PSAT Critical Reading : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #1011 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The boss’ employees saw him as __________, because he often spoke on subjects he clearly knew little about in front of experts.
presumptuous
brilliant
inquisitive
incompetent
illogical
presumptuous
The boss’ discussion in front of experts reveals he is speaking out of arrogance rather than a position of actual knowledge. “Brilliant” and “inquisitive” both indicate actual levels of knowledge, while “incompetent” and "illogical" do not indicate the appropriate arrogance.
Example Question #1214 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Their mother’s ___________ analysis of their dates made the sisters rarely bring their boyfriends home.
innocent
occasional
inconsequential
haphazard
scrupulous
scrupulous
As the sisters are avoiding their morther’s analysis, it is safe to assume the analysis is negative. Of the choices, “scrupulous,” meaning careful and diligent, is the only answer choice that is negative in context.
Example Question #1215 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The new sergeant was __________ in his demands, providing strict guidelines the troops were sorely lacking before his arrival.
uninspiring
unequivocal
lackluster
negotiable
flexible
unequivocal
The guidelines the new sergeant’s demands provided are strict, meaning he was forceful and clear in what he asked. “Lackluster” and “uninspiring” do not have enough sense of clarity, while “negotiable” and "flexible" are not strict enough adjectives to fit the sentence.
Example Question #1012 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The elderly woman’s __________ tone about modern dating habits made the young men hesitant to tell her about their personal lives.
censorious
approving
inquisitive
laudatory
curious
censorious
As the young men avoid her, the elderly woman obviously dislikes modern dating habits, which rules out “approving” and “laudatory” as possible correct answers. Similarly, the young men’s unwillingness to talk indicates she was not “inquisitive,” or "curious." “Censorious,” meaning stern and critical, is the only possible correct answer.
Example Question #1013 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
With his long hair and casual dress, the interviewee looked __________ in the button-down office setting.
complete
paradigmatic
perfect
incongruous
edifying
incongruous
The interviewee’s long hair and casual dress stand opposite to the button down setting. Look for the answer that means “opposite” or “contrasting.” Only “incongruous” is a synonym of “opposite.”
Example Question #1014 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
There was a(n) __________ uneasiness when the two rivals entered the room at the same time.
circumstantial
casual
occasional
comfortable
palpable
palpable
The fact that the two people in the sentence are rivals, and that uneasiness is always a bad thing, mean the correct answer must indicate something quite strong. The only such word is "palpable," as all the other words have a lightness to them which is inappropriate in the sentence.
Example Question #1015 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The country club's members considered the club's ability to choose its own members an __________ right, and refused any attempts to have them change its bylaws.
appropriate
inconsequential
inviolable
unimportant
inconsistent
inviolable
The country club wanted nothing to happen to their bylaws, and wanted to defend them at all costs. "Inconsistent," "unimportant," "appropriate," and "inconsequential" all have too light a meaning.
Example Question #1016 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Historians often struggle with how much __________ evidence to use, as fewer data points can be outweighed by the power of the story being told.
outdated
circumstantial
anecdotal
byzantine
quantitative
anecdotal
The key word for this sentence is in the last phrase, “story.” Of all the answer choices, only “anecdotal” means from a story.
Example Question #1031 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The fact he was __________ was a pleasant surprise to her when she asked him to assemble furniture.
dexterous
oafish
inept
bumbling
clumsy
dexterous
The task he needed to accomplish, assembling furniture, indicates he was skillful. “Clumsy,” “oafish,” "bumbling," and “inept” all mean, to some degree, the exact opposite. “Dexterous,” indicating skill with one’s hands, is correct.
Example Question #1032 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her speech was often loaded with __________ words such as "like" or "whatever," which were unnecessary for her point to be made.
mechanical
extraneous
precise
automatic
automatic
extraneous
The structure of the sentence indicates the correct answer is a synonym of “unnecessary.” “Precise” and “subtle” are antonyms, while “automatic” and "mechanical" is not a direct synonym.
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