GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Test sample questions

These starter questions help you launch a english mock test quickly. Swap them with your own worksheet, notebook, or textbook questions any time.

1. The scientist's findings were __ by subsequent research, confirming her original hypothesis.
A) undermined  B) corroborated  C) dismissed  D) complicated
2. Despite his __ manner in public, those who knew him well found him surprisingly warm and generous.
A) reticent  B) gregarious  C) ostentatious  D) benevolent
3. Select the two words that give the sentence the same meaning: "The professor's lecture was so __ that several students fell asleep."
A) soporific  B) invigorating  C) tedious  D) stimulating  E) monotonous  F) engaging
4. The evidence __ a clear causal link; correlation does not imply causation.
A) establishes  B) precludes  C) demands  D) suggests
5. Her argument was __ by the strength of the counterevidence, yet she refused to revise her position.
A) supported  B) irrelevant  C) undermined  D) clarified
6. Although initially considered __, the theory eventually gained wide acceptance among researchers.
A) credible  B) heterodox  C) conventional  D) empirical
7. Select the two words that give the sentence the same meaning: "The new regulation was seen as __ by the business community, who feared it would restrict growth."
A) onerous  B) beneficial  C) burdensome  D) advantageous  E) ambiguous  F) superfluous
8. The diplomat's __ approach helped resolve a conflict that had seemed intractable for years.
A) confrontational  B) conciliatory  C) indifferent  D) erratic
9. The report's conclusions were __ at best — the authors lacked sufficient data to make the sweeping claims they advanced.
A) definitive  B) tentative  C) provocative  D) comprehensive
10. Despite the novel's __ reception upon publication, it is now regarded as a masterpiece of 20th-century literature.
A) enthusiastic  B) lukewarm  C) hostile  D) mixed
11. The researcher's work was characterised by __ attention to detail and a refusal to accept easy explanations.
A) superficial  B) meticulous  C) intermittent  D) perfunctory
12. Select the two words that give the sentence the same meaning: "The committee's decision was __ by the chair, who argued it violated established procedure."
A) endorsed  B) rescinded  C) annulled  D) praised  E) postponed  F) applauded
13. The author's prose style is notable for its __ — dense with allusion and metaphor yet remaining accessible to the general reader.
A) obscurity  B) complexity  C) lucidity  D) succinctness
14. The new evidence did not __ the original verdict but introduced enough doubt to warrant a retrial.
A) overturn  B) corroborate  C) exonerate  D) confirm
15. Her __ demeanour during the negotiations masked a fierce determination to secure the best possible outcome.
A) assertive  B) placid  C) impassive  D) volatile