All GRE Verbal Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 :Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The nanny__________the little boy after she found him climbing__________on a__________balanced pile of boulders, completely unaware of the danger in which he was putting himself.
excoriated . . . obliviously . . . propitiously
exhorted . . . sedulously . . . solicitously
castigated . . . resolutely . . . itinerantly
admonished . . . blithely . . . precariously
harangued . . . perfidiously . . . intractably
admonished . . . blithely . . . precariously
For the first blank, we need a word that meansverbally reprimanded和“长篇大论”、“斥责”,“指责”,和"admonished" all work. For the second blank, we need a word that describes how the boy was climbing the rocks—"completely unaware of the danger he was putting himself in." "Obliviously" and "blithely" are possible choices. The last blank describes how the pile of boulders is balanced. Choosing from between our two remaining options, "precariously" (dangerously unstable) and "propitiously" (auspiciously), we can select "admonished . . . blithely . . . precariously" as the correct answer.
Example Question #1 :Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Three Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
Romuald had wished to reform the__________life at the old monastery. For years, the monks had been__________regarding observation of their rule of life and had__________many worldly customs.
devotional . . . ecstatic . . . eschewed
prayer . . . considerate . . . evaluated
divine . . . considerate . . . spurned
regular . . . zealous . . . embraced
quotidian . . . negligent . . . adopted
quotidian . . . negligent . . . adopted
The sense is that Romuald wanted to reform something customary in the monastery. Although many of the answers are tempting (e.g. prayer is customary in a monastery), "quotidian" life would be daily (i.e. customary) life. The second sentence explains the reason for his desire for reform. Although the monks might have been "considerate" toward such changes, it is rather unlikely that this would have led to Romuald's desire to reform the monastery as much as "negligence" would have; therefore, we should choose the answer that reflects both negligence and the description of that negligence—the adoption of worldly customs.
Example Question #1 :Three Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
Her bedroom window was__________by curtains, yet the material was so__________that he could clearly see her form__________by the setting sun.
obscured . . . diaphanous . . . limned
decorated . . . flimsy . . . shrouded
sequestered . . . evanescent . . . inured
revealed . . . substantial . . . silhouetted
hidden . . . redolent . . . masked
obscured . . . diaphanous . . . limned
在这个句子里,有人在看一个女人outside her bedroom window, which has curtains on or around it. Despite the curtains, however, he can "clearly see" the woman. This indicates that the first word has something to do with the intention of curtains to block sight, and the second indicates that the curtain isn't doing this. The third word is another way of stating exactly how clearly he can see the woman's body.
Taking it one word at a time, "revealed" is the opposite of what the sentence implies, and "sequestered" refers to an object being hidden, not a view. The window might plausibly be obscured, hidden, or decorated by curtains; however, "redolent" meanssmelling strongly of, which would be a nonsensical way to describe curtains in this context. For the third word, "shrouded" implies covered in cloth, and the woman can be "clearly seen"; therefore the only word set that works is "obscured," (meaningcovered from sight) "diaphanous,"(meaningsheerortransparent) and "limned" (meaningoutlined).
Example Question #1 :Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The editor reduced the introduction from ten__________pages to two__________paragraphs by__________艾尔l of the unnecessary verbal flourishes that riddled its sentences.
tortuous . . . succinct . . . excising
immutable . . . intransigent . . . inhibiting
officious . . . sedulous . . . bolstering
florid . . . trenchant . . . expiating
turgid . . . concise . . . qualifying
tortuous . . . succinct . . . excising
We know that the introduction is edited from ten pages to two paragraphs, so we should look for a pair of adjectives for the first two blanks that emphasize its initial length and its later brevity. "Turgid . . . concise" and "tortuous . . . succinct" each do that. For the third blank, we need a verb that means something liketrimming. Choosing between "excising" (surgically removing; removing (a section) from a text) and "qualifying" (making (a statement or assertion) less absolute; adding reservations to), "excising" is the better choice, so the answer is "tortuous . . . succinct . . . excising."
Example Question #5 :Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The intern was__________with stacks of paperwork that covered his entire desk on the first day of his new job, but luckily, he managed to sort through it by working__________throughout the day and ignoring potential distractions, and__________out of the office at the end of the day, tremendously proud of his clean desk.
overrun . . . itinerantly . . . weltered
overwhelmed . . . sedulously . . . burgeoned
palliated . . . solicitously . . . simpered
inundated . . . assiduously . . . strutted
attenuated . . . perfidiously . . . vacillated
inundated . . . assiduously . . . strutted
对于第一个空白,我们正在寻找一个动词reflects how much work the intern was suddenly presented with; either "overwhelmed," "overrun," or "inundated" (floodedoroverwhelmed) could work. For the second blank, we're looking for an adverb that means something like "diligently"; possible options include "assiduously" (unceasingly;persistently) and "sedulously" (involving perseverance and diligence). For the final blank, we need a verb that means "to walk proudly;" since "strut" meansto walk as if proud of oneself and "burgeon" meansbegin to grow or flourish, "strut" is the better choice, and the answer is "inundated, assiduously, strutted."
Example Question #1 :Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The fashion show featured pieces inspired by__________styles, and the models were__________in pieces that__________to Greek togas, knightly armor, and trailing dresses with underskirts and bustles.
antiquated . . . arrayed . . . abated
ancient . . . feigned . . . castigated
banal . . . placated . . . appropriated
apocryphal . . . eulogized . . . impugned
archaic . . . garbed . . . alluded
archaic . . . garbed . . . alluded
For the first blank, we need to find an adjective that means something likeold. "Antiquated," "archaic," and "ancient"could each work. For the second blank, we need a verb that means something like "dressed"; either "garbed" or "arrayed" could fit. For the third blank, we're looking for a verb that means something like "evoked," since we know the pieces were "inspired by (old) styles." Since to "allude" meansrecall another work of art or style to point out a relationship with itwhen it refers to an artist or a work of art, and "abate" is used to refer to negative things and meansbecome less intense or widespread, "alluded" is the better choice and the answer is "archaic . . . garbed . . . alluded."
Example Question #7 :Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The__________cat refused to walk around tamely on a leash, but the__________dog not only heeled, but obeyed each of its master's commands obediently and never needed to be__________for not listening.
obstreperous . . . dogmatic . . . countenanced
truculent . . . complaisant . . . impeded
有害的。浪子。藐视
credulous . . . insipid . . . aggrandized
recalcitrant . . . tractable . . . admonished
recalcitrant . . . tractable . . . admonished
Since the cat refuses to be leashed, we need an adjective for the first blank that means something likestubbornorresistant. "Recalcitrant" (obstinately uncooperative toward authority), "obstreperous" (noisy and difficult to control), and "truculent" (aggressively defiant) could each work in the first blank. For the second blank, we need an adjective that conveys the dog's obedience—either "tractable" (easy to control or influence) or "complaisant" (willing to please others;obliging) could work. For the third blank, we need a verb that means something likescolded; in choosing between "admonished" (warned or reprimanded firmly) and "impeded" (hindered; obstructed), "admonished" is the better choice, so the answer is "recalcitrant . . . tractable . . . admonished."
Example Question #1 :Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
He was__________and never wasted words, but his sister was__________and loved to__________cheerfully to anyone about even the most inconsequential topics.
enigmatic . . . ponderous . . . chatter
terse . . . verbose . . . harangue
lithe . . . boorish . . . lampoon
hedonistic . . . ascetic . . . abstain
laconic . . . loquacious . . . prattle
laconic . . . loquacious . . . prattle
We know from the structure of the sentence—specifically the "but"—that we are dealing with opposites. Whichever word we pick for the first blank, the second blank needs to be its antonym. We know that the guy the sentence refers to is not talkative, so we can eliminate all of the answer choices except for "laconic," "terse," and "enigmatic." Looking at the next blank, our choices are "laconic . . . loquacious," "terse . . . verbose," and "enigmatic . . . ponderous."
We can eliminate "enigmatic . . . ponderous" as the two words are not opposites. For the third blank, we need a word that makes sense with "cheerfully" and the sister's interest in any topic. Between "prattle" and "harangue," we should choose "prattle," as it meansto babbleorto talk in a foolish way about unimportant topicsinstead of "harangue," which meansto criticize someone aggressively out loud. So, the correct answer is "laconic . . . loquacious . . . prattle."
Example Question #1 :Text Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The painting__________the image of a bishop with quite__________features, for the artist wished to express the wickedness that he perceived in the life of the__________figure.
recounted . . . hedonistic . . . penurious
copied . . . gregarious . . . public
depicted . . . fiendish . . . ecclesiastical
graced . . . supple . . . devilish
presented . . . illuminated . . . sagacious
depicted . . . fiendish . . . ecclesiastical
The word "wickedness" is really the primary clue for this sentence. The word "fiendish" meansdevil-like, and this seems to be what the picture is trying to express. The adjective "ecclesiastical" meanschurch-relatedand is often used to describe people like "bishops" who are "ecclesiastical figures" or "ecclesiastical servants" in the way we speak of "civil servants" working in the government. The first blank is best being "depicted," for this is closer to how a painting expresses its unique take on reality (in contrast to "recounting" or even to mere "copying"). (Note that this sentence is based upon a real story of a Dutch painter and not a "shot" taken at all ecclesiastical figures!)
Example Question #1 :Three Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
As the blood around the wound began to__________, the increasingly viscous substance helped to__________the continued flow of the__________fluids.
trickle . . . deny . . . dangerous
coagulate . . . stanch . . . vital
restore . . . alleviate . . . salubrious
seep . . . block . . . intravenous
drain . . . impede . . . recalcitrant
coagulate . . . stanch . . . vital
The clearest clue in this sentence is the remark that the blood is an "increasingly viscous substance." Viscosity is the thickness of a fluid. If the blood is becoming "thicker," this means that it is beginning to "coagulate." This is the technical term for a fluid becoming thick, most often applied to thickening blood. This helps to stop the continued flow of blood. To "stanch" a wound is to do just that. Finally, the bodily fluids are fairly called "vital fluids," meaningfluids needed for living. This is a sufficient choice for this last blank.