Question

Although well built and well kept, the little brick house seemed (i) _________________ compared to the ornate, almost (ii) _______________ new house beside it. a. impressive b. dilapidated c. desirable d. translucent e. diminutive f. ostentatious

Short answer

diminutive, ostentatious

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Sentence Structure

Identify the structure of the sentence and understand the relationship between the phrases. The little brick house is being compared to the new house beside it.

- Determine the Context

Determine that 'well built and well kept' suggests that the little brick house is in good condition but is being compared unfavorably to the more elaborate new house.

- Focus on the First Blank

The first blank should contrast the well-kept brick house with the more elaborate new house. Choices are: a. impressive, b. dilapidated, e. diminutive. The best fit here is 'diminutive' because it suggests something smaller and less grand in comparison.

- Focus on the Second Blank

The second blank must describe the new house with a word that suggests it is more elaborate. Choices are: c. desirable, d. translucent, f. ostentatious. The right choice is 'ostentatious', which means showy or flamboyant, fitting the context.

- Confirm with Sentence Review

Verify the choices by reading the complete sentence with the selected words: 'Although well built and well kept, the little brick house seemed (i) diminutive compared to the ornate, almost (ii) ostentatious new house beside it.' This fits the context perfectly.

Key concepts

sentence completion

Sentence completion questions on the GRE verbal reasoning section are designed to test your ability to understand and interpret the context, as well as your command of vocabulary. These questions often contain blank spaces where you need to fill in the most appropriate word(s). To tackle these questions effectively, follow these steps:

• Read the sentence carefully to understand its general meaning.
• Identify any clues that hint at the right answer, such as relationships between words or ideas.
• Predict what type of word(s) would logically fit into the blanks.
• Eliminate options that don't make sense or change the meaning of the sentence.

This process involves not just filling in the blanks but ensuring that the sentence coherently represents the intended message. The original exercise, for instance, asked us to find words that match the context of the little brick house being compared to a more elaborate new house next to it.

vocabulary

A strong vocabulary is crucial for success on GRE verbal reasoning questions. Knowing the meanings of a wide range of words helps you select the most appropriate words to complete sentences correctly. Some steps to improve your vocabulary are:

• Read widely from diverse sources such as books, articles, and scholarly journals.
• Keep a list of new words you encounter and review them regularly.
• Use flashcards or apps designed for vocabulary building.
• Write sentences using the new words to better understand their connotations and usage.

In the exercise provided, two words from the vocabulary choices fit best: 'diminutive' (meaning small) and 'ostentatious' (meaning showy). Knowing the precise meanings of these words helps understand why they are the correct choices for the sentence.

context clues

Context clues are hints within the sentence that help you determine the meaning of unknown words or phrases, as well as the most appropriate words to fill in blanks. These clues can come in the form of:

• Definitions or restatements within the sentence.
• Synonyms or antonyms that offer similar or opposing meanings.
• Examples that illustrate a point.
• General sense of the sentence, which provides a theme or main idea.

In our original exercise, context clues help us understand that the little brick house, although well-built and well-kept, is 'dwarfed' by the nearby ornate house. Words like 'ornate' and the description of the new house guide us towards choosing 'diminutive' and 'ostentatious'.

comparison

Comparison questions in the GRE verbal section require recognizing how two or more items are similar or different. These comparisons can help isolate the right choices for sentence completion. Consider the following tips:

• Note the key characteristics of each item being compared.
• Identify any adjectives or descriptive phrases that highlight similarities or differences.
• Look for words or phrases that indicate comparison, like 'more than', 'less than', 'similar to', 'unlike', etc.

In the provided exercise, the little brick house is directly compared to a more elaborate house, emphasizing the disparity between them. This guides the choice of 'diminutive' to highlight its smaller, less grand nature in contrast with the 'ostentatious' larger house next door.