All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2451 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After three months in solitary confinement, the prisoner's body was __________.
incompetent
enticing
weak
delirious
discordant
weak
Although solitary confinement suggests insanity or lack of social structure, the sentence is specifically describing the prisoner's body, not his mental state. We need an adjective with a negative connotation, so "enticing" makes no sense. "Incompetent" and "delirious," though they could describe a person after solitary confinement, would not be used to refer to the body. "Discordant," although possibly descriptive of a prisoner's state of mind or actions after receiving solitary confinement, does not describe the body. These answer choices are especially difficult because "weak" is the least complex vocabulary word in the answer choices.
Example Question #401 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Napoleon may have been _________ in stature, but he was still a powerful ruler who almost controlled the whole European continent.
lupine
sagacious
diminutive
illuminated
arrogant
diminutive
From the use of the word “stature” you know that whatever attribute of Napoleon is being described it refers to his size. Of the five answer choices only diminutive is a word that describes the size of something. Diminutive means very small, and is the correct answer. Sagacious means wise; lupine means wolf-like or related to wolves; illuminated means to make something easier to understand.
Example Question #402 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
King Asoka, an ancient Indian Emperor, was considered profoundly wise and __________ for adopting Buddhist practices in his empire.
regressive
arrogant
remiss
sagacious
predictable
sagacious
From the context of the sentence you can see that the blank word must be closely related, or identical in meaning, to the word “wise.” Of the five answer choices sagacious most closely resembles this meaning. Sagacious means wise or shrewd. Remiss means careless or negligent; regressive means to take a step backwards towards a less developed condition.
Example Question #1991 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The professor's __________ personality made many students avoid his particular brand of unpredictable teaching.
exuberant
garrulous
cantankerous
ebullient
easygoing
cantankerous
The key word in this sentence is "unpredictable," which, when coupled with the way students avoid the professor, indicate that there is something unpleasant or disagreeable about him. "Cantankerous," which means ill-tempered or disagreeable, is the only answer choice with such a negative connotation.
Example Question #1994 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The CEO's __________ remarks towards his employees signaled the end of his time at the company.
amiable
derogatory
lukewarm
complimentary
ambivalent
derogatory
The context of the sentence, that the CEO had to leave the company, indicates that the correct answer choice is something extremely serious. Also, because the comments were about his employees and got him in trouble, the tone of the comments had to be quite negative. "Derogatory," which means insulting and uncomplimentary, is the answer choice that best fits both of those parameters.
Example Question #411 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The old woman was so __________ that she looked through dumpsters for coupons others had thrown away.
impecunious
preeminent
resplendent
generous
obsequious
impecunious
The behavior exhibited by the old woman is a clear indicator that she has some problems with money. Two of the answer choices, "obsequious" and "preeminent," do not have much to do with financial issues. "Resplendent" and "generous," while having some relation to money, generally indicate having a large amount of wealth. "Impecunious," which means not having financial means, is the correct choice.
Example Question #451 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Fortunately, the concussed player was ___________ during his post-game check-up, and the prognosis was that he would recover well.
confused
muddled
disoriented
unhinged
lucid
lucid
While the player did receive a concussion, which indicates harm and mental confusion, the structure of the sentence indicates something different. The fact that the player has a good prognosis means that he was actually clear-headed and awake, making "lucid" the correct answer.
Example Question #452 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
When their father decided to dress like them, his teenage children thought he looked ___________ and hopelessly out of touch.
suave
ludicrous
dexterous
sublime
stylish
ludicrous
The main phrase to pay attention to in this sentence is "hopelessly out of touch." All choices with any sort of positive tone can be ruled out. The correct answer choice needs to indicate that the father looks silly, which is the definition of "ludicrous."
Example Question #453 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After three months in a hospital bed, he had developed a decidedly __________ appearance.
rosy
gaunt
cherubic
youthful
vigorous
gaunt
Laying in a hospital bed for months will make someone much less healthy-looking. Look for the answer choice that indicates an unhealthiness or sickness. "Gaunt," meaning thin or even bony, is the only answer choice with such a meaning.
Example Question #454 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
While he never actually did anything that was strictly criminal, the police believed the man they had in custody was __________ in a great deal of illegal activities.
unconvinced
hopeless
compliant
resistant
recalcitrant
compliant
The arrested man was never directly involved, but had some connection to illegal activities. The correct answer choice will have a meaning of working with or being linked to such acts. "Compliant," meaning accomodating or involved in, is the only possible answer choice.