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GRE Verbal Text Completion

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GRE Verbal Text Completion

shape Introduction

GRE Verbal Text Completion questions test the ability of the aspirants to interpret, analyze, reason and then meaningfully complete the passages from the partial information. The GRE Verbal Text Completion section checks the ability of the test takers by omitting important and crucial words from short passages and asking the test taker to use the remaining information within the passage as a basis for selecting words or short phrases to fill the blanks and build a coherent, and meaningful passage.
Often, graduate school study and research involves a great deal of reading, interpretation and analysis. Thus GRE Verbal section is designed to test the persistent perspective of interpretation, analysis and reasoning to create a whole, coherent and meaningful research/thesis/study.

shape Concept

The passage is composed of one to five sentences, provided with one to three blanks and each blank has three answer choices and sometimes five answer choices are provided in case of a single blank. The answer choices for different blanks function independently, which mean the test takers can select one answer choice for one blank and the choice will not affect another blank choice.
Overview -

shape Questions

For each blank select one entry from the corresponding column of choices. Fill all blanks in the way that best completes the text.
Question – 1 In her startling original writing, she went further than any other twentieth century author in English (perhaps in any language) in (a) ___________ literary language and form, (b) ___________ stylistic conventions, and (c) ___________ a rich and diverse structure of meaning.
Blank (a)
A. Reinventing
B. Canonizing
C. Stabilizing

Blank (b)
D. Undoing
E. Overpraising
F. misunderstanding

Bank (c)
G. Replicating
H. Borrowing
I. Introducing

Explanation - The correct answer choice is A for Blank (a), D for Blank (b) and I for Blank (C). For Blank (a), the choice must be “reinventing”, because neither “canonizing” nor “stabilizing” would indicate a break with traditional forms or language. Blank (b) must contain a word that describes the writer’s relationship with convention; “undoing” is the only one that reflects originality. Blank (c) likewise requires a word that conveys the novelty of the writer’s work. Both “replicating” and “borrowing” suggest a derivative approach to writing, so they are incorrect. “Introducing” implies that the writer’s structure is new.
Question – 2 The media once portrayed the governor as anything but ineffective; they now, however, make her out to be the epitome of ___________.
A. Fecklessness
B. Brilliance
C. Dynamism
D. Egoism
E. Punctiliousness

Explanation - The correct answer choice is A, the fecklessness meaning includes ineffectiveness, making it a very good contrast with the first half of the sentence.
Question – 3 Hawkins is ___________ in his field; no other contemporary researcher commands the same appreciation.
A. Disparaged
B. Ignominious
C. Obsolete
D. Anachronistic
E. Preeminent

Explanation - The right answer choice is E. The part after the semicolon lets us know that Hawkins is very regarded. Henceforth, the main reasonable word is 'preeminent'. (All the others have negative meanings.) (Disparaged = scrutinized; ignominious = despicable; obsolete = obsolete; anachronistic = in the wrong day and age; preeminent = first, popular)
Question – 4 We were not tricked by his (a) ___________ contentions; his plan was (b) ___________. That even he was (c) ___________ by his own particular thinking was obvious from his unenthusiastic demeanor.
Blank (a)
A. Specious
B. Cogent
C. Labyrinthine

Blank (b)
D. Obviously untenable
E. Clearly brilliant
F. Cunningly contrived

Bank (c)
G. Duped
H. Persuaded
I. Unconvinced

Explanation - The right answer choice is A for Blank (a), D for Blank (b), I forBlank (c). It is regularly a smart thought to work in reverse. For this situation the way that his mien was "unenthusiastic" recommends that he didn't have confidence in his own contention. Consequently the best word for the third clear is 'unconvinced'. On the off chance that 'we were not tricked', the arrangement was clearly not great and 'obviously untenable' works best for the second clear. At last, his contention was not a decent one and the main word for the principal clear with unmistakably negative implications is 'specious'.(specious = beguiling or misdirecting; cogent = very much communicated, clear = clear; labyrinthine = complex and included; untenable = can't be upheld/held; duped = tricked)
Question – 5 The team of the air balloon ___________ the sand bags to help the balloon ascent over the hill.
A. Capsized
B. Jettisoned
C. Salvaged
D. Augmented
E. Enumerated

Explanation - The right answer choice is B. To make the sentence coherent, the team would need to toss out sand sacks in the event that they needed the inflatable to rise. Thus, the word we need is "jettisoned" (threw out). (Capsized = sank; salvaged = safeguarded; augmented = expanded; enumerated = checked)

shape Tips

GRE Verbal Text Completion - Tips
  • Improving the vocabulary is the key point to improve the score on the verbal section.

  • The answers on the reading comprehension section will not be negative answers but rather be positive or neutral.

  • Try to fill the easiest blank first in the sentence completion. And don’t assume the first blank to be filled first.

  • Read the regular news updates, try to read the well-written magazines to improve the vocabulary.

  • First, think up the own words for the blanks. Try to fill in the blanks with words or phrases that seem to fit and then see if similar words are offered among the answer choices.