GRE Verbal : Text Completion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #631 : Text Completion

The young boy __________ on his way home, as he did not want to face his parents.

Possible Answers:

hastened

sullied

dallied

sprinted

hustled

Correct answer:

dallied

Explanation:

The sentence notes the "young boy" "did not want to face his parents." The correct answer needs to reflect his unwillingness to see his parents. "Dallied," meaning wasted time or hesitated, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #632 : Text Completion

Her answers rarely __________ with the facts of the case, increasing the police's suspicion.

Possible Answers:

disputed

stinted

doted

sated

jibed

Correct answer:

jibed

Explanation:

The subjects's statements are "increasing the police's suspension," meaning their relationship with the facts are not straightforward. The correct answer will indicate that the answers are not directly aligned with the facts. "Jibed," meaning lined up or matched, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #633 : Text Completion

In front of the committee, the witness __________ and made no one believe his statements.

Possible Answers:

abraded

staunted

levied

declaimed

dissembled

Correct answer:

dissembled

Explanation:

The testimony "made no one believe his statements," which means his comments were suspicious. The correct answer needs to show he was somehow untrustworthy or strange. "Dissemble," meaning to put on an act or avoid the truth, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #634 : Text Completion

His arrogant tone made it clear he did not __________ to answer the question outright.

Possible Answers:

lien

deign

gouge

gall

abut

Correct answer:

deign

Explanation:

The man's "arrogant tone" is the best clue to finding the missing word. Since he "would not answer the question outright," the correct answer has to show a level the appropriate level of condescension. "Deign," meaning to do something considered beneath one's dignity, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #635 : Text Completion

The discontent in the legislature was quickly __________ when an amendment that many approved of was added on to the bill.

Possible Answers:

exacerbated

fomented

enlivened

quelled

precipitate

Correct answer:

quelled

Explanation:

The sentence notes the "amendment that many approved of" did the missing word to the "discontent." This means the amendment helped get rid of the discontent, and the correct answer should show this. "Quelled," meaning suppressed or stopped, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #636 : Text Completion

The neighborhood's lots were so small that the houses had to __________ each other.

Possible Answers:

abut

purchase

leaven

patronize

mitigate

Correct answer:

abut

Explanation:

The only real clue in the sentence is that the "neighborhood's lots were so small." The correct answer will therefore have to indicate a closeness or lack of space. "Abut," meaning to come up on or touch, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #637 : Text Completion

The girl was __________ in Greek mythology, and could recite the tales for the rest of her life.

Possible Answers:

steeped

indicted

supplicant

inadequate

morose

Correct answer:

steeped

Explanation:

The sentence explains that the girl "could recite the tales for the rest of her life." This indicates that she knew them quite well, a fact which must be reflected in the correct answer. "Steeped," meaning to soak in or bathe, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #638 : Text Completion

The explosives were __________ into the hole by a mound of dirt, and were not visible until they were stepped on.

Possible Answers:

rambled

tamped

tarnished

enjoined

displaced

Correct answer:

tamped

Explanation:

The sentence describes the explosives as "not visible until they were stepped on." The correct answer must mean placed in or hidden. "Tamped," meaning packed tightly or plugged up, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #639 : Text Completion

The war was disastrous, and ended up __________ the populations on both sides.

Possible Answers:

decimating

waffling

extirpating

exculpating

divesting

Correct answer:

decimating

Explanation:

The sentence points out that "the war was disastrous," which indicates the results were quite bad for both sides. The correct answer not only needs to be negative, but strongly so. "Decimating," literally destroying one tenth, but frequently meaning to destroy a large part, is the best choice among the answers.

Example Question #640 : Text Completion

The torture methods included __________ pieces of skin out of the victim.

Possible Answers:

exculpating

gouging

disarming

adorning

patronizing

Correct answer:

gouging

Explanation:

The sentence helps modify the missing word by noting "pieces of skin" were "out of the victims." This indicates the correct answer has to mean the skin was pulled out. "Gouging," meaning cutting or digging, is the best choice among the answers.

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