GRE Verbal : Verbs in One-Blank Texts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #591 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
After taking over in a junta, the new regime attempted to _______________ any signs the previous president had ruled.
confound
efface
condone
encourage
admonish
efface
The current regime, as a junta that took over militarily, would have an interest in downplaying the previous president's rule. The correct answer will in some way indicate that suppression. "Efface," meaning to wipe out or eliminate, is the correct answer.
Example Question #657 : Text Completion
The doctors decided the man was insane after he spent days ____________ incoherently to himself
pontificating
expectorating
advocating
gibbering
exclaiming
gibbering
All the answer choices could fit in this sentence, but one choice will fit better than the others. The key word in the sentence is "incoherently," which describes the missing word. "Gibbering," meaning to make random and meaningless noises, is the correct answer.
Example Question #658 : Text Completion
After the controversy over his comments, he immediately _______________ and asked for an apology.
recanted
subverted
obscured
condoned
perpetuated
recanted
The "controversy" and the "apology" mentioned in the sentence indicates the comments were something the subject wishes to take back. "Recanted," meaning to have withdrawn a statement, is the correct answer.
Example Question #659 : Text Completion
When asked directly about his choice, the CEO _____________ to heighten the confusion.
demurred
poised
recanted
denounced
asserted
demurred
The sentence could make sense with a few of the answer choices, so the best fit must be chosen. The CEO increasing the confusion in his response indicates he did not answer clearly. "Demurred," meaning to hesitate or refuse, is the best choice.
Example Question #660 : Text Completion
Certain historians have attempted to reasses how much destruction and ____________ the Vikings actually incurred during their raids.
buttressing
advocating
strutting
pillaging
condoning
pillaging
The key word in the sentence is "destruction," and much of the rest of the sentence is mere excess. The correct answer will be a word that can be appropiately coupled with "destruction." "Pillaging," meaning to plunder and ransack, is the best choice among the answers.
Example Question #221 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
When the river dried up, it __________ the area's need for a bridge.
obviated
precipitated
rescinded
propitiated
annulled
obviated
Because the town no longer needed a bridge after the river dried up, we know that we need a word that means something like eliminated. We can eliminate the answer "precipitated," as it means caused, as well as "propitiated," which means appeased. Choosing from "annulled," "rescinded," and "obviated" can be a bit tricky, because in some sense they all mean canceled, but "annulled" specifically means declared an agreement or decision invalid, while "rescinded" means revoked, canceled, or repealed a law, order, or agreement. Since the sentence isn't talking about an agreement, decision, law, or order, we should choose the remaining choice, "obviated," which simply means to remove.
Example Question #227 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The terrible drought has __________ the once mighty river into a mere stream.
aggregated
ameliorated
appeased
amalgamated
attenuated
attenuated
The choice that makes the most since is "attenuated," to make thinner; weaken or lessen in degree.
Example Question #228 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
Over the years, the warring tribes slowly __________ into one kingdom.
obviated
coalesced
jeopardized
fractured
co-opted
coalesced
The tribes went from "warring" to becoming "one kingdom." The correct answer will describe their process of uniting. "Coalesced," meaning to come together or merge, is the best answer choice.
Example Question #229 : Verbs In One Blank Texts
With the league contracting, the two teams had to __________ their players onto one roster.
wax
merge
explode
goad
broach
merge
The key element of the sentence is the fact "two teams" had to make "one roster." This means the two teams had to combine and the correct answer will reflect this. "Merge," meaning to combine and come together, is the best choice.
Example Question #601 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Texts
The attorney used the graph to __________ his interpretation of the facts in a way that the jury could comprehend.
delineate
arbitrate
disorient
distrain
atone
delineate
"Delineate" means to explain or describe precisely, and most clearly makes sense of the sentence. The attorney wants the jury to comprehend the information.
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