerate
concede
bolster
inhibit
inhibit
"Inhibit" meansto keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level. The beginning of the sentence has the wordrather—this is a clue that what occurs on the other half of the sentence will be the opposite of what is stated before; in this case, the bill limits production rather than increasing it.
Example Question #3 :One Blank Texts
Fill in the blanks with the best answer.
Until now, the traditional narrative of Vincent Van Gogh's death was considered__________. New historical evidence, according to some scholars, could show that the artist was a victim of a murder.
unequivocal
dubitable
ambiguous
imprecise
invaluable
unequivocal
"Unequivocal" meansnot subject to interpretation or more than one interpretation; in this case, there was only one way of explaining Van Gogh's death until new evidence arose. "Dubitable" here is an antonym of the correct word, meaning eitheropen to doubtorquestionable.
Example Question #1 :Context Clues In One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She was infuriated by her classmates’_________; she wanted to do something to fix the problems that everyone else seemed to accept as inevitable.
culpability
doggedness
quiescence
fervor
rebelliousness
quiescence
“Quiescence” meanscomplacencyorpassive acceptance, which is the only answer choice that would infuriate someone with a desire to act.
Example Question #1 :Context Clues In One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although Todd tends to be___________, he used a conversation partner to help him learn French.
conscientious
autodidactic
sycophantic
fatuous
nimble
autodidactic
“Autodidactic” describes someonewho learns on his own and teaches himself. The first phrase starting with “although” indicates that the word in the blank must be incompatible with using a conversation partner.
Example Question #6 :One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Unlike Chuck, whom most would describe as extremely__________, Bill rarely said an unnecessary word.
magnanimous
tolerant
loquacious
laudable
reticent
loquacious
Chuck is set up to be the opposite of Bill, who is quiet, so Chuck must be talkative. "Loquacious" meanstalkative, so it is the answer.
Example Question #7 :One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Deborah disliked her teacher’s rambling speeches; she wished he were more__________.
loquacious
laconic
garrulous
dull
pedantic
laconic
The word that fills in the blank must contrast with a teacher who rambles. Were Deborah’s teacher more "laconic" (that is, were he morebrief and to the point), then he would not likely deliver rambling speeches. "Loquacious" and "garrulous" both meantalkative, while "pedantic" meansstrictly concerned with formal rules and book learning.
Example Question #1 :One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Many people criticized the mayor’s decision to ban sugary drinks. However, a small group__________his efforts to intertwine public health and public policy.
reprobated
foisted
lauded
epitomized
bemoaned
lauded
The sentence makes a contrast between those who “criticized” the mayor’s decision and the way others responded. The adjective in the blank describes how this other “small group” reacted. "Lauded" meanspraised, which is the antonym of "criticized," and thus best completes the sentence.
Example Question #2 :One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
While many people considered Peter to be a greedy__________, his closest friends knew that he had the virtue of great liberality.
miser
consumerist
libertarian
entrepreneur
conservative
miser
The word "liberal" is used in many ways today—most of which have political overtones. Its more general meaning isgenerous, coming from the Latin for "free." It is related to words like "liberty" and "liberate." "Liberality" is the character trait of being very free and generous with one's money. This sentence begins with "while," indicating that although many people thought one thing about Peter, those who knew him well knew something different. In contrast to liberality, "miser" works well. A miser is someone who hoards his or her money, avoiding spending it at all.
Example Question #10 :One Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
It was very difficult to guess what Justin would say, for he could engage in both__________and understatement within a three-second interval.
tautologies
lambasts
hyperbole
precocity
illogic
hyperbole
The "both . . . and" being used in the second clause helps to unpack why it was difficult to know what Justin would say. It seems that he would say conflicting things—hence the difficulty in guessing his next words. "Understatement" is a way of speaking that doesn't really address the true depths of some reality. For instance, a horrible murder might be called "kind of bad" by someone. This would be an understatement of the case. A great contrast to this is "hyperbole," meaningan expression that greatly overstates the case. For instance, someone might say that the day is the "coldest day ever" when it is not even at the point of freezing but merely brisk.