GRE Text Completion:Tips and Techniques

The GRE Text Completion sentence usually has two parts separated by a punctuation: Comma (,), Semi-colon (;), Colon (:) or Dash (-).

Generally, the non-blank part has the important key words, ideas or phrases. You must note them.

The blank,in the other part, is nothing but the essential key word, idea or phrase, which is missing.

The two parts are connected with a LINK, which shows the relation between the two sets of key words, ideas or phrases.

There are two types of LINKS (connecting words): LINKS connecting two similar key words or ideas, and LINKS connecting two opposite key words or ideas.

Set-i. If, As, Since, Because, And, Hence, So, Therefore, and That

These links imply that the two parts of the sentence are directly related: one explains the other; one is the cause, and the other is the effect; one is the condition for the other to follow or happen.

You should choose an option that is a synonym of or that syncs with the key ideas in the non-blank parts if the two parts of the sentence are connected by the first set of keywords.

Set-ii. But,Yet, However, In contrast, On the other hand, Despite, Although and Though In spite of, Nonetheless, Nevertheless

These links imply that the key words or phrases of one part are contradictory to those in the other part.

You should choose an antonym of the key words or phrases if the two parts of the sentence are connected by one of the LINKS in the Second Set.

If one is a positive idea, then the other will be negative; if one is about past, then the other will be about present or future.

Some sort of contrast exists between the two sets of key words or phrasesthat lie in the two parts.

Note:Fill in the blanks with your chosen option and read the sentence. If you have chosen the best option, then the sentence should make sense.

Courtesy: ETS Official Guide Text Completion Samples

Now let us apply the above techniques to the following questions.

 

1. Dominant interests often benefit most from _________ of governmental interference in business, since they are able to take care of themselves if left alone.

A) intensification

B) authorization

C) centralization

D) improvisation

E) elimination

Explanation:

A comma divides the above sentence in to two parts.

The first part has the blank; hence, we call it the blank part

The keywords or key phrases in the non-blank part are: 'take care of themselves' and 'if left alone'.

The keywords or key phrases in the blank part are: 'Dominant interests', 'benefit' and 'governmental interference in business'.

The LINK is 'Since', which gives a reason-"they take care of themselves if left alone"-

This reason cannot be jusified in the case of intensification, authorization, centralization or improvisation of governmental interference in business.

However,this reason can be jusified in the case of "elimination of governmental interference in business they benefit".

Hence, Option E is the Right Answer

2. It comes as no surprise that societies have codes of behavior; the character of the codes, on the other hand, can often be _________ .

A) predictable

B) unexpected

C) admirable

D) explicit

E) confusing

Explanation:

The key phrases in the non-blank part are: 'It comes as no surprise' and 'societies have codes of behavior'. The key phrases in the blank part is: 'character of the codes'.

The LINK is 'on the other hand', which contrasts the central idea of the first part.The tone of the key phrases of the first part is positive.

Hence, all the non-negative options-admirable, predictable, and explicit are eliminated.

This reason cannot be jusified in the case of intensification,authorization, centralization or improvisation of governmental interference in business.

However,This reason can be jusified in the case of "elimination of governmental interference in business they benefit".

Hence, Option E is the Right Answer

3. It is (i)_________ that so many portrait paintings hang in art museums, since the subject matter seems to dictate a status closer to pictures in the family photo graph album than to high art. But perhaps it is the artistic skill with which the portraits are painted that (ii)_________ their presence in art museums.

  Blank                     Blank

  (i)                               (ii)

(A)surprising ...        ...(D)challenges

(B)understandable ...(E)justifies

(C)irrelevant.....     .....(F)changes

4. In stark contrast to his later (i)_________, Simpson was largely (ii)_________ politics during his college years, despite the fact that the campus he attended was rife with political activity.

  Blank                  Blank

(i)                              (ii)

(A)activism ....  ...(D)devoted to

(B)apathy ....  .... (E)indifferent to

(C)affability ...  ...(F)shaped by

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