GRE Practice Test (Verbal Reasoning) 2

Question 1

Select the word that best completes the sentence: "Although the critic was usually ______, her review of the new novel was surprisingly generous and warm."

Accepted Answer

acerbic

Answer

"Acerbic" means sharp or harsh, contrasting with the surprisingly generous review.

Question 2

In Text Completion, which word fits: "The committee's decision was so ______ that even its harshest opponents could find no fault with the reasoning."

Accepted Answer

cogent

Answer

"Cogent" means clear and convincing, which is why opponents found no fault.

Question 3

Sentence Equivalence: Choose the word that produces a sentence equivalent in meaning to one using "abundant": "Resources in the region were ______."

Accepted Answer

plentiful

Answer

"Plentiful" is a synonym for "abundant," producing equivalent meaning.

Question 4

Reading Comprehension: An author who writes that a theory is "elegant but ultimately unfalsifiable" most likely views the theory as:

Accepted Answer

appealing yet not testable against evidence

Answer

"Unfalsifiable" means it cannot be tested, despite being aesthetically appealing.

Question 5

Select the word: "The professor's lectures were so ______ that students often left more confused than when they arrived."

Accepted Answer

abstruse

Answer

"Abstruse" means difficult to understand, explaining the students' confusion.