Medium GRE Sentence Equivalence Set 1 Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

GRE Sentence Equivalence questions require you to select two words from a list of six that, when used to complete a sentence, result in two sentences that are logically equivalent in meaning. Unlike standard vocabulary tests, these questions assess your ability to analyze sentence structure and identify subtle nuances in semantics. Success depends on finding a pair of synonyms or near-synonyms that fit the context provided by "clue" words and transition signals within the prompt. To excel at this task, you must look for the "pivot" in the sentence—words like although, however, or similarly—which indicate whether the missing word should support or contradict the surrounding ideas. This practice set focuses on medium-difficulty problems where the vocabulary is sophisticated and the sentence logic requires careful parsing.

Solved Examples

Review these worked examples to understand how to identify the correct pair of words for GRE Prep success.

1. The senator’s speech was surprisingly _______; despite her reputation for long-windedness, she finished her remarks in under five minutes.
   • (A) verbose
   • (B) laconic
   • (C) pithy
   • (D) circuitous
   • (E) abbreviated
   • (F) ephemeral
   Solution:
   1. Identify the clue: "despite her reputation for long-windedness." This indicates a contrast.
   2. The word must mean the opposite of long-winded (brief or concise).
   3. Evaluate choices: laconic and pithy both mean brief and to the point. Abbreviated means shortened, but laconic and pithy are better stylistic matches for a person's speech style.
   4. Correct Answer: B and C.
2. While the committee's report was intended to be _______, the dense jargon and convoluted syntax made it nearly impossible for the public to understand.
   • (A) opaque
   • (B) lucid
   • (C) intelligible
   • (D) abstruse
   • (E) pedantic
   • (F) limpid
   Solution:
   1. Identify the pivot: "While" indicates a contrast between the intention and the result.
   2. The result was "impossible to understand," so the intention must have been "easy to understand."
   3. Look for synonyms: lucid and intelligible both mean clear or easy to understand. Limpid also means clear, but lucid and intelligible are more frequent synonyms in this context.
   4. Correct Answer: B and C.
3. The artist’s work was often criticized for being _______, as it lacked any original insight and merely mimicked the styles of past masters.
   • (A) innovative
   • (B) derivative
   • (C) hackneyed
   • (D) iconoclastic
   • (E) banal
   • (F) trite
   Solution:
   1. Identify the clue: "lacked any original insight" and "mimicked past masters."
   2. The word should mean unoriginal or overused.
   3. Evaluate pairs: hackneyed, banal, and trite all mean unoriginal. However, hackneyed and trite are the most common pair for describing unoriginal artistic expression.
   4. Correct Answer: C and F.

Practice Questions

Test your skills with these Medium GRE Sentence Equivalence Set 1 Practice Questions. Select the two words that best complete each sentence.

1. Because the CEO was known for her _______ nature, employees were often hesitant to approach her with new ideas for fear of being harshly rebuked.
   • (A) affable
   • (B) brusque
   • (C) curt
   • (D) benevolent
   • (E) gregarious
   • (F) whimsical
2. The diplomat's _______ approach to the negotiations was praised by both sides, as he managed to settle the dispute without offending either party.
   • (A) adroit
   • (B) clumsy
   • (C) dexterous
   • (D) maladroit
   • (E) contentious
   • (F) bellicose
3. Despite the _______ of evidence supporting the theory, many scientists remained skeptical until more rigorous testing could be conducted.
   • (A) dearth
   • (B) paucity
   • (C) abundance
   • (D) plethora
   • (E) modicum
   • (F) glut

4. The professor was known for his _______ lectures, often wandering far from the original topic to discuss obscure historical anecdotes.
   • (A) succinct
   • (B) digressive
   • (C) discursive
   • (D) trenchant
   • (E) dogmatic
   • (F) pithy
5. The new regulations were criticized as _______, as they imposed significant financial burdens on small businesses without providing any clear public benefit.
   • (A) egalitarian
   • (B) onerous
   • (C) taxing
   • (D) benign
   • (E) equitable
   • (F) innocuous
6. The author’s prose was remarkably _______; she used very few words to convey complex emotional landscapes.
   • (A) florid
   • (B) economical
   • (C) spare
   • (D) verbose
   • (E) grandiloquent
   • (F) turgid
7. The city's infrastructure is famously _______, having suffered from decades of neglect and underfunding.
   • (A) robust
   • (B) decrepit
   • (C) derelict
   • (D) resilient
   • (E) pristine
   • (F) fledgling
8. The findings of the study were _______, as the small sample size and biased methodology made the results unreliable.
   • (A) compelling
   • (B) dubious
   • (C) questionable
   • (D) incontrovertible
   • (E) irrefutable
   • (F) cogent

Answers & Explanations

1. B, C: The clue is "fear of being harshly rebuked." This suggests the CEO is blunt or short in her interactions. Brusque and curt both describe a short, abrupt, or dismissive manner of speaking.
2. A, C: The diplomat settled a dispute without offense, which requires skill. Adroit and dexterous both mean skillful or clever in handling situations.
3. C, D: The pivot "Despite" suggests a contrast. Even though there was a lot of evidence ("abundance" or "plethora"), scientists were still skeptical. Note that glut also means an excess, but abundance and plethora are more neutral and fit the context of scientific evidence better.
4. B, C: The clue "wandering far from the original topic" defines the word. Digressive and discursive both mean moving away from the main subject.
5. B, C: The regulations are described as "financial burdens." Onerous and taxing both mean burdensome or difficult to endure.
6. B, C: The clue "used very few words" points toward brevity. Economical and spare both describe a style that avoids waste or excess.
7. B, C: The clues are "neglect" and "underfunding." Decrepit and derelict both describe something in a state of disrepair or ruin.
8. B, C: The clues "small sample size" and "biased methodology" indicate the results are not trustworthy. Dubious and questionable both mean doubtful or unreliable.

1. In Sentence Equivalence, how many correct answer choices must you select?

• A1
• B2
• C3
• D4

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a Sentence Equivalence question "medium" difficulty?

Medium difficulty questions typically utilize advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures, such as double negatives or subtle transition words. Unlike easy questions, the synonyms may not be exact matches, requiring the test-taker to rely on the context of the sentence.

Do the two words have to be exact synonyms?

No, the words do not have to be dictionary synonyms, but they must produce sentences that are equivalent in meaning. Sometimes two words that are slightly different in isolation can function identically within the specific logic of the prompt.

Can I select three answers if they all seem to fit?

No, you must select exactly two answers. Selecting more or fewer than two will result in the question being marked incorrect, as there is no partial credit on the GRE General Test.

How should I handle words I don't recognize?

Use the process of elimination by identifying pairs among the words you do know. If you find a pair of synonyms that fits the context, they are likely the answer; if you find a word that definitely doesn't fit, you can eliminate it and any potential pair it might have formed.

Are there always pairs of synonyms in the list of six?

Usually, there are at least two pairs of synonyms in the six options, but only one pair will correctly fit the context of the sentence. Sometimes there might be a lone word that fits the blank perfectly but has no synonym, in which case it cannot be part of the correct answer. You can practice identifying these patterns with an adaptive GRE practice test.