PSAT Critical Reading : Two-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #2281 : Psat Critical Reading

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

Since Thomas was raised in a very unstable household, he was not particularly __________ with regard to authority, for in his youth he often had to question the motives of his __________ parents. 

Possible Answers:

gregarious . . . rash

sanctimonious . . . narcissistic

thoughtful . . . abusive

submissive . . . inconsistent

agreeable . . . belligerent

Correct answer:

submissive . . . inconsistent

Explanation:

The easier blank to discern is the second. Since the household was “unstable,” all we can say is that the parents were either “inconsistent” or perhaps “rash.” The other options are not necessarily implied by the context; however, “gregarious” means sociable, which doesn’t make sense in this context. “Submissive” is much better, for it means ready to conform to authority—something that Thomas would not be ready to do, given the details of the rest of the sentence.

Example Question #61 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

Out of fear of governmental retribution, a number of __________ authors chose to write __________ instead of exposing their own names and persons.

Possible Answers:

silent . . . little

seditious . . . pseudonymously

frightened . . . quietly

underhanded . . . explosively

secretive . . . tractates

Correct answer:

seditious . . . pseudonymously

Explanation:

Since the authors fear retribution, it is quite likely that they are doing something that is contrary to the wishes of the government; therefore, they could be called “seditious,” which means to work to encourage rebellious activity against authorities. If such persons fear retribution, it makes sense that they would write in a secretive manner. To write “pseudonymously” is to do so under a false (pseudo) name. Although it takes a bit of thinking the “-nym-” can be seen in its relationship to “name.” The prefix “pseudo-” means either “false” or (less strongly) “resembling.” 

Example Question #2604 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Surprisingly, after John had won the large lottery jackpot, he remained as __________ as before even though he needed to accumulate no more money even to live a significantly __________ lifestyle.

Possible Answers:

cultured . . . magnanimous

rapacious . . . lavish

greedy . . . pusillanimous

taxed . . . overweening

vindictive . . . decadent

Correct answer:

rapacious . . . lavish

Explanation:

The implication of the sentence is that John remained greedy after the lottery, feeling the need to accumulate money, although he did not need to do so. Such a person is called “rapacious,” a word related to the English word “rapt,” which means “having one’s attention utterly taken. The sense of “taken” (or, more distantly, “grabbing”) comes from the Latin base shared between “rapt” and “rapacious.” Someone who is rapacious is one who is constantly “grabbing” after more money or physical goods. A lavish lifestyle is one that is very luxurious. It is derived from the Latin word that gives us “lavatory,” originally meaning “wash room.” Someone who lives a lavish lifestyle is—so to speak—showered with goods.

Example Question #91 : Two Blank Sentences

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

Students who took the course spent hours upon hours at the library, as the workload was very __________ and the professor was extremely __________ with her grading.

Possible Answers:

erratic . . . futile

obstinate . . . inevitable

vindictive . . . reconciling

rigorous . . . stringent

demanding . . . beneficial

Correct answer:

rigorous . . . stringent

Explanation:

It can be assumed that the class being discussed in the sentence involves a lot of work based on the start of the sentence, so "demanding" and "rigorous" are the options which make the most sense as choices for the first blank. "Beneficial" means easy and "stringent" means strict, though, so "rigorous . . . stringent" is the correct answer.

Example Question #2602 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Surprisingly, the __________ boxer was a __________ challenge for his much larger opponent.

Possible Answers:

tiny . . . minor

exhorbitant . . . fallacious

immense . . . redoubtable

diminutive . . . formidable

capacious . . . terrible

Correct answer:

diminutive . . . formidable

Explanation:

"Diminutive" means small in physical stature, while "formidable" means daunting and menacing. Were a small fighter to be a fear-inspiring challenge for a much larger opponent, it would be surprising.

Example Question #2603 : Sat Critical Reading

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

The president __________ media criticism for his __________ decision to support the popular legislation.

Possible Answers:

contracted . . . selfless

obtained . . . magnanimous

cultivated . . . holistic

eschewed . . . nefarious

incurred . . . expedient

Correct answer:

incurred . . . expedient

Explanation:

"Incurred" means receive something bad, like a penalty, while "expedient" means benefitting oneself but done out of self-interest. The president brought upon himself the media's criticism for having supported popular legislation in the service of himself.

Example Question #92 : Two Blank Sentences

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

At the most __________ hours, my young nephew’s __________ pace subsides and he is willing to sleep.

Possible Answers:

inconceivable . . . judicious

unpredictable . . . frenetic

ostentatious . . . preponderant

predictable . . . calm

reasonable . . . moderate

Correct answer:

unpredictable . . . frenetic

Explanation:

"Unpredictable" means difficult to foretell or foresee, while "frenetic" means hectic or frantic. It is very reasonable to conclude that a young nephew running at a hectic pace would have a bedtime which is difficult to anticipate, dependent upon his pace subsiding.

Example Question #21 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

A person who wishes to conquer Mount Everest must be both __________ and __________—ready to take the risks of an adventurer and naturally prepared for anything.

Possible Answers:

narcissistic . . . valiant

passionate . . . focused

audacious . . . dynamic

intrepid . . . intuitive 

intolerable . . . haughty

Correct answer:

intrepid . . . intuitive 

Explanation:

The second part of the sentence describes two characteristics of a person. “ready to take risks” describes a word meaning “without fear,” while “naturally prepared” describes a word meaning instinctual. Intrepid . . . intuitive fit these descriptions.

Example Question #22 : Two Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

Although James tends to be a bit __________ at times, his usual __________ demeanor makes him a pleasure to be around during a relaxing vacation.

Possible Answers:

tenacious . . . objective

oblivious . . . tranquil

whimsical . . . grave

temperamental . . . facetious 

abrasive . . . placid

Correct answer:

abrasive . . . placid

Explanation:

It is being implied that James’ personality can be described two different ways here, and so we should look for words that mean the opposite of one another. For him to be a pleasure around during a “relaxing vacation,” we would expect him to be described as calm and peaceful. The answer "abrasive . . . placid" fits.

Example Question #231 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

The young author discovered that true fame was ________ and ________; not only did he struggle to get the manuscript published, but also once it was made public, the media quickly lost all interest in the book.

Possible Answers:

oblique . . . laudable

irascible . . . subtle

vexatious . . . querulous

unattainable . . . discouraging 

onerous . . . gratifying

Correct answer:

vexatious . . . querulous

Explanation:

“Unattainable . . . discouraging” does not fit since the sentence indicates that the author did get the manuscript published, so he did attain a goal, and yes, that was discouraging but we need a word that relates to why the media lost interest so quickly.

“Onerous . . . gratifying” starts well since onerous does mean difficult and a struggle but why then would the situation be gratifying which means satisfying?

“Vexatious . . . querulous” sounds most promising since vexing could mean struggling as in working out a puzzle and “quer” is a root found in words like inquiry, question and query which indicates that an answer is sought.

“Oblique . . . laudable” does not seem to work in the sentence. “Oblique” is interesting since it might indicate an unusual direction as related to fame but “laudable” includes the Latin word root “laud.” The word refers to praise as in a laudable effort, laudatory and laugh which indicates merriment.

“Irascible . . . subtle” does not seem to work since irascible sounds like irritate, irate and ire which all relate to anger. Anger is different from a struggle and subtle does not relate to the media losing interest quickly.

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