Question

His explosive, rude remarks convinced many that he was (i) ______________ and of (ii) ________________ character, suddenly making his future as a politician seem (iii) ________________ . a. indifferent b. charming c. volatile d. courageous e. virtuous f. ignoble g. guaranteed h. precarious i facetious

Short answer

volatile, ignoble, precarious

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the context

His explosive, rude remarks indicate negative traits. These remarks convinced people of certain characteristics about him and affected his future as a politician.

Identify the correct words for i

The first blank should describe someone who makes 'explosive, rude remarks.' From the options, 'volatile' (c) means unpredictable or prone to outbursts, which fits perfectly.

Identify the correct words for ii

The second blank should align with the characteristics inferred from 'explosive, rude remarks.' The word 'ignoble' (f), meaning dishonorable or of low character, fits well.

Identify the correct words for iii

Finally, the third blank addresses the impact on his future as a politician. Given the negative nature of his remarks, his future would seem uncertain or shaky, thus 'precarious' (h) is the best fit.

Key concepts

contextual vocabulary

Contextual vocabulary refers to understanding and using words based on the context in which they appear. In the GRE Verbal Reasoning section, it is vital to determine the meaning of words from the surrounding text. For example, in the sentence provided, 'His explosive, rude remarks convinced many that he was (i) ______________ and of (ii) ________________ character, suddenly making his future as a politician seem (iii) ________________,' the words 'explosive' and 'rude' help us infer that the character traits and future of the individual are negative. This context helps us choose 'volatile' for blank (i), 'ignoble' for blank (ii), and 'precarious' for blank (iii). By improving your understanding of contextual vocabulary, you can better interpret and employ words within various contexts on the GRE exam.

sentence completion

Sentence completion tests your ability to understand the structure and meaning of a sentence, filling in the blanks with the most appropriate words. The process involves:
1. Reading the sentence carefully to grasp the overall meaning and tone.
2. Identifying key words or phrases that hint at the missing words.
3. Considering the logical flow and coherence of the sentence.
In the given sentence, 'His explosive, rude remarks' indicate strong negative emotions, leading us to select 'volatile' and 'ignoble' to describe the person and 'precarious' to describe his political future. Practicing sentence completion exercises helps enhance your vocabulary and ensures that you can quickly identify the right words to maintain the intended meaning of the sentences on the GRE Verbal Reasoning section.

critical thinking

Critical thinking is crucial for solving GRE Verbal Reasoning questions. It involves analyzing and evaluating information to draw a logical conclusion. Let's break it down:
- **Analyze**: Understand the context by breaking down the sentence's components. Note that 'explosive, rude remarks' suggest negative traits.
- **Evaluate**: Assess word choices. 'Volatile' (unpredictable, prone to outbursts) fits the description given his remarks. 'Ignoble' (dishonorable or low character) aligns with 'rude', and 'precarious' (uncertain or unstable) correlates with a now uncertain political future.
- **Conclude**: Make an informed choice based on your analysis and evaluation.
Strengthening your critical thinking skills helps you effectively tackle complex problems, make reasoned decisions quickly, and deeply understand the content, which is especially beneficial for succeeding in the GRE Verbal Reasoning section.