PSAT Critical Reading : Nouns in One-Blank Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading
All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #251 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The chef had an _________ to Asian cuisine, and refused to consider any jobs at Japanese restaurants.
auspiciousness
adaptibility
affinity
epiphany
aversion
aversion
The sentence makes it clear that the chef does not like Japanese restaurants, therefore he clearly has a problem with Asian cuisine. Of the available answer choices, only aversion gives the correct meaning.
Example Question #252 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The professor used a series of __________ in his education class in order to illustrate some difficulties young teachers face with students.
lexicons
superlatives
outputs
vignettes
veneers
vignettes
"Vignettes" (short sketeches) is the only answer that provides an illustration (either via words or otherwise) from which students can learn. "Veneers" is entirely unrelated, as "verneers" means a surface coating or surface appearance that doesn't accurately characterize the whole; "superlatives" may be used in speech, but they do not alone illustrate potential difficulties; and "lexicons" are also related to words, but again, they do not illustrate difficulties.
Example Question #253 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The cleric’s __________ was off-putting; everyone could see he was only pretending to believe.
sincerity
scrupulousness
genuineness
naivete
hypocrisy
hypocrisy
"Hypocrisy" means affectation or false pretense of behaving in a good way. Naturally, a religious man or woman's affected belief would be unsettling.
Example Question #254 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Punk music fans seem to enjoy it when their musicians scream __________ at them; they relish being cursed.
sweetly
ingratiatingly
maledictions
blessings
dulcetly
maledictions
"Maledictions" are curses. A punk musician who screams maledictions at his fans is cursing them.
Example Question #255 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The punk musician’s __________ ingratiated him to his fans; they loved his rudeness.
sincerity
insolence
empathy
consideration
nonchalance
insolence
"Insolence" means rudeness and arrogance, while "ingratiate" means make someone else see you positively. A performer whose fans love rudeness would bring himself into their good graces by being arrogant and rude.
Example Question #436 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The chess player found himself in a serious __________ when he lost his most powerful piece early in the game.
quandary
provocation
caprice
passivity
lexicon
quandary
"Quandary" means difficulty or problematic situation. A chess player would be in a difficult situation if he or she lost his or her most powerful piece early on in a game.
Example Question #256 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The aging professor believed his speeches on immigration laws gave his students a unique perspective, but they mostly viewed him as an out-of-touch __________.
testament
champion
amusement
hero
bigot
bigot
The students view their professor as out of touch, indicating that he is perceived in a negative light. Four of the possible answer choices are very positive. Only "bigot" is sufficiently negative.
Example Question #257 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The estate owner was well known for being stingy, and some of his contractors were still seeking __________ years after they had completed their work.
remuneration
solace
totality
access
comfort
remuneration
Upon looking at the answer choices, the word that should stick out in the sentence is "stingy," which means being tight with money; therefore, find the answer choice that is related to money or payment. "Remuneration," which specifically means payment for work, is the only choice with such a starkly financial meaning.
Example Question #253 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even though he was the least talented member of the team, the coach always started the midfielder as a __________ to assist the team's fortunes.
poison
talisman
hindrance
burden
functionary
talisman
Remember that the correct answer choice is the best choice, not just an answer that can make sense in the sentence. Here, all the choices can make sense, but only "talisman," meaning a kind of lucky charm, fits best with the notion that the coach is assisting his team's fortunes.
Example Question #258 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
This year’s presidential address was criticized for its dry __________ since it iterated the same political notions over and over.
monotonous
paganism
redundancy
reminiscence
banter
redundancy
"Redundancy" means repetition or reiteration of the same ideas.
All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
