PSAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #251 : Sentence Completions

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

The politician regularly must be the people’s __________ as well as their representative.  Citizens often need to be roused into having an opinion on political matters.

Possible Answers:

executive

demagogue

legislator

orator

publican

Correct answer:

orator

Explanation:

Since the sense of the clues is not negative in this sentence, it would not be appropriate to choose “demagogue,” for such a person would merely appeal to popular sentiment to make specious “arguments.” An “orator” would be a better case here, for such a person’s eloquence could fit the bill for inspiring the people. The word is derived from Latin roots that likewise give us the word “oratory” and “oration;” however, it is also related to the word for mouth, os, which often has forms with the base “or-;” therefore, other related words are orifice, oral, and osculum.

Example Question #251 : One Blank Sentences

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

The abstract statue of the former president was barely a __________ of his appearance. If it had not included his name on a plaque, nobody would likely have realized that it was made in his honor.

Possible Answers:

replication

redundancy

similitude

declaration

clone

Correct answer:

similitude

Explanation:

The word “similitude” means “being similar to something else.” This is better than several of the tempting options, such as “replication,” “redundancy,” and “clone,” all of which imply likeness too strongly. The sentence’s “barely” needs a weaker word, for being “barely” a replication really would mean that something is almost identical—which clearly does not seem to be the case, given that few would have recognized the man thus honored. The word “similitude” is related to English words like “similar” and “similarity.”

Example Question #252 : One Blank Sentences

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

Overwhelming acts of __________ are not always as important as the giving of small gifts in the regular course of life.

Possible Answers:

publicity

consideration

munificence

kindness

donation

Correct answer:

munificence

Explanation:

One who is “munificent” is extremely generous. The word is derived from the Latin “munus,” which means gift but also office. Hence, it has derived English words like “municipality” as well as “remuneration.” The ending “-ficent” comes from the same root as ending like “-fy” and “-ficate,” meaning to do or make and found in many English words.

Example Question #252 : Sentence Completions

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

After many years of __________ before dignitaries from monarchical nations, the old ambassador required special support for his well-used knees.

Possible Answers:

deference

reverence

kindness

bowing

genuflection

Correct answer:

genuflection

Explanation:

This is a strange sentence, but it leads you directly to your word. The poor old ambassador above all has knee damage.

The “genu-“ of “genuflection” comes from the Latin word for knee, while the “-flection” means related to bending. There are many related English words like “flexible,” “reflect,” “inflect,” and so forth.

Example Question #253 : Sentence Completions

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

After retiring to a part-time capacity as a solitary investment manager, the former executive became acutely aware of the many benefits that he had once derived from the large __________ of support personnel who surrounded and aided him.

Possible Answers:

rabble

mob

group

throng

retinue

Correct answer:

retinue

Explanation:

Here, the key is to note that the person in question used to be important. Such a person does not merely have a throng around him (though the group of assistants might improperly be called that).

The proper word is “retinue.”  To remember the word, think of other related words like “retain,” “sustain,” and “contain”—all words dealing with holding. (This is due to their common Latin root). A person's “retinue” are the people they hold on to for their own usage.

Example Question #254 : Sentence Completions

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

When Robert was forced to travel in the social circles of his wealthy relatives, he would often remind himself that he was really a __________ at heart, never having truly abandoned the humble conditions in which he had been raised.

Possible Answers:

sluggard

pleb

servant

redneck

yokel

Correct answer:

pleb

Explanation:

Here, the word “pleb,” though odd, captures the sense best of all. There are no negative or slavish implications in the description of Robert’s apparent humble beginnings.  The word is a shortened form of “plebeian,” which means a commoner. It is basically an import from the Latin “plebs” which means basically the same thing.

Example Question #255 : Sentence Completions

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

Thinking about the exciting advances in the methods of charting the stars, Peter looked on his shelf at his measuring tools and seeing the __________ sitting there, he decided to name his first son after the instrument.

Possible Answers:

atlas

compass

globe

ruler

astrolabe

Correct answer:

astrolabe

Explanation:

Although many of the other instruments listed here are tempting, we know that the most appropriate tool would be that which would most definitely be used for charting stars. Such a tool is an “astrolabe,” which was used in navigation based on the stars. It means literally to take the stars. You should know the “astro-” root word, which is found in words like “astronaut” and “astronomy.”

Example Question #256 : Sentence Completions

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

Donald never had the strongest __________, but as he aged, all of his friends increasingly worried that any sickness might significantly debilitate the little natural vigor that he had.

Possible Answers:

constitution

outlook

digestion

immunity

leukocytes

Correct answer:

constitution

Explanation:

A “constitution” in general regards the makeup of something. (One can say that something is “constituted of” a number of parts). When applied to a person, it often carries with it the sense of signifying that person’s physical state and vigor. Since the sentence focus not on Donald’s immune system as much as his “little natural vigor,” it is better to choose “constitution” than some of the other potential options like “immunity” or perhaps (for the biologists) “leukocytes.”

Example Question #257 : Sentence Completions

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

In the opinion of the whole town, Henry was nothing but a __________, taking money from people without repaying, drinking alcohol all day, refusing to care for his children, and regularly vandalizing others’ property.

Possible Answers:

wastrel

idler

cadge

freeloader

mooch

Correct answer:

wastrel

Explanation:

A “wastrel” is quite literally a total “waste.” Such a person is not merely a “mooch” or an “idler” or anything of that sort. Instead, the person really has no redeeming qualities, quite like Henry in our description.

Example Question #258 : Sentence Completions

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

After the earthquake had ceased, Megan wished she had paid heed to the __________ that she had that morning and had driven far away from town to avoid what she eerily suspected would happen that day.

Possible Answers:

intuition

hunch

vision

notion

premonition

Correct answer:

premonition

Explanation:

A “premonition” is a “pre-warning” or a sense of doom that occurs before something bad actually happens. This is better than even “intuition” or “hunch” because Megan clearly had a sense that something bad would happen. The “-monition” portion of the word comes form the Latin “monere,” meaning to warn, that is used in the word “admonish.”

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