All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2561 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After thirty years, the scientists discovered the method of procuring gold by __________ it from stones in which it was __________ with several other metals.
detecting . . . overwrought
noticing . . . implicated
extracting . . . alloyed
removing . . . separating
melting . . . mixed
extracting . . . alloyed
For this sentence, the general sense is that the gold was removed from stones in which it was mixed with other metals. Of all the possible options, the “melting, mixed” pair is perhaps the most tempting. This is a trap, for the sentence provides no hints regarding the process of this removal. The best option is “extracting” for removal, for it literally means “to draw (or drag) out.” The word “tractor” comes from the same root word in Latin, and there are many other related English words like “attract,” “detract,” and “contract.” The word “alloyed” means “mixed” as in the metal brass, which is an “alloy” of copper and zinc.
Example Question #12 : Two Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
When the emperor declared that the monasteries would be closed, the monks __________ from all around the countryside and __________ upon the imperial capital as a group to protest this action.
fled . . . wended
hurried . . . militated
reclined . . . rushed
dispersed . . . argued
congregated . . . swarmed
congregated . . . swarmed
The best clue in this sentence is the word "upon," which indicates that the monks apparently came to the city in protest. Likewise, it is important to notice that they came as a "group." Thus, we should say that they gathered together, not that they fled together. The general idea is that they gathered and then all "stormed" the city in protest. The word "congregate" means come together in a crowd. A church "congregation" is called such because it is a gathering of people. Based upon its Latin roots, it is literally a "flocking together." The monks gathered and then all together "swarmed"—i.e. moved as one large group—upon the capital city in protest as a swarming group. Swarming insects are so called because they act as a group made up of many individuals.
Example Question #41 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Unknown to the other crewmembers, the youngest astronaut began to think that it was high time to drill his way out of the craft. After he began to __________ this plan, the hull’s __________ was no small surprise to the others.
discuss . . . status
prolong . . . topography
execute . . . rupture
detail . . . integrity
consider . . . strength
execute . . . rupture
The astronaut had for a while planned his potential action. Upon choosing to undertake this plan he “executed” it. Although we might think of “execute” as meaning to kill, its primary meaning is to carry out or put into effect. This meaning is almost a direct translation of the Latin roots of the word: “ex-” (out / out of) and “sequi” (to follow). The latter is found in words like “consecutive” and the direct Latin phrase, often used in English, “non sequitur”—something that does not logically follow.
Drilling out of the craft would clearly cause a hole in its hull. Therefore, it would “rupture it” – a word with Latin roots meaning “to break” and found in similar English words like “disrupt”, “corrupt”, “interrupt”, and “erupt” (among many others).
Example Question #91 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since neither party could remain silent, the argument continued to __________ as each group attempted to __________ the other by making increasingly insulting comments.
broil . . . toss
simmer . . . annoy
smolder . . . blast
escalate . . . outperform
blaze . . . denounce
escalate . . . outperform
Given that neither party is remaining silent, clearly the argument is happening in the open. Therefore, the options for “simmering” and “smoldering” are likely inapplicable for the specific needs. Now, the sense is that each party in the argument is trying to outdo the other one by way of insults. Such an argument, continually becoming more heated and worse, is best said to be “escalating.” The word is related to “escalator,” indicating that something is “going upward,” generally in the metaphorical sense of “becoming more intense.”
Example Question #92 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the pair of words that best completes the following sentence.
For several months, Hans felt _________ by the liveliness of his small hometown to which he returned for his early retirement; however, after six months, the small mountain village did much to make him feel as though his creative powers were __________ from lack of use.
bemused . . . augmented
invigorated . . . languishing
overlooked . . . unappreciated
bombarded . . . dwindling
overwhelmed . . . lost
invigorated . . . languishing
The sense of the sentence is one of opposition (because of the word “however”). The pair “invigorated . . . languishing” captures this best. To be “invigorated” is to be given energy. Looking at the word, you can see the two parts: in + vigor, which roughly could be translated to put strength into. To “languish” is to lose strength or vigor. It comes from a Latin root that is likewise found in words related to “lax,” in the sense of being “loose.” Another related word is “languid,” meaning showing little energy for exertion.
Example Question #61 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the pair of words that best completes the following sentence.
The king __________ that all of his subjects' taxes would double for the foreseeable future in order not only to sustain, but also to ___________ the castle's defenses by adding new trebuchets and increasing the height of the walls.
announced . . . demolish
denied . . . decrease
decreed . . . bolster
retracted . . . supplement
recalled . . . detract
decreed . . . bolster
For the first blank, we can infer that we're looking for a word that means something like "declared." Either "decreed" ("ordered something by decree") or "announced" ("make a public and typically formal declaration about a fact, occurrence, or intention") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "increase," because we know that the king plans to order the addition of new trebuchets and increase the walls' height. Either "bolster" ("support or strengthen; prop up") or "supplement" ("add an extra element or amount to") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "decreed" and "bolster" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "decreed . . . bolster."
Example Question #62 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The mother __________ her daughter's fears of not having their long talks while she was away at college by __________ her daughter that they would use their computers to video chat.
assuaged . . . assuring
interrogated . . . relegating
dissipated . . . maligning
mollified . . . spurning
perpetuated . . . deploring
assuaged . . . assuring
One clue as to which word should go in the first blank is that the daughter fears not having long talks but will still be able to. This tells us that the word that goes in the first blank should somehow involve relieving fears. "Mollify," "dissipate," and "assuage" could each work. "Assuring" is the only word choice for the second blank which involves positive reinforcement, though, so "assuaged . . . assuring" is the correct answer.
Example Question #63 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Charles had a difficult time __________ much at work during the second week of December because he knew he was mere days away from being __________ with his family over the holiday break, and it was all he could think about.
debilitating . . . extricated
accomplishing . . . reunited
vocalizing . . . distracted
ringing . . . hassled
enumerating . . . jostled
accomplishing . . . reunited
The first blank requires one to consider what people do at work. "Accomplish" means achieve or complete, and a lot of jobs involve completing tasks, so this makes sense. In the second part of the sentence, "reunited" is the answer choice that makes the most sense because the holiday break would give Charles some time off to see his family.
Example Question #64 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Elizabeth was not a thief and __________ at the idea of __________ her clients of their money.
relished . . . cheating
detested . . . castigating
cherished . . . defrauding
bristled . . . bilking
chafed . . . billing
bristled . . . bilking
"Bristle at" means show anger or indignation in response to something, while "bilking" means cheating, defrauding, or swindling. Because Elizabeth was not a thief, it is natural that she would be indignant at the idea of swindling her clients our of their money.
Example Question #2145 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
10. In the novel, the main protagonist, who is a dealer in antiques, naïvely assumes the eager collectors will negotiate, compete and cooperate within their group in order to pay the highest price for the priceless treasure, his Renoir painting. Much to his total dismay, they __________ to __________ him.
feigned . . . revere
conspired . . . reimburse
declined . . . upbraid
collaborated . . . scam
endeavored . . . pilfer
collaborated . . . scam
In this double-blank sentence, start with the first blanks since the verbs given for the first blanks may be more familiar to you.
The answer “endeavored . . . pilfer” sounds possible because the word endeavored means worked or planned but you might not know what pilfer means. Since the one word does work, key this answer for now.
“Feigned . . . revere” may seem impossible if you do not know what feigned means but revere sounds like reverent or reverence meaning praise. This sentence sounds like something went wrong due to the phrase “much to his dismay”.
“Collaborated . . . scam” might fit well because the sentence says “the eager collectors will negotiate, compete and cooperate” which is to collaborate. Even if you do not know that scam means fool or trick, keep this answer as a possibility.
“Declined . . . upbraid” starts out well since declined would be the opposite to what the sentence is explaining which fits with “much to his total dismay”. You may not know what upbraid means but keep this answer as a possibility.
“Conspired . . . reimburse”: Conspire does mean to work together as the sentence indicates but possibly in a negative way which also seems to work. But why would the collectors reimburse or pay the antiques dealer back his money?
Of all the possible answers offered, “collaborated . . . scam” seems to work best.