All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #123 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The repetitive task required the workers to __________ over the same procedures all day, every day, without any alteration.
obsess
operate
iterate
labor
struggle
iterate
The key here is the fact that the workers do the same procedures repetitively. Hence, the best choice is “iterate.” This word is derived from Latin roots that mean again or to repeat.
Example Question #1491 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The two connected, parallel processes needed to be strictly __________ so they would not deviate from their precisely related operations.
engineered
modified
observed
synchronized
monitored
synchronized
Since the two processes are parallel and “precisely related,” they have to run with exactly the same timing; therefore, while many of the options are tempting, “synchronized” is the best.
This is derived from two familiar Greek words. “Syn” means together or with. It has many English derivatives like “synoptic”—seeing (=optic) together or in the same manner—and symphony. (The latter has also –phony, which comes from the Greek for “sound” and is found in words like “cacophony” and “telephone”). The “-chronized” portion of our word comes from the Greek for “time” and is reflected in words like “chronology” and “chronometer.”
Example Question #682 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After expending fifteen cans of polish, the young man finally felt he had done what he could to __________ the dull old sousaphone.
burnish
repair
rectify
improve
ameliorate
burnish
The key meaning for our term is that the young man had finished giving a shine to the instrument. Hence, he had burnished it by thus polishing it.
Example Question #451 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The insurgents __________ all of the governmental power, replacing all the members of the legislature, judiciary, and executive branches with men of their own part.
destroyed
conquered
overthrew
usurped
decimated
usurped
The key thing to note is that the insurgents not only overthrew the government but that they also replaced those in power. This means that they “usurped” it, a word that implies the taking over of a position or institution by force (not merely removing it from power, regardless of the new state after the overthrow). The word is distantly related to the base of many words regarding “use,” such as “utilize” and “peruse.”
Example Question #684 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Oswald’s future allegiance to the neighboring realm was __________ on the latter’s continued deliveries of spices to his trading ports.
respected
decided
considered
recalled
conditioned
conditioned
The implication of the sentence is that Oswald would retain the alliance so long as the neighboring realm continued its deliveries. Such an alliance has conditions set for its continuance. Hence, one can call it “conditional” or (here) “conditioned” (e.g. if they continue deliveries, then he will remain an ally).
Example Question #131 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the three companies were often in fierce competition, the upcoming bid was of such a nature that they could only attempt to make an offer if they agreed to pool their resources and __________ in fulfilling the various aspects of the proposed project.
collaborate
ally
agree
contract
underbid
collaborate
The three companies needed to work together, and while this might seem to be an alliance or agreement, it is best described as a case of “collaboration.” The word is derived from Latin roots meaning to work. Related words would be “labor,” “laborious,” and “elaborate.”
The “col-” is derived from the Latin preposition “cum,” which becomes “col-” for phonetic reasons. The preposition means “with,” so in this sentence, “collaborate” means to work with or to work together.
Example Question #452 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Out of pure spite for his shift supervisor, Vernon would daily add lead to the steel mixture in order to __________ the batch of steel, making it fail its purity inspections.
sabotage
ruin
mar
adulterate
destroy
adulterate
We tend to think of the word “adulterate” as though it were directly linked to “adultery.” While the latter does imply impurity, this usage is secondary to the sense of making impure, which is the primary meaning of the word’s Latin root; therefore, to “adulterate” is to make impure, which is the case with what Vernon is doing to the steel.
Example Question #687 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After thirteen years of resisting Patricia’s hints about possible marriage, John finally __________ to her desires and proposed to marry her.
reacted
responded
scaled
capitulated
seized
capitulated
The key thing to note is that John finally “gives in.” The word “capitulate” comes from early French words that are ultimately related to the Latin for head, because legal documents for ending a conflict (giving in) would be arranged under headings.
Example Question #132 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After presenting a number of defensive responses to his critic, the speaker surprisingly __________ several points as accurately noting shortcomings in his work.
tolerated
endured
conceded
overlooked
ignored
conceded
When one concedes something, he or she recognizes that it a disputed point, once held, was indeed wrong. Here, the speaker’s concession is implied by the surprising nature of the concession (after defensive responses). The word is related to other words with “-cess-,” “-cede-,” and “-ceed” in them, derived from a Latin root meaning “to yield or depart,” such as “success,” “succeed,” “proceed,” and “precede.”
Example Question #133 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since the injury would not stop bleeding, the medical crew made it their first priority to work on forcing the blood to __________ and stop the rather watery flow.
compress
bind
coagulate
terminate
cease
coagulate
The contrast between the needed word and “watery flow” indicates that “coagulate” is the best choice. This word means to become more solid (from being liquid) and is often applied to blood and its process of clotting, though it does have a more general meaning. Although the word has close roots in the Latin for “curdling” (certainly a thickening process), it more literally means “to drive together” in the sense of pulling together the particles into a more solid formation. The “drive” portion is found in the “-ag-” of the word, which is related to words like “agent,” “agenda,” “act,” and many, many other English words. The prefix “co-” means “with,” as in “coworker.”