SAT Critical Reading : SAT Critical Reading

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #1741 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Throughout his life, Lawrence had always felt __________ with oppressed groups, for he knew well their plight and was quite able to empathize with them.

Possible Answers:

pained

oppression

solidarity

depression

persecution

Correct answer:

solidarity

Explanation:

Since Lawrence could empathize with oppressed groups, he could be said to feel united with them. Such connection is known as “solidarity,” a word distantly related to the roots for “solid.” In its original Latin, this was used particularly in the sense of having the same material throughout a given solid mass. Thus, “solidarity” has the sense of unity across multiple people or groups of people.

Example Question #241 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The thick substance presented an __________ barrier, able to deflect bullets by means of its amazing physical properties.

Possible Answers:

indestructible

elusive

exterior

insuperable

impenetrable

Correct answer:

impenetrable

Explanation:

Since the substance was able to deflect bullets, it was not able to be penetrated by them; therefore, the best option for this sentence would be “impenetrable.” The only other close option would be “insuperable,” meaning unable to be overcome; however, the sense implied by the sentence is clearly that the barrier does not leave bullets through its surface.

Example Question #1743 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Although most members of congress cannot agree on how much money should be spent on national defense, all of them acknowledge the need for some __________ for such expenses in every proposed budget.

Possible Answers:

margin

discussion

argument

outlay

squabble

Correct answer:

outlay

Explanation:

The key thing to note here is that although the congress members do argue over the specifics of such money expenditures, they do agree that the money should be spent. An “outlay” is an amount of money spent for any given thing, as though it is the amount that is “laid out.” This best fits the needs of this sentence in comparison with all of the other “discussion” related words that might be tempting.

Example Question #231 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

Nobody doubted René’s __________; nevertheless, he continued to publish scholarly articles and publish books as though he were trying to prove his abilities.

Possible Answers:

talents

competence

perspicuity

erudition

mastery

Correct answer:

erudition

Explanation:

The implication of the sentence is that nobody doubted René’s scholarly abilities. While a number of the options are generally acceptable, only “erudition” expresses the sense of having scholarly or intellectual achievements. The word literally is derived from the prefix “e-,” here meaning “away from” (in the sense of “not being”), applied to the base for “rude,” here in the sense of “uneducated” or “lacking culture.”

Example Question #251 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The man was accused of being a traitor because he offered aid and __________ to the country's enemies during wartime.

Possible Answers:

meddling

antipathy

intent

succor

anger

Correct answer:

succor

Explanation:

We can tell from the context of the sentence that we need to pick out a word with a positive connotation that means something like "aid." Neither "antipathy" or "anger" can be the correct answer because both of those words have negative connotations. "Succor," however, is a noun that means "assistance and support in times of hardship and distress." Because "succor" is the word that best fits the context of the sentence, "succor" is the correct answer.

Example Question #232 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

Nathanael differed significantly from his peers, for while the latter were eager to support and to fight in the war, he personally had markedly __________ sentiments, thinking all war to be destructive nonsense.

Possible Answers:

fearful

yellowbellied

lazy

pacifist

terrified

Correct answer:

pacifist

Explanation:

Since Nathanael’s reason for objecting to the war are based upon his thought out opinions, it is not fair to say that they derive from cowardice, as is implied by a number of the options. Instead, the best thing to say in this sentence is that he desires peace. When someone is a “pacifist,” he or she believes that war or violence are not able to be legitimated. The word is derived from the Latin for peace and is found in English words like “pacify,” “pacific,” and “appease.”

Example Question #233 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

Tommy's older brother told him that he had to try the spiciest hot sauce; it would test his __________.

Possible Answers:

perspicacity

treachery

vigilance

mettle

tact

Correct answer:

mettle

Explanation:

"Mettle" is correct because it means strength of spirit or disposition. If Tommy can handle the spiciest hot sauce, he must be strong.

Example Question #253 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The old man, after years of active public life, decided to live his life as an isolated __________, devoting his life to reading, writing, and reflection.

Possible Answers:

wanderer

vagabond

ne'er-do-well

hermit

hedonist

Correct answer:

hermit

Explanation:

The key word here is “isolated.” Nothing else in the sentence gives us a particular indication of the old man’s character or the ends to which he wishes to devote his reading, writing, and reflection. The word “hermit,” though often having religious overtones, can mean merely “living a solitary life.”

Example Question #234 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

The ornate __________ of the peacock attracted the tourists' attention in the wild animal park.

Possible Answers:

ensconce

plethora

plumage

resonance

decoration

Correct answer:

plumage

Explanation:

"Plumage" works the best here since it means "feathers of a bird," and a peacock is a bird that would have ornate feathers.

Example Question #235 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

It is very difficult to draw an accurate __________ between pre-Industrial European society and modern European society.

Possible Answers:

regression

rehearsal

comparison

candor

prediction

Correct answer:

comparison

Explanation:

In this sentence the word “between” provides a clue to the blank word. You know that it must be describing some form of evaluation of the differences between pre-Industrial and modern European society. Prediction, rehearsal (practice), and candor (honesty and directness of character) all fail to fit comfortably within the sentence. Regression, which means to return to a less developed situation,could potentially fit if there were some other reference to a movement backwards. As there is not, the correct answer is comparison, which means the process of examining the differences or similarities in two or more things.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors