PSAT Critical Reading : Nouns in One-Blank Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #273 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
__________ can be a desirable trait in poetry if the author wants his or her piece to have more than one possible interpretation.
Stealth
Premonition
Ambiguity
Foreshadowing
Opulence
Ambiguity
Since "ambiguity" is the opposite of clarity, an ambiguous poem is one that could have more than one interpretation.
Example Question #261 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The jurors were awed by the assailant’s coldness; he completly lacked __________ for the family members of those he murdered.
candor
ingratitude
misery
empathy
indulgence
empathy
"Coldness," in an emotional sense, is synonymous with a lack of empathy, pity, or compassion.
Example Question #262 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
James was a bit of a(n) __________ on the team, as everyone else seemed to enjoy socializing after games, whereas he preferred going home to be alone.
foible
anomaly
player
dissonance
confluence
anomaly
An "anomaly" is something that varies from the norm, such as staying home while everyone else hangs out together.
Example Question #263 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The children loved spending time with their grandfather, whose favorite __________ was "Always make time to stop and smell the roses."
maxim
distraction
gargantuan
retribution
scintilla
maxim
A "maxim" is a common saying of advice or virtue, such as "stop and smell the roses," which means that it's always a good idea to enjoy the little things in life.
Example Question #264 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Few of the artist’s works examine the __________ of men and women; he prefers to depict their ugliness.
malformation
sobriety
pulchritude
frivolity
hideousness
pulchritude
"Pulchritude" means physical beauty. An artist who prefers to depict ugliness would not depict physical beauty.
Example Question #265 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The model’s once atypical beauty eventually became the __________ by which all subsequent models were judged.
substandard
unoriginal
quandary
moderate
paradigm
paradigm
"Paradigm" means that which serves as a pattern or model. The model's once uncommon beauty eventually became the standard by which the beauty of other models was determined.
Example Question #266 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Because of her incomparable __________, the wicked stepmother easily tricked her new husband in the fairy tale.
sincerity
frankness
guile
naivety
artlessness
guile
"Guile" means deceitful and cunning behavior. A wicked stepmother tricking her husband, like those found in old fairy tales, would certainly brim with guile.
Example Question #267 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His direct and somewhat offensive speech ably demonstrated a complete lack of __________.
bluntness
nuance
obviousness
forcefulness
boorishness
nuance
The man's direct, offensive speech is placed in contrast with the correct answer choice. Look for the word that is the best antonym for "direct" or "offensive." "Nuance," indicating subtlety or a fine meaning, is the closest antonym among the answer choices.
Example Question #268 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The professor suspected ____________ when the student's rewritten essay was much better than his previous efforts.
tolerance
plagiarism
authenticity
abhorrence
brilliance
plagiarism
The most important aspect of this sentence is the professor's suspicion of the student's essay. The correct answer needed to convert some sense of wrongdoing. "Plagiarism," the taking of credit for someone else's writing or work, is the only answer choice with such a sense.
Example Question #269 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The developer's new software garnered a great deal of __________ for the previously unknown young programmer.
hatred
jealousy
ignominy
renown
infamy
renown
This question is an example of finding the best fit among the answer choices, not just a word that makes sense in the sentence, which all the answer choices do. The inclusion of "previously unknown" in the sentence indicate that the correct answer has some meaning of fame for achievements, which is the definition of "renown."
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