GRE Practice Test (Verbal Reasoning) 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Select the word: "The historian's account was praised for its ______, drawing on dozens of primary sources rarely examined before."
- brevity
- thoroughness (Correct answer)
- bias
- ambiguity
Correct answer: thoroughness
Drawing on dozens of rare primary sources demonstrates "thoroughness."
Question 2: Text Completion: "The negotiations remained ______ for months, with neither side willing to concede a single point."
- fruitful
- deadlocked (Correct answer)
- amicable
- expedited
Correct answer: deadlocked
Neither side conceding means the negotiations were "deadlocked."
Question 3: Sentence Equivalence: Choose a word equivalent to "ephemeral": "The fame of internet celebrities is often ______."
- enduring
- transient (Correct answer)
- substantial
- deserved
Correct answer: transient
"Transient" means short-lived, a synonym for "ephemeral."
Question 4: Reading Comprehension: If a passage describes an argument as "a straw man," the author implies the argument:
- is supported by overwhelming evidence
- misrepresents an opposing position to refute it easily (Correct answer)
- appeals strongly to emotion
- relies on expert testimony
Correct answer: misrepresents an opposing position to refute it easily
A straw man distorts an opponent's view to make it easier to attack.
Question 5: Select the word: "Her ______ for detail made her an ideal candidate for the painstaking work of manuscript restoration."
- disdain
- indifference
- penchant (Correct answer)
- aversion
Correct answer: penchant
"Penchant" means a strong liking, suiting painstaking detailed work.
Question 6: Text Completion: "The author's prose, once ______ and ornate, became spare and direct in her later works."
- austere
- florid (Correct answer)
- succinct
- muted
Correct answer: florid
"Florid" means elaborately ornate, contrasting with later spare prose.
Question 7: Which pair completes the sentence equivalently: "The CEO's ______ management style alienated employees who valued collaboration."
- autocratic / dictatorial (Correct answer)
- lenient / permissive
- transparent / open
- flexible / adaptable
Correct answer: autocratic / dictatorial
"Autocratic" and "dictatorial" both describe controlling styles that alienate collaborators.
GRE Practice Test (Verbal Reasoning) 3
Select the word: "The historian's account was praised for its ______, drawing on dozens of primary sources rarely examined before."