PSAT Critical Reading : Verbs in One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #203 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Many rivers will __________ a larger body of water such as a lake, sea, or ocean.

Possible Answers:

emulate

empty into

enervate

elude

annul

Correct answer:

empty into

Explanation:

Rivers will flow into larger bodies of water. Only "empty into" fits as an answer choice.

Example Question #204 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

His previous sloppy work led his professor to ___________ his reports more thoroughly.

Possible Answers:

anticipate

contemplate

inoculate

scrutinize

dismiss

Correct answer:

scrutinize

Explanation:

The sloppy element of the work indicates the professor needs to review more carefully the work of the student. “Dismiss,” “inoculate,” and “anticipate” do not have the appropriate sense of review, while "contemplate" does not convey enough seriousness to the sentence.

Example Question #205 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

In an effort to __________ his mother's desire to have long conversations with him, Taylor would multitask while he talked to her on the phone.

Possible Answers:

satiate

mollify

defragment

apprehend

machinate

Correct answer:

satiate

Explanation:

That he finds things to do while talking on the phone gives us a hint that this word will somehow mean he is fulfilling his mother's wish to have conversations with him. "Satiate" means to satisfy, and this is a perfect fit.

Example Question #206 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Albert’s grandfather sat the terrified boy down and tried to __________ his fears about his first day of school.

Possible Answers:

bolster

justify

allay

abscond

augment

Correct answer:

allay

Explanation:

"Allay" means soothe or ease. Naturally, Albert's grandfather would want to ease the boy's fears about his first day of school.

Example Question #517 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

Young Bryce __________ his Grandpa Dan for his wonderful bedtime stories and his cuddly belly.

Possible Answers:

appeased

revered

impugned

assuaged

 piqued 

Correct answer:

revered

Explanation:

Well, what young child does not like grandpas, bedtime stories, and a cuddly place? So, this sentence needs a word that means he really loved his grandpa. 

The word “revered” might remind you of Paul Revere, reverence or reverie. Maybe we cannot relate colonial Paul Revere too well to the sentence but where have you heard the words reverence or reverie? Maybe in songs, maybe in church, maybe in a school classroom? It sounds like a positive and honoring type word so let’s keep it for now.

The word “impugned” might sound negative like impossible or improbable and the “pugn” part of the word contains the root “pug” which is found in words like pugnacious and pugilistic which are related to fighting or a negative meaning. Let’s not chose impugned since it does not seem like it has anything to do with honoring or loving.

How about “assuaged”? This word sounds and looks like assured but that meaning does not fit so how about “appeased” which sounds like appealed or pleased but we need a better fit.

So what about “piqued”? It sounds and looks like it might mean sharp like a “peaked roof”.

The word “revered” seems to work best in the sentence since it is more than positive and shows the feeling of valuing another person.

Example Question #2031 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Evidence that early life in the Americas first came from Siberia is __________ by the recent findings of ancient canoes along the coastal areas of western Canada.

Possible Answers:

 contradicted

 shrouded

befuddled

obfuscated 

validated

Correct answer:

validated

Explanation:

This single-blank sentence needs your logic. Try putting your own words into the blank first to get the sense of the meaning: proven, shown, provided. 

So, does “contradicted” work? No, since it does not provide the evidence.

How about “validated”? What does valid mean? If you have a valid driver’s license is it legal? Yes…so validated must mean to make it become real…this one might work.

“Obfuscated” sounds like obnoxious, obtuse or obstruct. The prefix “ob-” means against and to obstruct does not work here.

The word “shrouded” sounds like clouded and may mean something similar but “validated” seems like a better fit. And then “befuddled”; what does it sound like? Maybe a nonsense word, have you ever heard “befuddled”? It means muddled, confused, perplexed but even if you did not know the meaning, “validated” works well as an answer.

Example Question #211 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The problematic employees were __________ from their less angry coworkers on a separate floor of the building.

Possible Answers:

enjoined

encouraged

included

adhered

quarantined

Correct answer:

quarantined

Explanation:

The separate floor which houses the problematic employees means that they were taken away and kept apart from their coworker. "Quarantined" means precisely this, therefore it is the correct answer choice.

Example Question #212 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

His unease with sports became quite evident when he __________ every time a ball was thrown his way.

Possible Answers:

lunged

stormed

hustled

leapt

cowered

Correct answer:

cowered

Explanation:

The fact he was uncomfortable with sports is a good clue that having a ball thrown his way was something he hated. The correct choice needs to have a negative connotation. Of all the answer choices, only "cowered," which means recoiled or shrunk away in fear, has the appropriate negative sense.

Example Question #213 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The chef was praised for his generous use of spices, with one reviewer noting how he __________ the flavor of even the most bland items.

Possible Answers:

harmed

negated

vilified

enhanced

quantified

Correct answer:

enhanced

Explanation:

Because the chef is praised by reviewers, he is doing something to help the flavor of his food. Find the answer choice that means "help" or "improve," which is enhanced. You can also rule out "harmed" and "negated," as they give the same meaning to the sentence.

Example Question #214 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Robert tried to __________ the musician into performing his favorite song, but the young woman was immune to his flattery.

Possible Answers:

intimidate

deceive

compel

coerce

blandish

Correct answer:

blandish

Explanation:

"Blandish" means coax by using flattery. Robert tried to flatter the young musician, but she was not going to fall for it.

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