All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #152 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the young man believed in the equality of all persons, his ___________ outlook did not mesh well with the clear __________ among groups of different persuasions and desires, let alone abilities and financial success.
pollyanna . . . irreducibility
egalitarian . . . stratifications
questionable . . . opposition
optimistic . . . strife
naïve . . . antagonism
egalitarian . . . stratifications
So long as you know that “egalitarian” views are those that lead one to judge that all people are equal, you will have an easy time answering this question. Note that the “eg” and the “eq” sounds are actually very close, and that is why this shift occurs in the common base. The second word, “irreducibility” merely means that some given things cannot be explained in terms of another. The “i(r)-” prefix merely indicates a negation of the remaining “reducibility.”
Example Question #131 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
As Cyprian’s fingers passed quickly and __________ over the organ keyboard, Becket was awestruck at the other man’s impressive manual __________, which he lacked in his own organ playing.
impressively . . . transmission
melodically . . . faculty
deftly . . . dexterity
harmonically . . . ability
immediately . . . exacerbation
deftly . . . dexterity
The easiest way to choose the correct answer to this question is to note the positive implications in both sentences (“quickly” and “impressive”); therefore, the two most tempting options for the first blank are “deftly” and “impressively;” however, “transmission” in the latter paring does not make much sense, whereas “dexterity” does. If someone does something “deftly,” they do it with both speed and skill. The word “dexterity” comes remotely from the Latin for “skill” (dexteritas), which itself is based on the word “dexter,” meaning right. Many times, such approving meanings are attached to those who are right-handed, while left-handed persons fare much worse in our etymologies. For instance, consider the Latin word for “left,” which has relations to its obvious English cognate, “sinister.”
Example Question #111 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The acoustics of the large hall made for a spectacular __________ space, echoing the sounds of the concert into a rich __________ of interwoven sounds.
visual . . . audition
listening . . . symphony
symphonic . . . rendition
musical . . . panoply
resonant . . . tapestry
resonant . . . tapestry
Although a number of these options seem acceptable at first sight, the word that matches most closely to the first space is “resonant” because the participial clause speaks of how the acoustics of the space “echoed” the sounds. To be “resonant” is to “re + sound” in the sense of making sounds reverberate in an acceptable manner. Likewise, the word “tapestry” well matches the image of “interweaving” used regarding the sounds.
Example Question #154 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Donald’s friends marveled at his __________. Even on holidays like Thanksgiving, he ate very moderately in spite of the __________ meal offered.
fussiness . . . majestic
dyspepsia . . . luscious
indigestion . . . delicious
tactlessness . . . imposing
temperance . . . lavish
temperance . . . lavish
Although we often use the term “temperance” to indicate that someone does not drink alcoholic beverages, it more generally means that one is very moderate in his or her food intake. We can see that such is the case in this sentence by considering the key phrase “he age very moderately” in the second sentence. Likewise, the second word should indicate that the meal is not moderate. Such a meal could be called “lavish,” a word proximately derived from the word meaning “to rain,” though more distantly from words meaning “to wash.” The sense of “lavish” is that something is “raining” an abundance of something. Insofar as it is distantly derived to the Latin for “to wash,” related English words would be “lotion,” “lavatory,” and “laver.”
Example Question #155 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the pair of words that best completes the following sentence.
After he had invested all of his assets in the highly __________ credit markets, Chris became accustomed to living through wild swings of fortune, one week being a complete __________ while being fabulously wealthy the next week.
destructive . . . fool
variable . . . laborer
mercurial . . . wreck
erratic . . . pauper
questionable . . . indigent
erratic . . . pauper
It is necessary to pay careful attention to both words in this sentence, as there are several tempting options. Based merely on the first blank, it would seem that “erratic,” “variable,” and “mercurial” are all options; however, the second sentence makes a contrast specifically to “fabulously wealthy.”
The word “pauper” fits best in this regard. It is related to words like “poverty,” coming from a related Latin base. The word “erratic” is related to other words like “error” or “errant,” words derived from a Latin base meaning to go astray or mistake. “Erratic” comes more from the go astray meaning (in the sense of wandering).
Example Question #112 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
At the slightest __________, my __________ little brother will start screaming for my mother’s attention. He is such a little ball of anger!
disturbance . . . placid
provocation . . . irascible
serenity . . . genial
affront . . . clement
platitude . . . fastidious
provocation . . . irascible
"Provocation" means something that incites, while "irascible" means easily angered. A little brother who is quick to anger would certainly require little incitement to start screaming for his mother.
Example Question #113 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
My father has a __________ for __________ statements; he frequently claims to have invented letters of the alphabet!
disinclination . . . absurd
judiciousness . . . insular
inclination . . . reasonable
propensity . . . grandiose
habit . . . altruistic
propensity . . . grandiose
"Propensity" means inclination, while "grandiose" means characterized by greatness of scope or intent. A man who frequently makes statements like having invented letters of the alphabet would certainly have an inclination for statements of remarkable scope.
Example Question #63 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Despite his original __________ before he had studied, Aaron felt __________ about the upcoming test and knew he would score well.
bravado . . . uneasy
apprehension . . . overwhelmed
misgivings . . . confident
ineptitude . . . apathetic
anxiety . . . dismissive
misgivings . . . confident
The two blank words should demonstrate opposing feelings concerning the upcoming test. They should convey that Aaron at first felt unsure that he would do well at first and then believed in his abilities more after he prepared. The only choice that shows this is "misgivings . . . confident."
Example Question #161 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Seeking __________ after doing something as __________ as lying to your friends or family should always done if you want forgiveness for such a heinous act.
absolution . . . reprehensible
hedonism . . . tentative
forgiveness . . . tawdry
vilification . . . vindictive
resolution . . . interminable
absolution . . . reprehensible
The first word should most closely be related to the word “forgiveness” later in the sentence, while the second should be closely related to the word “heinous.” "Absolution . . . reprehensible" is the only answer that fits here.
Example Question #161 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Up high in the belfry, the birds erupted into a disruptive __________, ruining the recital; everyone who had come to hear the singers left quite __________.
melody . . . harangued
song . . . stultified
tremolo . . . ennobled
cacophony . . . disgruntled
harbinger . . . perturbed
cacophony . . . disgruntled
"Cacophony" means a tremendous, disharmonious noise, while "disgruntled" means upset or not content. Understandably, people who had come to hear music would be upset that a recital was interrupted by a disharmonious noise.