PSAT Critical Reading : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #1024 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The coach’s explanation to his team was extremely ___________, and whatever value his strategies may have given his team was lost in the lack of attention given to his words.
didactic
insightful
humorous
profound
informative
didactic
The team did not pay attention to their coach thanks to his style, so the correct answer needs to have a problematic sense. “Informative” and “humorous” would both indicate the speech was interesting, while “profound” and “insightful” both indicate the team was listening. Only “didactic,” which indicates an excessive lecturing and moralistic tone, works with the structure of the sentence.
Example Question #1942 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young boy was the __________ accomplice to his older sister’s misdeeds, as he simply followed her around wherever she went and never knew what was happening.
willing
unwitting
knowing
important
unenthusiastic
unwitting
The young boy “never knew what was happening,” and therefore had no knowledge of what his sister was doing. The correct answer choice should convey his lack of knowledge. Only “unwitting” has the correct sense out of all the answer choices.
Example Question #1943 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
While all of his friends wanted him to choose sides in the fight, the young man remained __________.
indifferent
animated
angry
excited
fastidious
indifferent
The structure of the sentence indicates that the young man explicitly did not choose sides in the fight, so the correct answer choice needs to mean “uncommitted” or “not caring.” “Indifferent” is the only answer choice meaning just that, while all the other choices indicate choosing a side.
Example Question #1944 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The director's __________ demeanor tended to terrify new employees, but after spending a few months in the company, they usually realized he was harmless.
gargantuan
consoling
abrasive
demonstrative
hurried
abrasive
The word "demonstrative" may be tempting, because it sounds like "monster." but that actually means tending to show emotion. Abrasive means harsh and rough in manner.
Example Question #1025 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
James took the position simply because it was the only one he could find, but the more time he spent as an intern, the more __________ he found the possibility of working there.
deplorable
insinuating
alluring
decisive
terrifying
alluring
The use of the word "but," after saying that he took the internship simply because it was all James could get, demonstrates that there was a change in his ambiguous feelings. The indication is, therefore, that he will feel positive about working there. "Alluring" means to powerfully attract or charm, which fits the context.
Example Question #1026 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Despite having lived in a deplorably dirty dorm room during his college years, when he got his own apartment, Greg was actually quite __________.
disillusioned
hygienic
bedraggled
unkempt
disheveled
hygienic
"Hygienic" is a synonym of clean. That he was "actually quite __________," despite being dirty in college tells the reader that the word should be the opposite of dirty.
Example Question #1027 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Alex always comes across as __________, because his attire is perpetually immaculate and people are commonly put off by his inattention to them.
compassionate
salacious
narcissistic
inept
deplorable
narcissistic
The sentence hints at someone who is both well-dressed and inattentive to others. This could possibly be an arrogant or self-absorbed person, and "narcissistic" means basically that.
Example Question #991 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Austin was completely __________ from the hike up the mountain, so he fell asleep on the couch as soon as he got home.
enervated
palpable
sardonic
truculent
enthused
enervated
"Enervated" means tired or exhausted, and given the fact that he was soon napping, it is safe to assume that this is how he was feeling.
Example Question #1001 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
I was grateful for Marie’s __________ personality when she and I were able to repair our broken friendship.
conciliatory
priggish
bashful
deterrent
timorous
conciliatory
In order for Marie to be willing to amend the friendship, her personality must be one that tends towards peace and compromise. The only word that means this out of the answers is "conciliatory."
Example Question #1002 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The formation of a strong hypothesis to base your experiment on is the __________ part of any scientific research.
prolific
steadfast
admissible
scant
paramount
paramount
Something you base your entire research on must be the most important part of it, and we should look for a word that conveys the importance of a hypothesis. "Paramount" fits here.
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