Verbs in One-Blank Texts - GRE Verbal
Card 1 of 1792
After the day long hike, everyone needed time to before hiking again.
After the day long hike, everyone needed time to before hiking again.
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"Everyone" needed a break "before hiking again." The correct answer will indicate what they needed that break for. "Recuperate," meaning to rest and get better, is the best fit among the answers.
"Everyone" needed a break "before hiking again." The correct answer will indicate what they needed that break for. "Recuperate," meaning to rest and get better, is the best fit among the answers.
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Reading a book set in Paris, his desire to travel there even more.
Reading a book set in Paris, his desire to travel there even more.
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The book reading had an effect on his desire to travel to Paris, and the phrase "even more" indicate it helped that desire. "Whetted," meaning to sharpen or refine, is the best fit among the answer choices.
The book reading had an effect on his desire to travel to Paris, and the phrase "even more" indicate it helped that desire. "Whetted," meaning to sharpen or refine, is the best fit among the answer choices.
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Living far away from any other people, the farmer considered a full day's drive a simple .
Living far away from any other people, the farmer considered a full day's drive a simple .
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The two key words in the sentence are "drive" and "simple." The correct answer will indicate an easy journey. "Jaunt," meaning a fun, short trip, is the best choice.
The two key words in the sentence are "drive" and "simple." The correct answer will indicate an easy journey. "Jaunt," meaning a fun, short trip, is the best choice.
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His efforts to tax law backfired and got him indicted for fraud.
His efforts to tax law backfired and got him indicted for fraud.
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If a person gets indicted, then he is not obeying the law. The correct answer will reflect his dislike or avoidance of "tax law." "Circumvent," meaning to go around or move out of the way of, is the best choice.
If a person gets indicted, then he is not obeying the law. The correct answer will reflect his dislike or avoidance of "tax law." "Circumvent," meaning to go around or move out of the way of, is the best choice.
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After multiple injuries from playing with the toys, they were at the school.
After multiple injuries from playing with the toys, they were at the school.
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The toys have caused "multiple injuries," so presumably they are not wanted at a school. The correct answer must mean forbidden or outlawed, the definition of "proscribed."
The toys have caused "multiple injuries," so presumably they are not wanted at a school. The correct answer must mean forbidden or outlawed, the definition of "proscribed."
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One reporter tried to the local principal by spreading rumors of infidelity, but the school's parents knew better than to believe the rumors.
One reporter tried to the local principal by spreading rumors of infidelity, but the school's parents knew better than to believe the rumors.
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To "denigrate" means to defame or belittle.
To "denigrate" means to defame or belittle.
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The political club was forced to its newest member, after she publically spoke against their views.
The political club was forced to its newest member, after she publically spoke against their views.
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To "repudiate" means to disown or abandon, which is what a club would be forced to do with a contrary member.
To "repudiate" means to disown or abandon, which is what a club would be forced to do with a contrary member.
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Once DNA testing proved his innocence, the inmate on death row was .
Once DNA testing proved his innocence, the inmate on death row was .
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To "exculpate" means to exonerate or to clear of blame.
To "exculpate" means to exonerate or to clear of blame.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Political tensions mounted as raging protestors convulsed through the streets; one could not the feeling of revolution in the air.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Political tensions mounted as raging protestors convulsed through the streets; one could not the feeling of revolution in the air.
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You are looking for a verb that means "to deny," which is exactly what "contest" means. None of the other words make sense in the context of the sentence.
You are looking for a verb that means "to deny," which is exactly what "contest" means. None of the other words make sense in the context of the sentence.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her desire to watch the basketball game was surprising, as she usually sporting events as unsophisticated.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her desire to watch the basketball game was surprising, as she usually sporting events as unsophisticated.
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The word to pay attention to in this sentence is “surprising,” as it indicates that a negative word is necessary to complete the sentence. The only such word is “denigrated.”
The word to pay attention to in this sentence is “surprising,” as it indicates that a negative word is necessary to complete the sentence. The only such word is “denigrated.”
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Frequently, beginning pilots find themselves unable to trust their instruments, them in the air and leaving them completely upside down.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Frequently, beginning pilots find themselves unable to trust their instruments, them in the air and leaving them completely upside down.
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The sentence is explaining that beginning pilots hurt themselves by not paying attention to the plane’s instruments. The word that best completes the sentence should mean "confusing." “Mystifying” is the closest synonym to "confusing" among the answer choices.
The sentence is explaining that beginning pilots hurt themselves by not paying attention to the plane’s instruments. The word that best completes the sentence should mean "confusing." “Mystifying” is the closest synonym to "confusing" among the answer choices.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In the novel Frankenstein, the author clearly the moral ambiguity of attempting to bring the dead to life.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In the novel Frankenstein, the author clearly the moral ambiguity of attempting to bring the dead to life.
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“Discerns” mean to perceive something, in this case, the moral ambiguity presented as a major theme of Frankenstein.
“Discerns” mean to perceive something, in this case, the moral ambiguity presented as a major theme of Frankenstein.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Harold finally worked up the courage to ask for a raise, but he was by news that sales had declined precipitously in the previous quarter.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Harold finally worked up the courage to ask for a raise, but he was by news that sales had declined precipitously in the previous quarter.
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The sentence says that Harold was going to ask for a raise, but then he found out that sales were down. This means the news prevented him from asking, so "thwarted" is correct. “Thwarted” means that he was hindered from carrying out his plan.
The sentence says that Harold was going to ask for a raise, but then he found out that sales were down. This means the news prevented him from asking, so "thwarted" is correct. “Thwarted” means that he was hindered from carrying out his plan.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her boss her for missing the deadline on submitting the report, which caused the company to lose money.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her boss her for missing the deadline on submitting the report, which caused the company to lose money.
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The boss obviously scolded her, which is the meaning of "castigated." “Maligned” means slandered, which isn't quite the same thing. The other answers don't make sense in context.
The boss obviously scolded her, which is the meaning of "castigated." “Maligned” means slandered, which isn't quite the same thing. The other answers don't make sense in context.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Concerned for his patient’s liver, Donald’s doctor advised him to from alcohol.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Concerned for his patient’s liver, Donald’s doctor advised him to from alcohol.
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It is common knowledge that alcohol abuse is deleterious to the health of the liver. Naturally, Donald’s doctor would want him to "abstain" (that is, refrain) from alcohol consumption.
It is common knowledge that alcohol abuse is deleterious to the health of the liver. Naturally, Donald’s doctor would want him to "abstain" (that is, refrain) from alcohol consumption.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The contract had been intentionally by the crooked attorney in order to trick the farmer into signing away his property.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The contract had been intentionally by the crooked attorney in order to trick the farmer into signing away his property.
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The word that fills in the blank must consider three things: 1) The contract still exists; it has not been "obliterated"; 2) The crooked attorney wants the farmer to sign the contract; a "nullified" contract is a non-binding contract, even when signed; and 3) It would not likely be in the crooked attorney’s interests to explain to the farmer how he is cheating him; it would not be in the attorney’s interest to "clarify" or "explicate" the terms of the contract. "Obfuscate" is the answer because it is in the attorney’s interest to deliberately make the contract difficult to understand.
The word that fills in the blank must consider three things: 1) The contract still exists; it has not been "obliterated"; 2) The crooked attorney wants the farmer to sign the contract; a "nullified" contract is a non-binding contract, even when signed; and 3) It would not likely be in the crooked attorney’s interests to explain to the farmer how he is cheating him; it would not be in the attorney’s interest to "clarify" or "explicate" the terms of the contract. "Obfuscate" is the answer because it is in the attorney’s interest to deliberately make the contract difficult to understand.
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Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I do not know why the President rescinded my invitation; his decision making has always been in mystery.
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I do not know why the President rescinded my invitation; his decision making has always been in mystery.
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The word that fills in the blank must help characterize the President’s decision making in light of the writer’s ignorance regarding the President’s motivations. The President’s decision making, for the writer, has always been covered in mystery, so "enshrouded" is the correct answer.
The word that fills in the blank must help characterize the President’s decision making in light of the writer’s ignorance regarding the President’s motivations. The President’s decision making, for the writer, has always been covered in mystery, so "enshrouded" is the correct answer.
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Fill in the blank with the best answer.
Finding few faults in the production, the critic the play.
Fill in the blank with the best answer.
Finding few faults in the production, the critic the play.
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To "extol" means to praise. It makes sense that the critic, finding little wrong with the play, offered a good review. "Lambaste" is the opposite: to criticize severely.
To "extol" means to praise. It makes sense that the critic, finding little wrong with the play, offered a good review. "Lambaste" is the opposite: to criticize severely.
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A century ago, scholars not only such conclusions, they even hailed them as triumphs of the human spirit.
A century ago, scholars not only such conclusions, they even hailed them as triumphs of the human spirit.
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The "clue phrase" in this sentence is "not only . . . even . . ." This indicates an intensification from the first portion to the second portion of the phrase.
Let us consider each of our options. The first two that we can eliminate are "derided" and "spurned." These both imply a negativity that doesn't make sense given the clue phrase. "Lauded" might seem to fit, but it really would prevent us from having an intensification from the first to the second part of the phrase. We are left with "accepted" and "considered." This is a tricky last set. The intensified word in the second half of the phrase is "hailed;" therefore, it is more appropriate to choose "accepted" as being the word to be intensified since it is least ambiguous regarding the scholars' approval of the conclusions. "Considering" can merely mean thinking about the topic, not necessarily accepting it (though that could—but not necessarily—be the case).
The "clue phrase" in this sentence is "not only . . . even . . ." This indicates an intensification from the first portion to the second portion of the phrase.
Let us consider each of our options. The first two that we can eliminate are "derided" and "spurned." These both imply a negativity that doesn't make sense given the clue phrase. "Lauded" might seem to fit, but it really would prevent us from having an intensification from the first to the second part of the phrase. We are left with "accepted" and "considered." This is a tricky last set. The intensified word in the second half of the phrase is "hailed;" therefore, it is more appropriate to choose "accepted" as being the word to be intensified since it is least ambiguous regarding the scholars' approval of the conclusions. "Considering" can merely mean thinking about the topic, not necessarily accepting it (though that could—but not necessarily—be the case).
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Kind words do little to situations that require more than nice phrases in order to be improved.
Kind words do little to situations that require more than nice phrases in order to be improved.
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The sense of the the sentence indicates that kind words fail to help in improvement of a bad situation. It is perhaps tempting to choose "augment" because of its sense of "increase." Certain verbal associations might lead one to choose "retract" or "allay," but these do not apply. "Ameliorate" fits best, as it means "to improve" or "make better."
The sense of the the sentence indicates that kind words fail to help in improvement of a bad situation. It is perhaps tempting to choose "augment" because of its sense of "increase." Certain verbal associations might lead one to choose "retract" or "allay," but these do not apply. "Ameliorate" fits best, as it means "to improve" or "make better."
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