SAT Critical Reading : SAT Critical Reading
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #182 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The gunman would not __________ to the policeman's demands to step out of his car, so he was forced to tase him.
husband
vindicate
spurn
acquiesce
concur
acquiesce
The sentence tells us that the police had to tase the gunman, from which we can infer that he didn't cooperate. Because the omitted word is preceded by "not," the proper choice should be something similar in meaning to "cooperate." "Acquiesce" means accept, consent or give in, so "acquiesce" best fits the context of the sentence and is the correct answer.
Example Question #181 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The city councilman __________ the virtues of building a waterfront business park to attract companies to their city, but he was generally opposed because the boardwalk currently located there was very popular.
obliterated
deliberated
espoused
caucusing
extricated
espoused
"Espouse" means support, promote or advocate. It is clear that this is what the city councilman was doing, as the opposite involved people opposing the waterfront business park.
Example Question #201 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The activists, hoping to generate popular support, __________ their pamphlets throughout the community.
obfuscated
concealed
dismembered
disseminated
dissembled
disseminated
"Disseminate" means spread widely. Activists, intent on building popular support, would likely wish to spread their message widely throughout a community.
Example Question #202 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Benjamin __________ about his new girlfriend; his excessive enthusiasm was grating.
rhapsodized
objurgated
complained
quibbled
downplayed
rhapsodized
"Rhapsodized" means engaged in excessive and enthusiastic praise of someone or something. The speaker finds this excessive enthusiasm quite annoying.
Example Question #203 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
When all the calculations were finally done, it was revealed the broker had __________ his clients out of millions in a Ponzi scheme.
fractured
awarded
joined
bilked
imported
bilked
Even if Ponzi scheme, a fraudulent investment scam, is an unfamiliar term, the tone and structure of the sentence indicate the broker did something illegal or dishonest. Look for an answer choice that indicates cheating or defrauding, which is the very definition of "bilked."
Example Question #515 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Her mother had little idea that her lax rules about computer use _________ the acts of open rebellion the teenager performed.
hampered
engendered
inured
nullified
refused
engendered
The teenager's rebellious acts and her mother's unawareness both indicate the computer is somehow helping the teenager's rebellion. "Engendered," which means caused or enabled, is the only answer choice which indicates help, while all the other choices indicate an active harm.
Example Question #204 : 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.
annul
emulate
elude
enervate
empty into
empty into
Rivers will flow into larger bodies of water. Only "empty into" fits as an answer choice.
Example Question #205 : 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.
scrutinize
anticipate
dismiss
contemplate
inoculate
scrutinize
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 #201 : 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.
satiate
machinate
defragment
apprehend
mollify
satiate
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 #621 : 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.
justify
augment
bolster
abscond
allay
allay
"Allay" means soothe or ease. Naturally, Albert's grandfather would want to ease the boy's fears about his first day of school.
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