12 GRE General practice questions on Sentence Equivalence, part of Verbal Reasoning. Below are 12 of them in full, each with the answer and a written explanation.
In two-blank questions, the correct pair must both fit the context. Often one word is a perfect synonym for the correct answer, but the other is a near-synonym that doesn't quite work. For example, if the blank requires a word meaning 'harsh criticism', 'censure' and 'rebuke' might both work, but 'critique' is too mild. Test each word in the sentence to ensure both make sense.
When you see words like 'but', 'however', 'yet', 'paradoxically', 'despite', 'although', the blank must contrast with the other part of the sentence. For example, if the sentence says 'The plan was simple, but the execution was ______', the blank must be the opposite of 'simple', such as 'complex' or 'difficult'. Always look for the pivot word and determine the relationship.
Sometimes the sentence restates the blank in other words. For example, 'The professor was known for his ______, often explaining complex ideas in simple terms.' The phrase 'explaining complex ideas in simple terms' defines the blank as 'clarity' or 'lucidity'. Look for appositives, parentheticals, or explanatory phrases that define the blank.
Some blanks require a specific intensity level. For example, 'The storm caused ______ damage' might need 'catastrophic' rather than 'significant'. Pay attention to modifiers like 'very', 'extremely', 'slightly', or the overall tone. If the sentence is dramatic, choose stronger words; if understated, choose milder ones.
When choosing between near-synonyms, check connotation (positive, negative, neutral). For example, 'thrifty' (positive) vs 'stingy' (negative). True synonyms share the same connotation. If the question requires connotation-neutral, eliminate charged words.
To find synonyms, consider the antonym of each word. If two words share a common antonym, they are likely synonyms. For example, 'ephemeral' and 'transient' both have the antonym 'permanent'. This technique helps avoid false friends and near-synonyms.
Some words have multiple meanings (polysemous). For example, 'disinterested' can mean 'unbiased' or 'uninterested'. Only one meaning may match the synonym. Identify the relevant sense and verify the pair matches in that sense.
Ensure both words are the same part of speech. For example, 'ameliorate' (verb) and 'improvement' (noun) are not synonyms. Convert to the same form if needed. This trap is common in GRE synonym pairs.
When you see a contrast signal, the blank is opposite to something else in the sentence. Identify that something, then choose two answer choices that are its antonyms.
When you see a definitional clue, find the word that explains the blank. Then pick two answer choices that mean the same thing as that clue.
Read the sentence carefully to understand its tone. Then choose the two words that not only make sense but also feel right in that context.
Identify the cause in the sentence. The blank is the result. Choose two answer choices that logically follow from that cause.
This page shows 12 of 12 questions on this topic. The full set, with progress tracking and five agent perspectives per question, is in the JupiteX app — browse the exam catalogue or browse the Learn library.