SAT Critical Reading : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

Kendra wrung out the sponge into the sink, __________ it to release all the water it held. 

Possible Answers:

squandering

whittling

compressing

nullifying

abdicating

Correct answer:

compressing

Explanation:

We can tell by the context of the sentence that we're looking for a verb that means something like "make smaller," and more specifically, "wring out." While "whittling" sounds like it could be a potential answer because things that are whittled usually get smaller in the process, "whittling" actually means "carving wood into an object by repeatedly cutting small slices from it," so it's not the correct word for the sentence's context. Since "compress" means "flatten by pressure; squeeze; press," it is the best answer.

Example Question #13 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

Each sentence completion question is made up of a sentence with one or two blanks.  One blank indicates that one word is missing.  Two blanks indicate that two words are missing.  Each sentence is followed by five choices.  Select the one word or pair of words that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

After Sarah edited her paper, Jessica brought her out to ice cream in order to _____ her for using her free time to edit.

Possible Answers:

encourage

indulge

belittle

compensate

please

Correct answer:

compensate

Explanation:

In this situation, Jessica is indebted to Sarah for editing her paper even though it was not required for Sarah to edit it.  Therefore, Jessica compensated her by bringing her out to ice cream as a thank you for doing her the favor of editing.

Example Question #12 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Tom's sister wished she could __________ the hurtful comments she directed towards Tom earlier in the day that were merely said due to her disagreeable mood.

Possible Answers:

recall

fortify

dismantle

uphold

rescind

Correct answer:

rescind

Explanation:

Tom's sister wants to erase the comments of the morning or revoke them. In other words, she wants to rescind her comments.

Example Question #562 : One Blank Sentences

After moving into the new town, it took Scott some time to become __________ to the aspects of daily life that differed greatly from that which he knew in his previous locale.

Possible Answers:

reflective

understanding

accustomed

nativist

accepting

Correct answer:

accustomed

Explanation:

The sentence implies that Scott had to become aware and comfortable with new aspects of life in his town, for they differed from what he had known. Such a process of becoming comfortable with something new is called “becoming accustomed.” Notice that the word contains the word “custom,” and the “ac” is really the “ad” prefix meaning “to or toward.” Therefore, the process of “accustoming” is (in a sense) “structuring oneself ‘to the customs’ of a given area or process.”

Example Question #571 : One Blank Sentences

Travis assured his friends that he __________ to goals that were far loftier than what his little town could offer to him.

Possible Answers:

studied

espied

imagined

aspired

looked

Correct answer:

aspired

Explanation:

The implication here is that Travis “aims” at high goals. Therefore, one could say that he hopes to accomplish these tasks. Such hopes are often called “aspirations,” a word coming from the Latin for “to breathe toward.” There are English words like “despair,” that mean “without hope” but are based on a different (but very close) Latin word meaning hope. The word for “I breathe” is “spiro” and the word for “I hope” is “spero.” Latin students often learn the shortened quip, “Dum spiro, spero,” meaning, “While I breathe, I hope.”

Example Question #1851 : Sat Critical Reading

Robert __________ tightly onto the root sticking out of the cliff, hoping to hold himself there until a rescue crew could arrive.

Possible Answers:

recoild

attached

oscillated

clutched

affix

Correct answer:

clutched

Explanation:

The key word in this sentence is “tightly,” which indicates that Robert was not merely holding on with a limp hand. The best option, therefore, is “clutched” which captures this sense of direly holding on in a tight-fisted manner.

Example Question #1852 : Sat Critical Reading

Although Mark did not have many specific skills, he was excellent at ___________ affairs for others in order to make their work much easier.

Possible Answers:

facilitating

evaluating

discussing

overcoming

scheduling

Correct answer:

facilitating

Explanation:

When someone is able to aid others in doing their work, particularly in making it easier, that person is said to “facilitate” the work. The word “facilitate” comes from the Latin root word for “easy,” found in related English words like “facile” and “facility.”

Example Question #574 : One Blank Sentences

Ashley would watch other people’s hands and eyes to help her to __________ what they actually thought about the ideas that she expressed to them.

Possible Answers:

infer

influence

notice

manipulate

espy

Correct answer:

infer

Explanation:

The sentence implies that Ashley is reading the outward signs of people’s behavior in order to reach some conclusion about their inner disposition. When someone “infers” something, he or she uses indirect evidence to come to a conclusion. Similar to how the word “transfer” literally means “to carry across,” the word “infer” means “to carry into.” (The “-fer-” portion of the word here means “to bring or carry,” from the Latin “ferre.”) An inference “carries” someone into the heart of a matter.

Example Question #575 : One Blank Sentences

Andrew had a great deal of knowledge about the best means by which to __________ through the confusing streets of the old town.

Possible Answers:

stroll

stride

drive

navigate

peruse

Correct answer:

navigate

Explanation:

Although the word “navigate” often applies to one traveling on a ship, it can be extended to apply to any case of planning the route that one must take. Given that the sentence speaks of Andrew’s great knowledge of the confusing streets, the best option will be “navigate,” which indicates that he knew how to find is way around the town. The word “navigate” does come from roots for “ship,” found in “navy” and “naval.”

Example Question #572 : One Blank Sentences

During the summer of his senior year, Eric decided to make money __________ cheap watches and t-shirts at carnivals throughout the country.

Possible Answers:

peddling

displaying

retailing

arranging

offering

Correct answer:

peddling

Explanation:

The general implication of the sentence is that Eric is planning to sell these items during the summer. The key qualifying word is “cheap,” which helps to eliminate the tempting answer “retailing.” When someone “peddles” something, he or she not only is said to sell it but likewise is said to be selling something that is cheap, often doing so by traveling from place to place.

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