All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #222 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Certain ancient cultures kept their records by __________ runes into stones that are still ___________ today to people who have studied those languages and can read them.
inscribing . . . legible
carving . . . invisible
sculpting . . . unimportant
deleting . . . visible
erasing . . . readable
inscribing . . . legible
For the first blank, we need to pick out a verb that describes how one would mark a rune into a stone. Either "inscribing" ("writing or carving words or symbols on something, especially as a formal or permanent record") or "carving" could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "able to be read" or "able to be understood." Either "legible" ("clear enough to read" and used with handwriting or print) or "readable" could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "inscribing" and "legible" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "inscribing . . . legible."
Example Question #221 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In that scene of the movie, the __________ con man has committed a crime, and __________ the police officer into blaming it on his associate and arresting the wrong man.
ignoble . . . dupes
meritorious . . . hoodwinks
dastardly . . . admits
contrived . . . assists
dreary . . . rescinds
ignoble . . . dupes
We can infer that because the con man commits a crime and then blames it on his associate, we need to pick out an adjective to describe him that means something like "not honorable." Either "ignoble" ("not honorable in character or purpose") or "dastardly" ("wicked and cruel") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "fools" because we know that the police officer "arrest[s] the wrong man." Either "dupes" ("deceives; tricks") or "hoodwinks" ("deceives or tricks (someone") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "ignoble" and "dupes" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "ignoble . . . dupes."
Example Question #32 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She tried to __________ her favorite writer's style, but found it awkward to use the same _________ vocabulary that had been popular when he was writing in the 1700s.
obscure . . . outdated
narrow . . . novel
emulate . . . archaic
predict . . . gregarious
imitate . . . confident
emulate . . . archaic
For the first blank, we know that the subject of our sentence tried to use the same vocabulary as her favorite author, but found it awkward, so we can guess that she tried to mimic his style, and we need to pick out a verb that means something like "mimic." Either "emulate" or "imitate" could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an adjective that describes what kind of vocabulary would have been popular in the 1700s but awkward to use today. Either "archaic" ("very old or old-fashioned" or when used of a word or a style of language, "no longer in everyday use but sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavor") or "outdated" could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "emulate" and "archaic" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "emulate . . . archaic."
Example Question #222 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The teacher gave __________ instructions for the quiz she gave, and announced that anyone that didn't follow her clearly explained directions exactly would __________ a small penalty and lose a few points off of their quiz.
confusing . . . receive
unlikely . . . prove
explicit . . . incur
straightforward . . . avoid
biased . . . miss
explicit . . . incur
For the first blank, we know that the teacher gave "clearly explained directions," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "clearly explained." Either "explicit" ("stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt") or "straightforward" ("uncomplicated and easy to do or understand") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means "get" or "sustain," because we know that the students who did not follow the teacher's instructions would "lose a few points off of their quiz" - in other words, sustain a small penalty. Either "incur" ("become subject to something unwelcome or unpleasant as a result of one's own behavior or actions") or "receive" could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "explicit" and "incur" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "explicit . . . incur."
Example Question #31 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since his low blood sugar __________ Joseph of most of his energy, he was rather __________ in contrast to his normally energetic disposition.
emasculated . . . effeminate
bombarded . . . slothful
overwhelmed . . . tedious
revoked . . . puny
sapped . . . sedate
sapped . . . sedate
The clear contrast in this sentence is between an energetic disposition and one that is not. The best option for the second blank is “sedate” which means quiet or still (sometimes having the negative sense of “dull”). Since the word is modified (and hence qualified) by “rather,” it is fair to choose something like this, which generally fits, if not perfectly. To be sedate is related to the Latin for “to sit.” A “sedative” is a drug or medication that makes one calm or as though they were sitting still. Since Joseph became sedate, the low blood sugar condition must have drained him of his energy, that is, to have sapped him of his energy.
Example Question #31 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The lecturer did not mean to __________ his students, but his __________ speech was too advanced for them to understand.
accomodate . . . creative
disconcert . . . dense
enlighten . . . complicated
challenge . . . lucid
confuse . . . morose
disconcert . . . dense
The second blank would be easier to fill in first, so we need to find a word that means difficult to understand. This could be either dense or complicated (because lucid means clear, morose means gloomy, and creative speech isn't always difficult). Next we'll fill in the first blank that shows that his students did not understand, or were confused. Enlighten would not work because the teacher would want to enlighten them with knowledge, so our answer is "disconcert . . . dense."
Example Question #2732 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ claims made by the witness about the circumstances of the crime __________ justice.
terse . . . motivated
veracious . . . hindered
spurious . . . impeded
aloof . . . inspired
fallacious . . . incited
spurious . . . impeded
If a witness makes false or spurious statements about a crime, they keep justice from occurring; therefore, they impede justice.
Example Question #35 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
It is often difficult to discern patterns in the many and __________ elements of stock market data available at any given time; however, order does begin to become apparent when one ___________ the data in various ways, examining it according to various approximated subgroups.
overwhelming . . . multiplies
immense . . . sums
disparate . . . aggregates
uncontrolled . . . examine
fluctuating . . . considers
disparate . . . aggregates
The key expression is “approximated subgroups” to which the many elements are contrasted in the first half of the sentence. “Disparate” items are those that are differing to a degree that comparison becomes difficult (if not wholly impossible). It comes from Latin roots meaning “unequal,” reflected in the English word “disparity.” When something is gathered together, it is “aggregated,” a word related to words such as “segregated” (gathered into separate groups) and “congregation.” These are derived from the Latin for flock (“gregis”).
Example Question #223 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Certainly, where humans are gathered, corruption will be __________ to politics. Nevertheless, young idealists will always want to __________ this most unfortunate reality.
endemic . . . mitigate
acceptable . . . destroy
foreign . . . ignite
corrosive . . . deride
natural . . . avoid
endemic . . . mitigate
Something is said to be “endemic” if it is native to, or at least, regularly found in something. This negative usage is hinted at by the second sentence’s hint: “this most unfortunate reality.” The word ultimately comes from Greek roots meaning people (demos), a root found in English words like “democratic” and “demagogue.” The word mitigate means to lessen or to make milder. Its Latin root is mitis, which means mild.
Example Question #2235 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Because the old man could not swallow correctly, he often __________ on his food, drawing it into his lungs. This led to significant __________ repercussions, leading to his eventual hospitalization.
hiccupped . . . medical
spit . . . aerosol
aspirated . . . pulmonary
regurgitated . . . gastric
choked . . . cardiac
aspirated . . . pulmonary
The key here is to note the relationship between the food, the lungs, and the repercussions. The easiest “key” to this relationship is “pulmonary,” which is derived from the Latin word for "lung" and has related English words such as “pulmonologist,” which is a doctor specializing in lungs. From here, it is obvious that “aspirated” fits the bill, for it means “inhaled. It comes from the Latin spirare, which means to breathe or blow. Related words are like “inspire” (literally to breathe into, as though by (e.g.) a spiritual flow), “expire” (to breathe out), and even “perspire” (to breathe through, broadly applied to the pores and sweat).