PSAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #108 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

After thinking through all of his options, Brandon had to admit that he still faced a __________ and would have to make the difficult choice between the two options.

Possible Answers:

dilemma

controversy

decision

vexation

question

Correct answer:

dilemma

Explanation:

The key thing to note here is that Brandon still has two choices that cannot be eliminated. When someone reaches such a state of decision, it is called a “dilemma,” which literally means two premises (as in an argument). The “lemma” portion is used in mathematics to indicate theorem that is used in the middle of a proof (hence functioning like a premise of sorts), while the “di-” (two / double) prefix should be familiar as found in “dichromatic” (made up of two colors) or “diploid” (a cell having two sets of chromosomes).

Example Question #109 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Donald experienced profound __________ for his negligent actions and therefore approached those whom he had harmed in order to beg for forgiveness.

Possible Answers:

distress

despair

contrition

alarm

depression

Correct answer:

contrition

Explanation:

While it might be said that Donald experienced any one of the emotions given as options for this question, the key point to note is that he approached those whom he had harmed for the sake of asking their forgiveness. When one is “contrite,” he or she is aware of the guilt of past actions. This would likely lead to the desire to beg forgiveness from any offended parties.

Example Question #110 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

Jamie and Austin ate the delicious home-cooked meal with plenty of __________.

Possible Answers:

quirk

truculence

gusto

patent

parity

Correct answer:

gusto

Explanation:

"Gusto" means great enthusiasm or relish. "Patent" means a copyright on an invention. "Parity" means equality or balance. "Quirk" means an oddity of personality or strange way of doing something. "Truculence" means a fight or aggression.

Example Question #111 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Often, there is a fine line between a healthy __________ and utter penuriousness.

Possible Answers:

frugality

generosity

concern

interest

overabundance

Correct answer:

frugality

Explanation:

This opposition is not a strong "A / not-A" sort of opposition (like kind / unkind). Instead, it is an opposition that is only separated by a “fine line.” It is best to consider two things that might seem to be alike even if they are distinct (and ultimately opposed). When someone is “penurious,” he or she is either very poor or perhaps just very cheap. The former really does not fit well with any of the potential answers, but the latter, stronger option does pair well with “frugality.” When someone is “frugal,” he or she lives simply, though this need not be completely penurious in a negative sense. There is a fine line between the two—and this is what the question demands!

Example Question #191 : One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Since René valued all persons by their intellectual achievements, he felt only __________ for his uneducated neighbors, whom he ignored as worthless nobodies.

Possible Answers:

pity

sadness

scorn

indifference

carelessness

Correct answer:

scorn

Explanation:

Since René valued people in this manner, he would judge his uneducated neighbors to be of low value. He would hold them in “low esteem,” literally, “low estimate.” When someone scorns something, he or she values believes it to be of little or now value, particularly with contempt. This is clearly the case with his undervaluing of them, as is indicated by the relative clause “whom he ignored as worthless nobodies.”

Example Question #189 : One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Despite Katie's usual __________, the new boss did not trust her and thought she was insincere. 

Possible Answers:

elation

whim

candor

tenacity

destitution

Correct answer:

candor

Explanation:

"Despite" is a word that tells us that the first half of the sentence is going to contradict or qualify the second half. So we need a word that means the opposite of "insincere," which would be "sincere" or "honest." Another word for honest is "candor."

Example Question #113 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

If he is able to convince the judge that he is truly sorry, he may be granted __________.

Possible Answers:

nostalgia

hyperbole

clemency

fidelity

onus

Correct answer:

clemency

Explanation:

"Clemency" means mercy or forgiveness. "Fidelity" means loyalty or faithfulness. "Hyperbole" means exaggeration or overstatement. "Nostalgia" means a sentimentality or fondness for the past. "Onus" means duty or responsibility.

Example Question #192 : One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Carl von Linné, more commonly known as Linnaeus, is famous in the history of science for coming up with a system of __________ for living things, and for helping to establish the convention of giving each known species a unique Latin name.

Possible Answers:

fathom

classification

equilibrium

entourage

disorganization

Correct answer:

classification

Explanation:

Since we know that Linnaeus helped establish the Latin naming convention, we can infer that his system had something to do with organizing knowledge of living things. So, we're looking for a noun that means something like "systematization." While "disorganization" might look like a good initial choice because it includes the word "organization," it is not the best answer choice since the "dis-" prefix means not, so it means "the disruption of an orderly system," and not the creation of one. "Classification," on the other hand, means "the action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities or characteristics," so it is the best answer.

Example Question #193 : One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

Although many think that __________ exist only in religion, such formalized action can be found throughout many aspects of developed culture.

Possible Answers:

imprecations

customs

sacrifices

rituals

prayers

Correct answer:

rituals

Explanation:

The key word here is “formalized action.” A “ritual” is not merely a religious action but instead can apply to any kind of sequence of actions that are done according to a certain prescribed order. The word is related to other words like “rite” and “ritualistic.”

Example Question #194 : One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.

John thought his reasoning was perfectly cogent, but those listening to him believed that he committed a number of __________, invalidating much of what he said.

Possible Answers:

faux bas

degradations

fallacies

elisions

dispensations

Correct answer:

fallacies

Explanation:

There are two key words in this sentence, “cogent” and “invalidating.” The word “cogent” means “logical” or “convincing.” When something “invalidates” an argument, it makes it no longer hold. The contrast in this sentence is between the cogency that John believes his reasoning has and the number of invalidities that it has in reality. When someone commits a fallacy, he or she makes an error in reasoning. The word is related to words like “infallible” and “false.”

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