Two-Blank Texts - GRE Verbal

Since we can infer that the little girl did take cookies out of the cookie jar but insists that she didn't, we're looking for an adjective for the first blank that has something to do with lying. "Disingenuous" (not candid or sincere) and "mendacious" (not telling the truth) could each work. For the second blank, we need to pick between "contrite" (penitent and guilty) and "stolid" (showing little emotion). "Contrite" makes the most sense as an adjective describing the little girl's expression, since if she had a stolid expression, her parents might not have figured out she took cookies from the jar; so, the answer is "mendacious . . . contrite."

For the first blank, we're looking for an adjective that reflects how the butler worked without paying attention to his work. Either "perfunctory" (carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection) or "desultory" (lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm) could work. For the second blank, we need an adjective that describes how the household scandal is "in its earliest stages." In choosing between "nascent" (just beginning to develop) and "resolute" (admirably determined), "nascent" is the better choice, so the answer is "perfunctory . . . nascent."

For the first blank, we need an adjective that describes how the valley has not been developed or ruined. Either "pristine" (unspoiled) or "unspoiled" could work. For the second blank, we're looking for another adjective, this time one that means something like "clear." In choosing between "limpid," a word that specifically refers to liquids and means clear and "lucid," a word that refers to ideas or writing and means expressed in a clear way, "limpid" is the clear choice, so the answer is "pristine . . . limpid."

For the first blank, we're looking for an adjective that means the opposite of "serious." Either "facetious," which means joking or jesting, often inappropriately or "sportive," which means playful or lighthearted,could work. For the second blank, we need an adjective that means not explained. In choosing between "tacit" (understood or implied without being directly stated) and "austere" (severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance), "tacit" is the better choice, so "facetious . . . tacit" is the correct answer.

For the first blank, we need an adjective that means something like "young," because the owls don't lose their striped down until they're a year old. Possible choices include "fledgling" ("relating to a young bird") and "juvenile" ("of, for, or relating to someone or something young"). For the second blank, we need a word that means "striped;" since "striated" means "striped" and "pedantic" means "narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned," "striated" is the better choice, and the answer is "fledgling, striated."

Here we have a contrast: there aren't any clue to what the words are, but they should be opposites. The best fit is "decorous" and "boorish"—the first meaning "characterized by proper manners" and the latter "unmannered and crude."

Because we know that the forecast predicted snow storms, we can infer that it also predicted cold weather. So, we need to pick out an answer choice for the first blank that means something like "cold." Either "frigid," "chilly," or "icy" could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that describes the action of wearing a scarf, hat, and mittens if one knows the weather is going to be cold and snowy. Since wearing those items is a good idea, either "smart," "necessary," or "prudent" ("acting with or showing care and thought for the future") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "frigid" and "prudent" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "frigid . . . prudent."

Since this sentence focuses merely on Aaron’s ability to cheer others, the best option will be that one which describes him in terms of cheerfulness and contrasts that with those who are not so cheerful. When someone is “jovial,” he or she is cheerful. The word comes from the description of Jove / Jupiter in Roman mythology. A person born under the influence of the planet Jupiter was believed to exhibit the cheerful personality characteristic of the God with the same name. For whatever one might say about the source of this word, it has stuck in English usage, though Jove has been left far behind. When someone is “sullen,” he or she is gloomy or bad tempered.

We can infer that because "many people \[are\] choosing to install fake, manmade grass," we need to pick out a combination of words that either means "real lawns have become rare" or "fake lawns have become common." While "artificial" and "manufactured" are both similar in meaning to "fake" and "manmade," only "artificial" lines up with a word for the second blank that means "common" - "commonplace." "Manufactured" lines up with "uncommon," so it can't be the answer, because if many people are installing fake lawns, manufactured lawns cannot be uncommon. Similarly, "authentic . . . pedestrian" cannot be the correct answer either, because if many people are installing fake grass, authentic lawns are not likely in the process of becoming "pedestrian," or commonplace. The correct answer is "artificial . . . commonplace" because it best fits the context of the sentence.

The definitions of the words in the two blanks are given in the last phrase: “garrulous” means overly talkative, while “laconic” means reserved and tight-lipped.

“Desiccated” means dried out and can be used to indicate extreme age or frailty, while “vivacious” indicates liveliness and energy. Since the second blank is preceded by “surprisingly,” the two words in the correct choice must have dissimilar meanings.

"Despite" is hint that the two blanks are opposites. Here "partisan" is an adjective that means _inclined to favor one side over the other—_it's the opposite of what we want. The judge may be prominent, but that doesn't describe why she shouldn't be taking sides. "Disinterested" is the best choice, which means free from bias. "Prejudice" answers the second blank the best, as the opposite of neutrality and impartiality.

The key word in this sentence is the rather difficult vocabulary item, "soporific". This word means sleep-inducing. Without knowing this, several options might be rather tempting; however, if you know this, you can then guess the first blank very well. Scott must have felt tired—and this is well expressed by "lethargic," which means sluggish. In contrast to such sluggishness, "ebullience" is the state of being energetic—almost "bubbly," metaphorically speaking.

In this sentence, "although" the wine aficionado performed the first blank's action towards Tori, he then "appreciated" her for other actions. In other words, he "appreciated" her in spite of whatever action he took towards her in the first blank. Therefore, "ameliorated," or soothed, doesn't quite fit, as "soothed" and "appreciated" are not quite opposites. "Rebuked," however, means reproved sharply; therefore, the later appreciation/approval that Tori receives makes "rebuked" fit the sentence.

Considering the second blank, the wine aficionado "appreciated" Tori for her doing something in regard to the opinions of a rival, so we know that Tori does not agree with that particular critic's opinions. Both "lambasting" and "vexation" are negative, but "lambasting" (thoroughly criticizing) requires direct action by Tori that can act on the opinions of the wine critic, whereas "vexation" means that Tori directly vexes (annoys/irritates) the wine critic's opinions, which doesn't make much sense grammatically.

Therefore, "rebuked . . . lambasting of" is the correct answer.

In regard to the first blank, on the surface, "mendacious" (lying) and "apocryphal" (doubtful, though believed to be true) are fairly similar words. However, you can use context clues in the sentence to figure out which word to use. Here, you have the "famous" story about panic, where, instead, people did something else. Therefore, while the story may be a lie, it is thought of as a fact that needs to have a counterpoint ("instead . . ."). Thus, "apocryphal" is the better fit.

In regard to the second blank, the storytelling made the listeners want to stay inside, so you can conclude that the storytelling was interesting to the listeners. While perused means read or paid attention to carefully and it can be argued that "interest" means careful listening, it doesn't fit grammatically (a person cannot be "perused by" a story), nor does it fit as well as "riveted" (engrossed). Thus, "riveted" both fits and is the correct answer. This makes the correct answer "apocryphal . . . riveted."

The first part of the sentence is not contrasting the blank to the word "revered." We can tell this by looking at the portion of the sentence that is after the comma. The "though . . ." indicates that she did in fact disagree with her father—though this was a different affair from her reverence and affection. For this reason, the best answer is "venerated" and "dispute." To "venerate" someone or something is to hold it, him, or her in high esteem. This captures well the "both . . . and" relationship between the blank and "revered." Clearly, Anna could disagree with her father. Hence, she did not fear to dispute (disagree and/or argue) with him.

The sentence hints that there is a contrast being made, as is indicated by the word "while" in the second sentence. The classmates are fearful, so Kevin must be brave. To be "audacious" is to be daring. Clearly, the bravery is aimed at asking questions by interrupting the teacher. To "interject" is to is just to interrupt in this way. The word comes from literal roots meaning to throw in between (just as "eject" means to throw out).

The best way to work through this question is to notice how well certain combinations work well together. There is a general idea stated that Isidore does not want something to be done easily. To "decipher" something is to decode it from a cryptic code to an understandable language. This is often used in the sense of meaning to make clear or understandable. In order for someone to need to be deciphered, however, he or she must be a mystery. The word "enigma" fulfills this well.

The word "despite" hints that the audience did not believe that the topic actually was important. Although it was quite important, they thought it to treat passing and unimportant matters. The word "ephemeral" means lasting only a brief time. Among the options provided for the first blank, this is the best possible option. Since they believed it to be unimportant, they likely gave it little attention—that is, "negligible" attention. (This is related to the word "neglect.")