All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1038 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In order for justice to be served, it is __________ upon the jury to be as impartial as possible.
maligned
impugned
incumbent
alleviated
regaled
incumbent
"Incumbent," in this sense, means obligatory. A jury is obligated to be unprejudiced.
Example Question #1039 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young boys’ __________ behavior got them all suspended from school.
abstemious
courteous
temperate
obstreperous
civil
obstreperous
"Obstreperous" means noisy and unruly. Of course, noisy and unruly boys would be suspended.
Example Question #2421 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The artworks of Andy Warhol were __________; they included paintings, prints, performances, drawings and photographs.
incorruptible
eccentric
eclectic
thwarted
variegated
eclectic
Your clue to the word needed must be the list of words included in the sentence; there are five different art forms listed. Think about words that mean including several different but related things. Check to see if you know any parts of the answers included; do you recognize prefixes, roots or suffixes?
Part of the word “variegated” looks like variety or various so let’s keep that choice for now.
Parts of “incorruptible” seem familiar too; the prefix “in” usually changes the meaning of the root of the word to its opposite and “corrupt” means just plain bad. So incorruptible must mean something like not able to be made bad; that does not seem to relate to different art forms so let’s eliminate the choice.
We have three more choices: eccentric, eclectic and thwarted. Try to remember if you have ever heard or seen these words in any context; in school, at home or on a television show? Sometimes the setting in which you saw or heard the words gives you a clue. Maybe you overheard someone saying that one of his teachers was very “eccentric”; do you know the teacher mentioned because that might give you a clue. The word “thwarted” is in the past tense. Why would a list of visual art forms be described using a verb in the past tense? I think we might eliminate the choice of “thwarted”.
Now we are left with “eccentric” and “eclectic”. The word eccentric includes “centr” which seems like a part of words like central or center or centrifugal; does this seem to describe art forms? NO.
Let’s choose the answer “eclectic” since there is nothing we can find to rule it out. Eclectic is the correct answer because it means having components from many different sources or styles. Always be brave enough to choose a word that you are unfamiliar wit if it is the only choice you cannot eliminate.
Example Question #1021 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After he won the honor, Phillips became distant and performed with a very different __________ manner.
affable
furtive
aloof
pedestrian
spontaneous
aloof
Our clues are “distant and . . . very different” in this single blank question. Since you probably will not know all the meanings of the answer choices, you must use any clues within the sentence to help you.
“Spontaneous” does not mean “distant and . . . very different”. “Affable” looks and sounds like affect, approachable or affinity which all have something to do with feelings so it does not seem to match with “distant”. “Pedestrian” may be a word you know from taking Latin or from life experiences; the word root “ped” means foot in Latin and “pedestrian walkway” means a place to walk or a common walkway.
“Aloof” sounds like aloft, roof or above which might match up well with “distant” but “furtive” means untrustworthy. You may not know this meaning and there are no good clues; what to do? Choose “aloof” since you are quite sure that it works.
Example Question #1021 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Between her sickness and a month-long recovery out of sunlight, a distinct __________ tone had fallen over her skin.
cherubic
healthful
verdant
rosy
pallid
pallid
Both her sickness and her stay out of the sun indicate the subject was left pale and sickly, the very definition of “pallid.” “Cherubic,” "healthful," and “rosy”” are also all synonyms to each other, which is a good way to eliminate answer choices.
Example Question #1022 : Sentence Completions
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
illogical
incompetent
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 #911 : Parts Of Speech In 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
inconsequential
occasional
scrupulous
haphazard
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 #1023 : Sentence Completions
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.
lackluster
negotiable
flexible
unequivocal
uninspiring
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 #1024 : Sentence Completions
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.
approving
curious
censorious
inquisitive
laudatory
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 #1025 : Sentence Completions
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.
incongruous
paradigmatic
complete
perfect
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.”
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