GRE Text Completion Sample Questions

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1. Fear is a big subject. It (1) _________ up images of teen horror films or the dread some of us feel before a trip to the dentist. In most cases fears or phobias can be a minor (2) ______, in others they can prevent us from doing the things we dream of while on (3) _________ occasions they can actually damage our mental or physical well-being.

Blank 1: conjures, rakes, shakes

Blank 2: irritation, interruption, obstacle

Blank 3: other, rare, some

Correct Answer: conjures, irritation, rare

Explanation: For the first blank, the option ‘shake’ is clearly incorrect. Out of the other two options, ‘rake’ means to gather or draw and ‘conjure’ means to bring into existence as if by magic. In the given context, the option ‘conjures’ is more appropriate. In the second sentence, the author is showing the two extreme conditions that fear can cause. He says that the effect of a phobia is such that it can cause a minor insignificant irritation in some cases while in more profound cases it can have an impact deep enough to damage our mental or physical well-being. Along with the extremes, the author also mentions the rate of occurrence of these phobias. He says that in most cases fears are minor ‘irritations’ and in other ‘rare’ cases they can damage our physical and mental well-being. The correct answer options for the second and third blanks are ‘irritation’ and ‘rare’

2. There are many devised techniques that were formulated by experts that are geared towards helping individuals with anxiety disorders deal with their problems. Self help anxiety techniques will not be (1) ____________ if the individual will not fully understand them. They need to be acquainted on how they could utilize the technique efficiently. One would be successful in knowing these techniques if he will just open his mind about the (2) ___________ of knowing the worth and setting aside the negative (3) __________ that come along with the said techniques.

Blank 1: successful, applicable, viable

Blank 2: benefits, significance, necessity

Blank 3: effects, sentiments, connotations

Correct Answer: successful, necessity, connotations

Explanation: The given paragraph is about techniques for helping with anxiety disorders. The author says that the success of self-help techniques depends on the individual. If he does not understand them, they will not be ‘successful’, though they continue to be ‘viable’ and ‘applicable’. The author lays a lot of importance on this understanding. He says that the success of the technique depends on this understanding; hence, it is a ‘necessity’. This understanding is a need or a requirement and it is ‘significant’ and ‘benefits’ the individual. The discussion is about the success of the techniques. The author is very sure of the success of the techniques. He says that they are devised by experts and help individuals when they are ready to understand how to utilize the technique. This shows that there cannot be any strong negative effects of the technique, which cannot be set aside. Consequently, we use the option ‘connotations’ since it signifies a negative undertone of the technique, rather than a negative overtone.

GRE Text Completion Sample Questions

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