PSAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #431 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The chess player found himself in a serious __________ when he lost his most powerful piece early in the game.
passivity
provocation
caprice
quandary
lexicon
quandary
"Quandary" means difficulty or problematic situation. A chess player would be in a difficult situation if he or she lost his or her most powerful piece early on in a game.
Example Question #432 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The aging professor believed his speeches on immigration laws gave his students a unique perspective, but they mostly viewed him as an out-of-touch __________.
bigot
testament
hero
champion
amusement
bigot
The students view their professor as out of touch, indicating that he is perceived in a negative light. Four of the possible answer choices are very positive. Only "bigot" is sufficiently negative.
Example Question #1293 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The estate owner was well known for being stingy, and some of his contractors were still seeking __________ years after they had completed their work.
access
totality
remuneration
comfort
solace
remuneration
Upon looking at the answer choices, the word that should stick out in the sentence is "stingy," which means being tight with money; therefore, find the answer choice that is related to money or payment. "Remuneration," which specifically means payment for work, is the only choice with such a starkly financial meaning.
Example Question #433 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even though he was the least talented member of the team, the coach always started the midfielder as a __________ to assist the team's fortunes.
functionary
poison
talisman
hindrance
burden
talisman
Remember that the correct answer choice is the best choice, not just an answer that can make sense in the sentence. Here, all the choices can make sense, but only "talisman," meaning a kind of lucky charm, fits best with the notion that the coach is assisting his team's fortunes.
Example Question #441 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
This year’s presidential address was criticized for its dry __________ since it iterated the same political notions over and over.
paganism
reminiscence
redundancy
banter
monotonous
redundancy
"Redundancy" means repetition or reiteration of the same ideas.
Example Question #273 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
__________ can be a desirable trait in poetry if the author wants his or her piece to have more than one possible interpretation.
Stealth
Premonition
Ambiguity
Foreshadowing
Opulence
Ambiguity
Since "ambiguity" is the opposite of clarity, an ambiguous poem is one that could have more than one interpretation.
Example Question #274 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The jurors were awed by the assailant’s coldness; he completly lacked __________ for the family members of those he murdered.
misery
indulgence
candor
empathy
ingratitude
empathy
"Coldness," in an emotional sense, is synonymous with a lack of empathy, pity, or compassion.
Example Question #251 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
James was a bit of a(n) __________ on the team, as everyone else seemed to enjoy socializing after games, whereas he preferred going home to be alone.
dissonance
confluence
foible
player
anomaly
anomaly
An "anomaly" is something that varies from the norm, such as staying home while everyone else hangs out together.
Example Question #271 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The children loved spending time with their grandfather, whose favorite __________ was "Always make time to stop and smell the roses."
distraction
maxim
scintilla
gargantuan
retribution
maxim
A "maxim" is a common saying of advice or virtue, such as "stop and smell the roses," which means that it's always a good idea to enjoy the little things in life.
Example Question #272 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Few of the artist’s works examine the __________ of men and women; he prefers to depict their ugliness.
frivolity
pulchritude
hideousness
malformation
sobriety
pulchritude
"Pulchritude" means physical beauty. An artist who prefers to depict ugliness would not depict physical beauty.
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