PSAT Critical Reading : Sentence Completions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #2251 : Psat Critical Reading

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

Believing the painting to be __________, the art critic did nothing but __________ the painter.

Possible Answers:

magnificent . . . criticize

loathsome . . . champion

execrable . . . disparage

vituperative . . . patronize

abominable . . . calcify

Correct answer:

execrable . . . disparage

Explanation:

"Execrable" means loathsome, while "disparage" means to criticize. Understandably, an art critic who found a work loathsome would criticize the artist.

Example Question #2252 : Psat Critical Reading

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

The __________ prosecutor was unwilling to listen as the defendant tried to __________ his fault.

Possible Answers:

bashful . . . blandish

intransigent . . . expiate

unwavering . . . expedite

remorseful . . . atone

obstreperous . . . categorize

Correct answer:

intransigent . . . expiate

Explanation:

"Intransigent" means unwilling to compromise, while "expiate" means to make amends for, atone. An unrelenting prosecutor would have no patience for a defendant trying to atone for his mistakes.

Example Question #2253 : Psat Critical Reading

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

The ballerina’s __________ body seemed to __________ at the music; she really appeared to employ her grace and suppleness to rejoice.

Possible Answers:

cumbersome . . . thrill

supple . . . degenerate

alloyed . . . recoil

diaphanous . . . glower

lithe . . . exult

Correct answer:

lithe . . . exult

Explanation:

"Lithe" means graceful, flexible, and supple, while "exult" means rejoice. The ballerina's graceful body seemed to rejoice at the music.

Example Question #225 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

Even when he was young, John Thomas expressed a desire to explain the sometimes __________ aspects involved with racial heritage in order to __________ them instead of viewing those aspects as disparate.  

Possible Answers:

copious . . . compile 

arduous . . . rebuff

 heinous . . . implicate

ancient . . . formulate

contradictory . . . commingle 

Correct answer:

contradictory . . . commingle 

Explanation:

When we work with a double set of blanks in a sentence, sometimes it is easier to solve just the first or second one to begin. This sentence uses the phrase “those aspects as disparate” so the second blank must need a word meaning the opposite of disparate which means different. Let’s try the second words in each answer to see which one completes the idea best.

Is “formulate” the opposite of disparate? No, formulate means to state, plan or express an idea.

How about “commingle”? This may be an unfamiliar word for you but what does “mingle” mean? To mingle with your friends means to get together and if we add “co” like in cooperate, combine or committee, this word seems like it might work.

Let’s consider “rebuff”. The prefix “re” often means to do again as in repeat, rework or redo and even if we cannot think of what “buff” may mean, this does not seem as fitting as commingle.

“Implicate”? This word sounds and looks like imply, implore or implicit which does not relate to bringing together.

What about “compile”? The prefix “com” usually does mean coming together like in complete, committee and combine so let’s keep it for now.

Now we need to check the first words but only for two answers: contradictory…commingle and copious…compile. Read the sentence and try each set of words to see which one conveys the meaning of bringing different aspects related to racial heritage together the best? The answer “contradictory…commingle” works best because “copious” means a lot of something but does not work as well in the sentence as “contradictory” or different.

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

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

At first __________ by the child’s rapid changes in mood, the teacher later understood it as just the boy’s __________ nature.

Possible Answers:

assuaged . . . capricious

baffled . . . predictable

discomfited . . . mercurial

ameliorated . . . stolid

perplexed . . . impassive

Correct answer:

discomfited . . . mercurial

Explanation:

"Discomfited" means made uncomfortable or baffled, while "mercurial," means characterized by rapid change in temperment. Naturally, a teacher would first be baffled by a child's rapid change in moods (that is, his mercurial nature).

Example Question #2254 : Psat Critical Reading

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

The makers of the Constitution believed that excessive government interference would have __________ effects on personal liberty; to prevent this, they designed the Constitution to __________ the rights of individuals.

Possible Answers:

palliative . . . circumscribe

anodyne . . . forfend

deleterious . . . degrade

pernicious . . . safeguard

injurious . . . terminate

Correct answer:

pernicious . . . safeguard

Explanation:

The correct answer identifies that government interference had very negative effects on personal liberty ("pernicious") and that as a result, the makers of the Constitution designed it to protect the rights of individuals ("safeguard"). The incorrect answers either mistake government interference as a positive factor ("anodyne" and "palliative") or wrongly assert that the Constitution limited rights ("degrade," "circumscribe," and "terminate").

Example Question #232 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

Indian efforts to gain independence from the British in the nineteenth century proved __________, as the British army had adequate reinforcements to __________ the uprisings.

Possible Answers:

timid . . . disembark

acceptable . . . undermine

futile . . . quell

deleterious . . . support

divisive . . . condone

Correct answer:

futile . . . quell

Explanation:

In this sentence the only clue as to the meaning of the two blanks is the word “adequate.” The word adequate indicates that the British must have been able to cope with the uprisings. This in turns suggests that the Indian uprisings must have proved ineffectual. Futile and quell are the correct answers. Futile means unsuccessful or pointless and quell means to stop something. Undermine could have fit into the blank, but acceptable could not. The British would not want to support the uprising so you can eliminate that option; although, for the record, deleterious means harmful. Likewise, the British would not be likely to condone the uprising, as condone means to tolerate something immoral. Timid means shy and would not likely describe a rebellion.

Example Question #2255 : Psat Critical Reading

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

Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators were __________ when their plans to blow up the Houses of Parliament were __________ by the King’s guard.

Possible Answers:

miserable . . . embellished

indulged . . . wavered

jubilant . . . discovered

outraged . . . ignored

enraged . . . thwarted

Correct answer:

enraged . . . thwarted

Explanation:

This question requires you to choose which of the answer pairs would most logically fit into the structure of the sentence. The first blank refers to an emotion felt by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators in response to an action taken by the King’s guard that is described in the second blank. Most of the answer choices do not make logical sense, for example, Guy Fawkes would not be jubilant (which means ecstatic) to know his plans had been discovered. Nor would he be miserable to know his plans had been embellished (to add details or increase the beauty of something). The most logical answer is that Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators would be enraged (made angry) after the guards thwarted (to prevent someone’s plans from being fulfilled) their plans.

Example Question #2256 : Psat Critical Reading

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

When visiting my grandfather's retirement community I like to __________ with him through the rose garden at a __________ pace.

Possible Answers:

ramble . . . hectic

meander . . . leisurely

troll . . . frantic

linger . . . brisk

dart . . . relaxed

Correct answer:

meander . . . leisurely

Explanation:

The setting of the retirement community strongly suggests that this walk is proceeding at a slower pace, but it could (in theory) be a retirement home for former track stars, so the most important thing here is to look for a pair of words that both communicate a consistent pace. The only pairing that does this is "meander . . . leisurely," as "to meander" means to move aimlessly and leisurely.

Example Question #234 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

While traveling __________, tourists should be aware that the customs of foreign nations __________ quite a bit, differing from country to country.

Possible Answers:

intramurally . . . depend

internationally . . . retain

abroad . . . vary

internally . . . alter

passingly . . . waver

Correct answer:

abroad . . . vary

Explanation:

The best first clue for answering this question is the subordinate clause "differing from country to country." This describes the second blank, which needs some word indicating this state of differing. To "vary" is to differ from something else. (Related words are "various", "varied", and "variety"). The first blank needs to describe travel that is in some way international. While "internationally" certainly does this, the option "abroad" functions just as well, describing something happening in foreign countries. This option must be chosen, given that "retain" (paired with "internationally") is completely incorrect for the second blank.

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