GRE Sample Test 1 Verbal Reasoning 1

The first blank has a strong clue, so begin there. The blank is describing the professor…as a teacher and gives further insight that she shows more…teaching skills than her colleagues. The transition word and indicates that there is consistency between her description as a noteworthy intellect and her skills as a teacher. Therefore, a good word for the first blank is “skills.” Choice (A), prowess, is a good match for “skills” so keep (A). Choice (B), profligacy, means reckless extravagance and (C), orthodoxies, means beliefs. Eliminate (B) and (C). The second blank is describing the professor’s colleagues…teaching skills. The sentence gives further insight by stating that the professor shows more skills than her colleagues.
Therefore, a good word for the blank is “unskilled” or “not good.” Choice (D), spurious, means fake which is not a match for “unskilled” so eliminate (D). Choice (E), maladroit, is a good match for the blank, so keep (E). Choice (F), eclectic, means from different sources, so eliminate (F). The correct answer is (A) and (E).