GRE Verbal Reasoning Questions

1. It is refreshing to read a book about our planet by an author who does not allow facts to be (1)__________ by politics: well aware of the political disputes about the effects of human activities on climate and biodiversity, this author does not permit them to (2)__________ his comprehensive description of what we know about our biosphere. He emphasizes the enormous gaps in our knowledge, the sparseness of our observations, and the (3)__________, calling attention to the many aspects of planetary evolution that must be better understood before we can accurately diagnose the condition of our planet.

2. Vain and prone to violence, Caravaggio could not handle success: the more his (1)__________ as an artist increased, the more (2)__________ his life became.

3. The author's (1)__________ style renders a fascinating subject, the role played by luck in everyday life, extraordinarily (2)__________.

4. From the outset, the concept of freedom of the seas from the proprietary claims of nations was challenged by a contrary notion — that of the _______ of the oceans for reasons of national security and profit.

5. To Simon, not usually so (1)____, their bantering talk seemed (2)____. Actually their exchanges masked underlying (3)____.

6. The new systematic nomenclature was so (1)____ that many chemists preferred to (2)____ the older trivial names that were at least shorter. At least, that is the ostensible reason. Actually, tradition seems to carry more weight than (3)____ with some scientists.

7. Even though the auditors (1)____ the accountant, his reputation, hitherto unblemished, was (2)____ by the allegations of fraud.

8. Many so-called social playwrights are distinctly ____ ; rather than allowing the members of the audience to form their own opinions, these writers force a viewpoint on the viewer.

9. The archaeologist, viewing the fragmentary remains of the ancient city, reflected on the (1)____ of human (2)____ .

10. He was normally entirely (1)____ , but in the embarrassing situation in which he found himself he felt compelled to (2)____.