All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
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.
magnificent . . . criticize
loathsome . . . champion
execrable . . . disparage
vituperative . . . patronize
abominable . . . calcify
execrable . . . disparage
"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.
bashful . . . blandish
intransigent . . . expiate
unwavering . . . expedite
remorseful . . . atone
obstreperous . . . categorize
intransigent . . . expiate
"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.
cumbersome . . . thrill
supple . . . degenerate
alloyed . . . recoil
diaphanous . . . glower
lithe . . . exult
lithe . . . exult
"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.
copious . . . compile
arduous . . . rebuff
heinous . . . implicate
ancient . . . formulate
contradictory . . . commingle
contradictory . . . commingle
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.
assuaged . . . capricious
baffled . . . predictable
discomfited . . . mercurial
ameliorated . . . stolid
perplexed . . . impassive
discomfited . . . mercurial
"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.
palliative . . . circumscribe
anodyne . . . forfend
deleterious . . . degrade
pernicious . . . safeguard
injurious . . . terminate
pernicious . . . safeguard
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.
timid . . . disembark
acceptable . . . undermine
futile . . . quell
deleterious . . . support
divisive . . . condone
futile . . . quell
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.
miserable . . . embellished
indulged . . . wavered
jubilant . . . discovered
outraged . . . ignored
enraged . . . thwarted
enraged . . . thwarted
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.
ramble . . . hectic
meander . . . leisurely
troll . . . frantic
linger . . . brisk
dart . . . relaxed
meander . . . leisurely
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.
intramurally . . . depend
internationally . . . retain
abroad . . . vary
internally . . . alter
passingly . . . waver
abroad . . . vary
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.