PSAT Critical Reading : Parts of Speech in Two-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #162 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

The __________ approached the master with such __________ praise that the old man could not help but be touched by the younger man’s innocence and unreserved straight-forwardness.

Possible Answers:

amateur . . . disingenuous

belligerent . . . candid

novice . . . ingenuous

layman . . . facetious

beginner . . . sarcastic

Correct answer:

novice . . . ingenuous

Explanation:

A "novice" is a beginner or someone without training or experience, while "ingenuous" means candid and innocent. Naturally, the master would only be touched by praise that was innocent and candid.

Example Question #71 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

As the bank robber was known for his __________ for oftentimes fatal violence, the police considered it __________ that they find the him as soon as possible.

Possible Answers:

profanity . . .  critical

truncation . . . nugatory

proclivity . . . paramount

penchant . . . trivial

attitude . . . salient

Correct answer:

proclivity . . . paramount

Explanation:

The options can be narrowed down significantly simply by looking at which one of the options for the first blank can be followed by the preposition "for." That brings us down to "proclivity," meaning tendency and "penchant," meaning liking. "Paramount" works better in the second blank, however, because it means of utmost importance. "Trivial" means the opposite, and we would hope that the police find it important to find a violent criminal.

Example Question #163 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

The __________ between Native Americans and European settlers that granted the island of Manhattan to the settlers was __________ of any sentiment or fairness.

Possible Answers:

arrangement . . . devoid

nostalgia . . . bereft

indoctrination . . . lacking

lamentation . . . remiss

conflict . . . inclusive

Correct answer:

arrangement . . . devoid

Explanation:

From the structure of this sentence you know that the first blank is referring to some agreement between Native Americans and European settlers and that the second blank describes how fair that agreement was. Of the five possible answer choices the best answer is arrangement and devoid. Arrangement refers to an agreement and devoid describes something as lacking. As possible answer choices lacking, bereft and remiss would also be correct as these are all synonyms for devoid. However, lamentation means to express sadness and grief; indoctrination means to cause someone to believe something different to what they naturally would; nostalgia refers to a sentimental recollection of past events. None of these answer choices is quite right as a synonym for agreement.

Example Question #72 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

Although Christopher had long been indifferent to his studies, he recently showed signs of __________ for mathematics.  His parents, thrilled at this new inquisitiveness, wished to encourage these __________ interests.

Possible Answers:

expertise . . . contemporary

virtuosity . . . comforting

curiosity . . . nascent

mastery . . . joyous

disdain . . . troubling

Correct answer:

curiosity . . . nascent

Explanation:

The key thing to note is that Christopher only recently had a change in his interests. This gives us the best indication for the second word to be chosen, as “nascent” literally means “newly born.” It is related to other words like “nativity,” “natal,” and “renaissance" (meaning "re-birth").

Example Question #162 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

My friend’s argument that might makes right is the very __________ of my belief in a higher law to which we are all __________.

Possible Answers:

cornerstone . . . liberated

objection . . . burdened

antithesis . . . beholden

same . . . responsible

opposite . . . apathetic

Correct answer:

antithesis . . . beholden

Explanation:

"Antithesis" means the exact opposite, while "beholden" means owing something to another, such as allegiance.  A person who argues that power determines what is right and wrong would believe the exact opposite of his or her friend who believes in a higher law to which we must all be loyal.

Example Question #163 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

The thief made a ___________ ___________ from the jewelry store she was robbing when the burglar alarm went off, pocketing the loot she'd gathered and running straight out the door at a headlong dash.

Possible Answers:

ponderous . . . getaway

hasty . . . egress

inspired . . . conclusion

delicate . . . start

quick . . . entrance

Correct answer:

hasty . . . egress

Explanation:

We can infer that for the second blank, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "escape," because we know the thief "[ran] straight out the door" when she heard the burglar alarm go off. Either "getaway" (" an escape or quick departure, especially after committing a crime") or "egress" ("the action of going out of or leaving a place") could be potentially correct. For the first blank, we know that the thief made her exit "at a headlong dash," so she was moving very quickly and we should pick out an adjective to reflect her speed. Either "hasty" ("done or acting with excessive speed or urgency; hurried") or "quick" ("moving fast or doing something in a short time") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "hasty" and "egress" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "hasty . . . egress."

Example Question #74 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

Thanks to carefully crafted financial devices, the firm’s assets were particularly __________ from any collateral effects of the prices of several key commodities.  Even if the prices of these goods fluctuated greatly, the assets would basically be at __________ with their initial values.

Possible Answers:

lax . . . prominence

liquidated . . . odds

insulated . . . parity

limpid . . . development

disinclined . . . differentials

Correct answer:

insulated . . . parity

Explanation:

Since the assets were free from interference, they were isolated. The word “insulated” does not merely indicate the process of installing material to prevent energy from being transferred from one area to another. It also can indicate any such isolation of forces. The word is derived from the Latin word “insula,” which means “island.” The English word, “insular,” is similarly derived.

The word “parity”, indicating a state of equality, is derived from the Latin “pars,” meaning equal. The same root is reflected in English words like “disparity,” “pair,” and even “subpar.”

Example Question #75 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

Sebastian’s attitude was quite dark and irritable. Indeed, one could rightly call it __________. What is more, everyone knew of this disposition because of his constant __________.

Possible Answers:

morose . . . lamentations

depressing . . . sniveling

moody . . . whining

bleak . . . weeping

homicidal . . . screeching

Correct answer:

morose . . . lamentations

Explanation:

The key to getting this question correct is noting the options for the first blank. The sense here is not directly depression but instead is that of being of a bleak and sullen temperament. “Morose” best fits this usage.  Although “lamentation” can have the sense of weeping, it also can indicate the expression of sorrow in general, so the word still fits—at least better than the other options, which is all that is needed.

Example Question #171 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences

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

Always delaying his work, Aaron was the __________ example of your textbook __________.

Possible Answers:

remarkable . . . reader

quintessential . . . procrastinator

worst . . . salesman

immature . . . peddler

noted . . . lector

Correct answer:

quintessential . . . procrastinator

Explanation:

The only thing that is stated about Aaron in this sentence is that he delays his work. Therefore, the best description of him would be “a procrastinator.” The expression “textbook . . .” is a colloquial (i.e. spoken or informal) expression meaning “the standard version of . . .”. Someone who is “quintessential” is the perfect example of a given class of things. The word “procrastinator” comes from the Latin “cras”, meaning “tomorrow.”   The word “quintessential” comes from the old cosmology that spoke of four elements, followed by the fifth (“quint-”) element that made up the heavenly bodies—the most refined and perfect of all elements in that account.

Example Question #77 : Nouns And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences

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

The country had become quite accustomed to __________ alterations in __________, always changing its entire political structure every nineteen years.

Possible Answers:

cyclical . . . authority

astonishing . . . juries

belabored . . . regalia

representative . . . regulation

regular . . . legislation

Correct answer:

cyclical . . . authority

Explanation:

A change in political structures does not necessarily indicate a mere change in "juries," "regulation," or "regalia." These options are far too specific in themselves. Likewise, the alterations are very regular in their occurrence, happening “every nineteen years.” Such the best option for the adjective for “alterations” thus should express the regularity of such alterations. “Cyclical” and “regular” do this well. However, “legislation” is too specific as well. Remember, it is the “entire” political structure that is changed. Cyclical means happening in a cycle, that is, as though it were happening in a circular manner. This and “authority” fit the sentence very well.

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