Style, Intensity, and Connotation in One-Blank Texts

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GRE Verbal › Style, Intensity, and Connotation in One-Blank Texts

Questions 1 - 10
1

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Many thought that Harry was merely happy about the news when, in fact, he was __________ to hear the report.

elated

joyous

dispirited

lax

surprised

Explanation

This sentence indicates a kind of intensification. Many people seemed to think that Harry would merely be happy. The word "merely" provides the best indication that we want to describe him has being something more than "merely happy." A great intensifier for "happy" is "elated," which describes someone who is extremely happy.

2

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

When Laura’s sharp retorts did not __________ the strange man’s advances, she gave him a fake number in order to finally get rid of him for good.

halt

discourage

amend

attenuate

paliate

Explanation

From the sentence, you can deduce that Laura's ultimate goal with her retorts is to get rid of the strange man talking to her, but she doesn't succeed until she changes tactics. Therefore, "amend" (improve) does not fit the context. And while the other for words are meant to lessen and/or stop the advances to various extents—"attenuate" (diminish), "palliate" (soothe), "discourage" (persuade not to do something), and "halt" (stop)—it is only the word with the strongest connotation, "halt," that matches the notion of "getting rid of for good." Thus, "halt" is the correct answer.

3

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The conversation, which began as a minor disagreement between two friends, had escalated into a __________ display of enmity.

contentious

judgmental

villainous

disgraceful

immoral

Explanation

This sentence is very obvious in calling for an intensified word to complete the first half of the sentence. In the first portion, the conversation is said to be a minor disagreement. To "escalate" means to increase in intensity—like an escalator going upwards in a building. When a conversation is "contentious," it is a heated disagreement. This well describes the escalation from a disagreement to something much worse.

4

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The end of apartheid in South Africa brought an end to the institutionalization of racism in the country; however, the rise of xenophobia provided a new subject of __________ for the populace.

enmity

chicanery

altruism

dislike

anathema

Explanation

Through the context, you can tell that the blank will need to be filled with a negative word, as the pairing of "end of racism" and "however," as well as the mention of the "rise of xenophobia" leading to the blank implies that the word in the blank must mean some sort of hatred. This means that "altruism" (concern for the condition of other people above one's own) is out, as is "chicanery" (trickery), as both have nothing to do with phobias, racism, or the like.

That leaves "anathema," "dislike," and "enmity." While "anathema" is associated with strong hatred, it actually describes the object, and not the attitudes of the people towards that object directly, so that can be thrown out through context. And while "dislike" works in the sentence, it doesn't have a very strong negative connotation, so pairing it with racism doesn't seem quite right. That leaves the correct answer, "enmity," as the only answer with the correct meaning AND connotation.

5

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

After realizing that mild critiques were not enough to change Neville's outlook, Miranda decided to level a __________ critique of his position.

fierce

intellectual

sagacious

pleonastic

vilifying

Explanation

This sentence hints that Miranda felt the need to present a much harsher critique of Neville's position. To "level" a critique is merely to state it, often frankly and honestly. All that we can say is that the critique will be severe, in contrast to its nicer, milder form earlier. The word "fierce" best expresses this increased severity.

6

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

While Patricia wanted to __________ the paper, John thought she should only ameliorate its most egregious faults.

perfect

improve

ignore

spurn

revisit

Explanation

The word "ameliorate" means to make better. The word "only" implies that John thinks that Patricia is overly concerned with the paper. He does not think she needs to go as far as she wants to in improving it. Therefore, it is best to choose the simple word "perfect." She wants it to be perfected, but John is telling her (effectively), "Just make it a bit better."

7

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Many choose to become college professors, even though the road to tenure can be ___________.

tortuous

rewarding

caustic

dogmatic

overt

Explanation

“Tortuous” means unnecessarily twisted or difficult. It is the only choice that is both negative and can describe a metaphorical road.

8

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The superstar’s __________ when asked about her relationship with her co-star made the media believe that she was lying about their relationship.

prevarications

duplicities

imitations

articulations

canards

Explanation

The superstar's actions when questioned made the media believe that she lied. Therefore, "duplicities" (lies) doesn't fit, as it's too strong for what amounts to suspicion. "Imitations" (copies) also doesn't work on a definition basis. We're left with "canards" (rumors with no basis), "articulations" (things that are said), and "prevarications" (indirect answers to a question allowing one to avoid telling the truth).

While "articulations" could work, as her words could be leading the media to believe she is lying, it is not nearly as specific as the other two words. And while "canards" could also work, as her spoken rumors could lead them to believe she's lying, it's not as specific as "prevarications," which is directly related to lines of questioning. Thus, "prevarications" is the correct answer.

9

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

With time, the distressing remark had become a mere __________ in Joel's mind.

phantom

misery

spirit

reflection

delight

Explanation

The idea here is well summarized in the old adage, "Time heals all wounds." The passage of time has helped make Joel's wounds reduce to nearly nothing at all. They may not be delights, but they are as wispy as a ghost—that is, as wispy as a phantom. The language is a bit metaphorical, but we do sometimes speak of vestiges / leftover realities as being "phantoms." This is the best option. Do not at all be tempted by "spirits," a word that is trying to confuse you in regard to "phantoms."

10

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

The world was __________ when Harper Lee announced that she had written a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird; no one had expected the announcement since it had been over fifty years since she had published the original book.

flabbergasted

bewildered

bemused

disbelieving

wandering

Explanation

A tried-and-true approach to text completion questions is the process of elimination approach: get rid of answer choices first due to their definitions, then due to their connotations and intensities. On many questions, just the first part of the process will suffice, though on some, like this one, you will have to consider connotations as well.

First, we can get rid of "wandering" (traveling aimlessly) because the word doesn't make much sense in context. Then, we're left with "flabbergasted," "bewildered," "bemused," and "disbelieving," which all express some level of shock and/or confusion, an emotion that makes sense if a book's sequel is announced fifty years after it was published.

However, it is here that you must pay special attention to context clues. The sentence explicitly states that "no one expected" the sequel, but says nothing about anyone being confused, caught off guard, or the like. There is simply surprise. Thus, the words that imply confusion—"bewildered" and "bemused"—can be thrown out. The sentence also doesn't explicitly state anything about skepticism, which "disbelieving" implies, at the very least. Thus, we are left with "flabbergasted," which is the correct answer.

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