All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #421 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The informant __________ a number of political secrets to the media.
murmured
mentioned
whispered
divulged
communicated
divulged
The key phrases for this sentence is “political secrets.” The informant is not merely communicating to his listener. Even worse than that, he is giving out things that should be secret. Such an act is one of “divulging.” The word comes from the Latin root for “vulgar,” a word that originally meant the common people. When someone divulges something, he or she makes it known “to the masses” or “commonly” (as opposed to keeping it secret as was the case before the divulging).
Example Question #511 : Sentence Completions
As the snake charmer played his melody, the snake in the basket rose up into the air, __________ back and forth in graceful waves.
bumbling
sneaking
undulating
jolting
stumbling
undulating
We can infer from the sentence's context that we need to pick out a verb that describes something moving "back and forth in graceful waves." While "jolting" and "stumbling" might each refer to movement, the movements they describe are too jarring to be called "graceful waves." (Plus, a snake can't really "stumble" because snakes don't have legs.) "Undulating," however, is a verb that means "moving with a smooth wavelike motion," and because it best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.
Example Question #422 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In order to __________ the consumption of sugary beverages, the city placed a large tax on all such items in the hopes of dissuading buyers from purchasing them.
curtail
destroy
undermine
impoverish
criminalize
curtail
The key phrase is “in the hopes of dissuading buyers from purchasing.” Since the city wishes to reduce purchasing, it is safe to think that it wishes likewise to reduce consumption. When something is “curtailed” it is reduced or restricted.
Example Question #423 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
As soon as the defendant's lawyer heard about the ruling against his client, he prepared to __________ the decision and argue that the court had ruled against an innocent man.
contest
defer
refer
support
mangle
contest
We can infer that because the sentence discusses "the defendant's lawyer" who learns of "the ruling against his client" and prepares to "argue that the court had ruled against an innocent man," we need to pick out a verb that means something like "oppose," because we can see that the lawyer prepared to oppose the court's ruling against his client. "Support," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "support," when used as a verb, can mean "give approval, comfort, or encouragement to," making it an antonym of the verb for which we are looking. "Contest," however, is a word that when used as a verb, can mean "oppose (an action, decision, or theory) as mistaken or wrong" or "engage in dispute about." Because "contest" is the answer choice that best conveys how the lawyer prepared to oppose the court's decision, "contest" is the correct answer.
Example Question #424 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The coin that George threw into the wishing well __________ against the metal sides of the well before splashing into the water.
plinked
chortled
squawked
thudded
neighed
plinked
We can infer that we need to pick out a verb that can describe a coin bouncing off of "the metal sides of the well." "Thudded" might look like a potentially correct answer, but "thud" as a verb means "move, fall, or strike something with a dull, heavy sound," and because a coin would not make "a dull, heavy sound," "thudded" cannot be the correct answer. "Plink," however, is a word that when used as a verb, means "emit a short, sharp, metallic or ringing sound," and because "plink" best describes the noise a coin would make when bouncing off of the metal sides of a well, "plinked" is the correct answer.
Example Question #425 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In order to enter the monastery, the man __________ his influential work in order to embrace a much simpler and detached life.
despised
reduced
overcame
forsook
curtailed
forsook
The only thing implied by the sentence is that the man “turned away from” his influential work to the simpler form of life. It cannot be said that he necessarily despised it, and any talk of reduction does not capture the sense of “converting” from one lifestyle to another. The word “forsook” is the past form of “forsake,” meaning “to abandon.” This is the closest option for matching the sense of turning from one life to another.
Example Question #426 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
One of the perks of the magazine editor's job was that she had all monthly fees related to her subscription __________ and received a free copy each month.
increased
managed
waived
tallied
decreased
waived
We can infer that because the editor "received a free copy" of the magazine "each month," that she paid no fees for her subscription, and that it was free. So, we need to pick out a word that means something like "ignored" or "canceled." While "decreased" may look like a potentially correct answer, "decreased" would imply that the fees' sum went down, but that there was still some remaining balance to be paid. "Waived," a verb that means "to officially say that you will not use or require something that you are allowed to have or that is usually required," is the best answer choice because it implies that the magazine editor paid no fees whatsoever. So, because "waived" best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.
Example Question #427 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The king's advisors all __________ over him, hoping that that they could flatter and compliment their way to a more powerful or lucrative position at court.
trod
wilted
fawned
presumed
begged
fawned
Because we know that the king's advisors constantly praised and flattered him in the interest of gaining "more powerful or lucrative position[s] at court," we need to pick out an adjective for the blank that means something like "flattered." While "begged" may look like a potentially correct answer, the advisors are not overtly begging for better positions, and one does not "beg over" someone—that's not grammatically correct. "Fawned," on the other hand, when used as a verb describing a person's actions, means "gave a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection, typically in order to gain favor or advantage." Because "fawned" best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.
Example Question #428 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young electrician was quite aware of his lack of experience and therefore __________ to the master electrician for exact instructions on how to undertake the complicated project.
rushed
deferred
approached
returned
questioned
deferred
The trap word among the answers is “questioned,” but do not be fooled by it. The young electrician is totally turning to the master for advice. When someone admits his or her own lack of ability and the need to have someone else provide for it, that person is said to “defer” to the other. Someone who is respectful of superiors is often said to have a “deferential” personality. The word “defer” has another meaning, namely, “to put off to a later time,” but that is not appropriate here.
Example Question #429 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Security forces __________ off the plaza in order to prevent any civilians from entering the scene of the gruesome crime.
ran
evicted
dashed
hurled
cordoned
cordoned
The important thing to note in this sentence is that the security forces are trying to prevent civilians from entering the area. They are not expulsing them from the area; therefore, the best option is “cordoned,” which means “to prevent access,” generally by means of guards or some kind of security personnel. The word is related to “cord,” so you can remember it by thinking of a cord being placed around the perimeter of an area to prevent entry.
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