PSAT Critical Reading : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #725 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The new law was an effort to __________ certain hunting practices, but many outdoorsman believe the new prohibitions could not be enforced.
undermine
enable
unencumber
proscribe
promote
proscribe
The law’s effort, as mentioned in the second part of the sentence, is to prohibit certain actions. Of the given answer choices, only “proscribe” is a synonym for prohibit.
Example Question #501 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The professor’s lectures had a tendency to __________, often taking on topics that bore little relation to his initial subject.
meander
narrow
finesse
pontificate
pinpoint
meander
The professor’s habit of discussing topics not related to his subject shows he wanders around various topics. Of the answer choices, only “meander” is a synonym for wander.
Example Question #502 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
While her grandchildren often used their cell phones at the table, she __________ such behavior.
abhorred
approved
ignored
celebrated
enjoyed
abhorred
The structure of the sentence indicates that the grandmother did not like her grandchildren's behavior. Look for an answer that means dislike or even hate. Of the answer choices, only "abhorred" has the appropriate meaning.
Example Question #503 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The nonprofit's work focused on ___________ people in emerging democracies, but questions remained about its effectiveness.
nullifying
suppressing
harming
negating
enfranchising
enfranchising
The best clue for the answer lies in the word "democracies," as "enfranchising" means enabling voting rights. Another clue is the fact that the other four answer choices all indicate some sense of hurting people; identifying synonyms among answer choices is a good way to eliminate some choices.
Example Question #504 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Not wanting to see a rival succeed, he sought to __________ every promotion opportunity she received.
ensure
hamper
complement
assist
enable
hamper
The key word in the sentence is "rival." With rival in mind, look for a word that would indicate a sense of harm or impairment. Of the answer choices, only "hamper" has the appropriate meaning.
Example Question #1551 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her lifelong love of cars began with a trip to an automotive museum as a young girl, which __________ her passion at a young age.
hampered
tempered
kindled
slowed
repulsed
kindled
The museum trip started and encouraged her love of cars. "Kindled," literally meaning started a fire, but here used metaphorically to mean ignited an interest, is the only answer choice that appropriately completes the sentence.
Example Question #2021 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The gunman would not __________ to the policeman's demands to step out of his car, so he was forced to tase him.
acquiesce
spurn
husband
vindicate
concur
acquiesce
The sentence tells us that the police had to tase the gunman, from which we can infer that he didn't cooperate. Because the omitted word is preceded by "not," the proper choice should be something similar in meaning to "cooperate." "Acquiesce" means accept, consent or give in, so "acquiesce" best fits the context of the sentence and is the correct answer.
Example Question #511 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The city councilman __________ the virtues of building a waterfront business park to attract companies to their city, but he was generally opposed because the boardwalk currently located there was very popular.
caucusing
obliterated
deliberated
extricated
espoused
espoused
"Espouse" means support, promote or advocate. It is clear that this is what the city councilman was doing, as the opposite involved people opposing the waterfront business park.
Example Question #512 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The activists, hoping to generate popular support, __________ their pamphlets throughout the community.
obfuscated
dismembered
disseminated
concealed
dissembled
disseminated
"Disseminate" means spread widely. Activists, intent on building popular support, would likely wish to spread their message widely throughout a community.
Example Question #513 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Benjamin __________ about his new girlfriend; his excessive enthusiasm was grating.
rhapsodized
objurgated
downplayed
complained
quibbled
rhapsodized
"Rhapsodized" means engaged in excessive and enthusiastic praise of someone or something. The speaker finds this excessive enthusiasm quite annoying.
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