Verbs and Adjectives or Adverbs in Three-Blank Texts - GRE Verbal

In this sentence, someone is watching a woman from outside her bedroom window, which has curtains on or around it. Despite the curtains, however, he can "clearly see" the woman. This indicates that the first word has something to do with the intention of curtains to block sight, and the second indicates that the curtain isn't doing this. The third word is another way of stating exactly how clearly he can see the woman's body.

Taking it one word at a time, "revealed" is the opposite of what the sentence implies, and "sequestered" refers to an object being hidden, not a view. The window might plausibly be obscured, hidden, or decorated by curtains; however, "redolent" means smelling strongly of, which would be a nonsensical way to describe curtains in this context. For the third word, "shrouded" implies covered in cloth, and the woman can be "clearly seen"; therefore the only word set that works is "obscured," (meaning covered from sight) "diaphanous,"(meaning sheer or transparent) and "limned" (meaning outlined).

We know from the structure of the sentence—specifically the "but"—that we are dealing with opposites. Whichever word we pick for the first blank, the second blank needs to be its antonym. We know that the guy the sentence refers to is not talkative, so we can eliminate all of the answer choices except for "laconic," "terse," and "enigmatic." Looking at the next blank, our choices are "laconic . . . loquacious," "terse . . . verbose," and "enigmatic . . . ponderous."

We can eliminate "enigmatic . . . ponderous" as the two words are not opposites. For the third blank, we need a word that makes sense with "cheerfully" and the sister's interest in any topic. Between "prattle" and "harangue," we should choose "prattle," as it means to babble or to talk in a foolish way about unimportant topics instead of "harangue," which means to criticize someone aggressively out loud. So, the correct answer is "laconic . . . loquacious . . . prattle."

For the first blank, we need a word that means verbally reprimanded, and "harangued," "castigated," "excoriated," and "admonished" all work. For the second blank, we need a word that describes how the boy was climbing the rocks—"completely unaware of the danger he was putting himself in." "Obliviously" and "blithely" are possible choices. The last blank describes how the pile of boulders is balanced. Choosing from between our two remaining options, "precariously" (dangerously unstable) and "propitiously" (auspiciously), we can select "admonished . . . blithely . . . precariously" as the correct answer.

We know that the introduction is edited from ten pages to two paragraphs, so we should look for a pair of adjectives for the first two blanks that emphasize its initial length and its later brevity. "Turgid . . . concise" and "tortuous . . . succinct" each do that. For the third blank, we need a verb that means something like trimming. Choosing between "excising" (surgically removing; removing (a section) from a text) and "qualifying" (making (a statement or assertion) less absolute; adding reservations to), "excising" is the better choice, so the answer is "tortuous . . . succinct . . . excising."

Since the cat refuses to be leashed, we need an adjective for the first blank that means something like stubborn or resistant. "Recalcitrant" (obstinately uncooperative toward authority), "obstreperous" (noisy and difficult to control), and "truculent" (aggressively defiant) could each work in the first blank. For the second blank, we need an adjective that conveys the dog's obedience—either "tractable" (easy to control or influence) or "complaisant" (willing to please others ; obliging) could work. For the third blank, we need a verb that means something like scolded; in choosing between "admonished" (warned or reprimanded firmly) and "impeded" (hindered; obstructed), "admonished" is the better choice, so the answer is "recalcitrant . . . tractable . . . admonished."

For the first blank, we need to find an adjective that means something like old. "Antiquated," "archaic," and "ancient" could each work. For the second blank, we need a verb that means something like "dressed"; either "garbed" or "arrayed" could fit. For the third blank, we're looking for a verb that means something like "evoked," since we know the pieces were "inspired by (old) styles." Since to "allude" means recall another work of art or style to point out a relationship with it when it refers to an artist or a work of art, and "abate" is used to refer to negative things and means become less intense or widespread, "alluded" is the better choice and the answer is "archaic . . . garbed . . . alluded."

For the first blank, we're looking for a verb that reflects how much work the intern was suddenly presented with; either "overwhelmed," "overrun," or "inundated" (flooded or overwhelmed) could work. For the second blank, we're looking for an adverb that means something like "diligently"; possible options include "assiduously" (unceasingly; persistently) and "sedulously" (involving perseverance and diligence). For the final blank, we need a verb that means "to walk proudly;" since "strut" means to walk as if proud of oneself and "burgeon" means begin to grow or flourish, "strut" is the better choice, and the answer is "inundated, assiduously, strutted."

The word "wickedness" is really the primary clue for this sentence. The word "fiendish" means devil-like, and this seems to be what the picture is trying to express. The adjective "ecclesiastical" means church-related and is often used to describe people like "bishops" who are "ecclesiastical figures" or "ecclesiastical servants" in the way we speak of "civil servants" working in the government. The first blank is best being "depicted," for this is closer to how a painting expresses its unique take on reality (in contrast to "recounting" or even to mere "copying"). (Note that this sentence is based upon a real story of a Dutch painter and not a "shot" taken at all ecclesiastical figures!)

The clearest clue in this sentence is the remark that the blood is an "increasingly viscous substance." Viscosity is the thickness of a fluid. If the blood is becoming "thicker," this means that it is beginning to "coagulate." This is the technical term for a fluid becoming thick, most often applied to thickening blood. This helps to stop the continued flow of blood. To "stanch" a wound is to do just that. Finally, the bodily fluids are fairly called "vital fluids," meaning fluids needed for living. This is a sufficient choice for this last blank.

Several points help to make this sentence clear. The "mores" of a society are its general customs. This word is related to "morals," though "morals" has a greater ethical content in its notion than does "mores." Secondly, the fact that such people are looking to do something "through revolution" implies that they are not undertaking their actions through peaceful means. This helps us to eliminate the options for the third blank that are too "calm" and reform-minded (as opposed to openly revolutionary). Hence, "overthrow" is excellent. Such people are likely questioning the accepted mores of the community. In a way, "accepted mores" is a bit redundant, but the expression does help to stress the fact that these revolutionaries are acting against the established order of things. Such people who wish to "tear down" the accepted order are called "iconoclastic." An "icon" is a likeness or image. The word "icono-clast" literally means the breaker of an icon. (This comes, in part, from a position in the Christian community that wished to destroy all images.) In general, "iconoclastic" signifies the outlook that would destroy or uproot established institutions.

You are told that the boy is "mischievous" and pulled a prank. The conjunction "but" is also a relevant clue to the context of the sentence. From this information you can infer that the boy would want to hide or conceal his grin so as not to give away the prank. The correct answer is therefore "stifle." The word "but" suggests that the boy's attempts to "stifle" his grin were not successful, so the correct answer must be that his smile was enhanced or "augmented" by seeing his prank unfold. To provide additional help, "complacent" means lazy, careless; "amplify" means enhance; "diminish" means take away from, reduce in importance; "cantankerous" means grumpy; "serene" means peaceful; "demonize" means portray as evil; "remedy" means fix; "harmonize" means coordinate, make something fit with something else; "whimsical" means silly or quirky; "antagonize" means annoy, make angry; "contentious" means debatable; "admonish" means chastise, tell off.

You are told that the professor is very old and that whatever action he is doing he goes "on and on." Because he is giving a lecture it makes sense that he is speaking, and from context you can infer it is a word that means speaking in a long-winded and boring fashion. The correct answer is therefore "droned," although "rambled" and "prattled" could also be acceptable answers as these words have similar meanings. Additionally, you are told that the professor "only paused" meaning the adjective used to describe his pauses is most likely something like occasionally. The correct answer is therefore "intermittently." Finally, the professor gives a glance to his students. The word "glance" suggests a quick look so the correct answer is "perfunctory" which means quick, brief, and cursory. To provide additional help, "ensconced" means hidden, settled; "haughtily" means done with arrogance; "impolitic" means not polite; "mournful" means full of sadness; "lampooned" means mocked; "amiable" means friendly and sociable.

The sense is that Romuald wanted to reform something customary in the monastery. Although many of the answers are tempting (e.g. prayer is customary in a monastery), "quotidian" life would be daily (i.e. customary) life. The second sentence explains the reason for his desire for reform. Although the monks might have been "considerate" toward such changes, it is rather unlikely that this would have led to Romuald's desire to reform the monastery as much as "negligence" would have; therefore, we should choose the answer that reflects both negligence and the description of that negligence—the adoption of worldly customs.

In this sentence, someone is watching a woman from outside her bedroom window, which has curtains on or around it. Despite the curtains, however, he can "clearly see" the woman. This indicates that the first word has something to do with the intention of curtains to block sight, and the second indicates that the curtain isn't doing this. The third word is another way of stating exactly how clearly he can see the woman's body.

Taking it one word at a time, "revealed" is the opposite of what the sentence implies, and "sequestered" refers to an object being hidden, not a view. The window might plausibly be obscured, hidden, or decorated by curtains; however, "redolent" means smelling strongly of, which would be a nonsensical way to describe curtains in this context. For the third word, "shrouded" implies covered in cloth, and the woman can be "clearly seen"; therefore the only word set that works is "obscured," (meaning covered from sight) "diaphanous,"(meaning sheer or transparent) and "limned" (meaning outlined).

We know from the structure of the sentence—specifically the "but"—that we are dealing with opposites. Whichever word we pick for the first blank, the second blank needs to be its antonym. We know that the guy the sentence refers to is not talkative, so we can eliminate all of the answer choices except for "laconic," "terse," and "enigmatic." Looking at the next blank, our choices are "laconic . . . loquacious," "terse . . . verbose," and "enigmatic . . . ponderous."

We can eliminate "enigmatic . . . ponderous" as the two words are not opposites. For the third blank, we need a word that makes sense with "cheerfully" and the sister's interest in any topic. Between "prattle" and "harangue," we should choose "prattle," as it means to babble or to talk in a foolish way about unimportant topics instead of "harangue," which means to criticize someone aggressively out loud. So, the correct answer is "laconic . . . loquacious . . . prattle."

For the first blank, we need a word that means verbally reprimanded, and "harangued," "castigated," "excoriated," and "admonished" all work. For the second blank, we need a word that describes how the boy was climbing the rocks—"completely unaware of the danger he was putting himself in." "Obliviously" and "blithely" are possible choices. The last blank describes how the pile of boulders is balanced. Choosing from between our two remaining options, "precariously" (dangerously unstable) and "propitiously" (auspiciously), we can select "admonished . . . blithely . . . precariously" as the correct answer.

We know that the introduction is edited from ten pages to two paragraphs, so we should look for a pair of adjectives for the first two blanks that emphasize its initial length and its later brevity. "Turgid . . . concise" and "tortuous . . . succinct" each do that. For the third blank, we need a verb that means something like trimming. Choosing between "excising" (surgically removing; removing (a section) from a text) and "qualifying" (making (a statement or assertion) less absolute; adding reservations to), "excising" is the better choice, so the answer is "tortuous . . . succinct . . . excising."

Since the cat refuses to be leashed, we need an adjective for the first blank that means something like stubborn or resistant. "Recalcitrant" (obstinately uncooperative toward authority), "obstreperous" (noisy and difficult to control), and "truculent" (aggressively defiant) could each work in the first blank. For the second blank, we need an adjective that conveys the dog's obedience—either "tractable" (easy to control or influence) or "complaisant" (willing to please others ; obliging) could work. For the third blank, we need a verb that means something like scolded; in choosing between "admonished" (warned or reprimanded firmly) and "impeded" (hindered; obstructed), "admonished" is the better choice, so the answer is "recalcitrant . . . tractable . . . admonished."

For the first blank, we need to find an adjective that means something like old. "Antiquated," "archaic," and "ancient" could each work. For the second blank, we need a verb that means something like "dressed"; either "garbed" or "arrayed" could fit. For the third blank, we're looking for a verb that means something like "evoked," since we know the pieces were "inspired by (old) styles." Since to "allude" means recall another work of art or style to point out a relationship with it when it refers to an artist or a work of art, and "abate" is used to refer to negative things and means become less intense or widespread, "alluded" is the better choice and the answer is "archaic . . . garbed . . . alluded."