GRE Verbal › Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Texts
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ texture of the airline pillow irritated Angela’s face and made her long flight all the more vexatious.
dexterous
lustrous
monotonous
abrasive
significant
You are looking for an adjective that would describe how a pillow might irritate someone’s face and make their flight "vexatious," or unpleasant. "Abrasive" means rough, coarse, or harsh, so is the only answer choice that fits the context of the sentence.
The political party was ________________ and unable to compete in most elections.
germinal
robust
vibrant
seminal
vital
The party was "unable to compete," which means it was not a strong or established party. The correct answer will indicate the party's weakness. "Germinal," meaning undeveloped or immature, is the correct answer.
The large and diverse meal options made the starving men look __________.
agog
wearily
indifferently
disinterested
sardonically
The "hungry men" are looking at "the large and diverse meal options." As the correct answer describes how they view the meal choices, it must reflect the fact that they would be amazed and happy with the options. "Agog," meaning wide-eyed with enthusiasm and wonder, is the best choice among the answers.
The politician saw himself as a gifted public speaker, but his aides knew he was actually a _______________ orator.
ponderous
lighthearted
polemical
compelling
resplendent
The structure of the sentence indicates the aides have a very different view of the politician's abilities than he does. The correct answer choice needs to mean the opposite of "gifted public speaker." "Ponderous," meaning slow and weighty, is the only answer choice that truly stands in opposition.
The __________ night was the perfect time to dig a hole in which to bury the treasure.
stygian
ethereal
luminous
effulgent
"Stygian" is dark or gloomy. If the night is dark or gloomy, it's a great time to dig a secret hole in which to bury treasure.
The variety of bird calls made its own __________________ collage.
euphonic
delineated
torpid
olfactory
immutable
"Bird calls," particularly a variety of them, are quite noisy and musical. The correct answer will have something to do with sound or music. "Euphonic, meaning pleasant sounding or beautifully musical, is the best choice.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Robert Burns is considered the __________ Scottish poet, as his work is famous throughout Scotland and is seen to embody Scottish culture.
irrelevant
quintessential
unimpressive
mediocre
dispensible
The second half of the sentence indicates that Robert Burns is held in high regard, so "quintissential" is the best answer choice.
Although he practiced medicine for a decade, he was instantly fired when the hospital discovered his license was __________.
fraudulent
authentic
excessive
jeopardized
insentient
The subject was "instantly fired," so the problems with his license were quite serious. The correct answer needs to indicate the appropriate level of seriousness. "Fraudulent," meaning fake and deceptively false, is the best choice.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted into the sentence, best completes the sentence.
The kiwi is __________ New Zealand; being found nowhere else in the world, the bird makes an apt national symbol for the country.
endemic to
extant in
dearth in
insular in
absent from
Because the Kiwi lives in New Zealand, we can eliminate "absent from" and "dearth in," as "dearth" means lack and is not used in a gramatically correct way in that answer choice (it is a noun, and you usually hear about "dearths of" things). Similarly, "insular in" is also gramatically incorrect, and doesn't fit the sentence ("insular" means ignorant about cultures one has never encountered). Since the kiwi not only lives in New Zealand, but it lives only in New Zealand and is "found nowhere else in the world," it is not only "extant in" (still existing in) New Zealand, it is "endemic to" the country—meaning that is found there, but nowhere else. So, "endemic to" is the correct answer.
She was highly __________ of her sister's boasts, and demanded proof of her achievements.
skeptical
gullible
dispassionate
equivocal
nostalgic
Having "demanded proof" of the boasts, it is clear the subject does not believe her sister. The correct answer should mean doubting or disbelieving, the definition of skeptical.