PSAT Critical Reading : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #761 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

After three years of extreme inflation, the price of potatoes had increased _________.

Possible Answers:

moderately

regularly

astronomically

surprisingly

astonishingly

Correct answer:

astronomically

Explanation:

The key expression “extreme inflation” indicates that the prices greatly increased. “Inflation” occurs when the money supply increases, causing prices to shift upward. The adjective “astronomically” most properly means “relating to the stars” (as in “astrology” or “astronomy”). It can likewise be used in a metaphoric sense to mean “going as high as the stars” or “in a great amount.”

Example Question #92 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Jason's professor liked his creative writing piece, but thought that it was too full of __________ sayings like "the early bird gets the worm" that detracted from the work because of how overused the sayings were.

Possible Answers:

trite

necessary

pardonable

authentic

novel

Correct answer:

trite

Explanation:

We can infer that because Jason's creative writing piece was full of overused sayings, we need to pick out a word that means something like "overused" to describe those sayings. Neither "authentic" nor "novel" will do, because each of those words is an antonym to "overused." "Trite" is an adjective that is used of a remark, opinion, or idea and means "overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness," and because it is the answer choice that best suits the sentence's context, "trite" is the correct answer.

Example Question #93 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

They worried that he had injured himself when they found him lying __________ on the floor, but when he saw he had company he quickly got up from his flat, face-down position and explained that he was just trying to find the contact lens he had dropped on the carpet.

Possible Answers:

weak

prone

asleep

awkward

meticulously

Correct answer:

prone

Explanation:

From the sentence's context, we can tell that we need to pick out an adjective that can describe a position of someone who is "face-down," "flat," and "on the floor." Neither "asleep" nor "weak" works given that the sentence's subject "quickly [gets] up" when he sees he has company. "Prone," an adjective that can mean "lying flat, especially face downward," is the best answer choice because it is best suited to the sentence's context.

Example Question #94 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

The scientists spent over an hour cleaning up their lab at the end of every workday to ensure that their environment remained __________, so no bacteria or microorganisms would contaminate their samples and experiments.

Possible Answers:

neurotic

sterile

productive

unprepared

dirty

Correct answer:

sterile

Explanation:

We can infer from the sentence's context that we need to pick out an adjective that can describe an area that is free of bacteria and microorganisms. "Dirty" cannot be the correct answer because it is an antonym of "free of bacteria and microorganisms." However, "sterile" is an adjective that means " free from bacteria or other living microorganisms; totally clean," and because it best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #651 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Louis had been looking forward to going on a picnic to the beach for weeks, so one couldn't blame him for growing __________ and snappish when the forecast called for intense thunderstorms for the entire weekend for which he had planned the trip.

Possible Answers:

polite

morose

minute

insular

dreamy

Correct answer:

morose

Explanation:

We can infer that Louis must have been in a bad mood when he had to cancel the plans for the picnic that he had been "looking forward to for weeks," so we need to pick out an adjective for the blank that means something like "snappish" or "in a bad mood." "Polite" cannot be the correct answer because someone who is "snappish" ("irritable and curt") isn't likely to be polite simultaneously. "Morose," however, is an adjective that means "sullen and ill-tempered," and because it best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

Example Question #751 : One Blank Sentences

Since Edward had not read any new authors, his work became rather __________, for he remained unchallenged, rarely feeling the need to develop his positions.

Possible Answers:

tedious

stagnant

unacceptable

boorish

disappointed

Correct answer:

stagnant

Explanation:

The key expression to note is “rarely feeling the need to develop his positions.” Since Edward did not feel challenged but instead “remained the same,” he could be said to “stagnate.” The word literally applies to bodies of air or water that do not have any movement in them (like a pond that is still and becomes scum-covered). However, it can be metaphorically used to describe a person who does not have much change in ideas or positions (as though there is were no intellectual “inflow” or “outflow”).

Example Question #652 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Since William wished to retire at the earliest possible age, he decided to take all __________ measures to attain his goal, unconcerned with how his choices would potentially harm those around him.

Possible Answers:

efficient

expedient

vicious

avaricious

wicked

Correct answer:

expedient

Explanation:

William’s desire to retire early apparently is leading him to take every possible measure to make the process occur more quickly. We might even say that he is attempting to “expedite” the process, meaning he is trying to make it occur more quickly. Since he is unconcerned with how his actions might harm others, he is taking all “expedient” measures. The word is related “expedite,” though it means “convenient” often as a means to reaching a goal. It generally has the negative connotation of willingness to do so at the expense of others.

Example Question #753 : One Blank Sentences

Sometimes one is only able to discern the distant causes of an event; nevertheless, one hopes to find more __________ ones if possible.

Possible Answers:

proximate

informative

discernable

rational

uplifting

Correct answer:

proximate

Explanation:

The key word in the first sentence is “distant.” The construction (using the word “nevertheless”) indicates that there is an opposition between the two independent clauses. Since the pronoun “ones” refers back to “causes,” the option “proximate” provides the best adjectival opposite. The word “proximate” means “close” (as opposed to “distant”). It comes from the Latin for “nearest to” and is found in the English “proximity” as well.

Example Question #754 : One Blank Sentences

Isabel was certain that her husband’s __________ behavior was not isolated to his thoughts but that he was likewise engaged in at least one adulterous affair.

Possible Answers:

egregious

agonizing

lecherous

horrific

heartbreaking

Correct answer:

lecherous

Explanation:

Since we are given a description of the character of some of Isabel’s husband’s actions—that they are adulterous—the best word is “lecherous,” which means “extremely lustful.” The other options are general or make judgments regarding Isabel’s own reaction that are not necessarily stated in the rest of the sentence.

Example Question #751 : One Blank Sentences

The __________ dog barked loudly whenever it heard an unfamiliar noise or saw a person or animal walk by the yard, and refused to walk on a leash without dragging its owner down the sidewalk and giving no need to his commands.

Possible Answers:

docile

cherished

mild

obstreperous

learned

Correct answer:

obstreperous

Explanation:

We know from the sentence that the dog is loud, drags its owner down the sidewalk, and doesn't obey its owner's commands. So, we need to pick out an adjective that mean something like "loud," "hard to control," "disobedient," or some combination of these meanings. We can rule out "mild" and "docile" as potentially correct answers because "mild" means "gentle and not easily provoked" and "docile" "ready to accept control or instruction; submissive," so these words are antonyms of the word we are looking for. "Obstreperous," however, is an adjective that means "noisy and difficult to control," and because it best fits the context of the sentence, "obstreperous" is the correct answer.

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