SAT Critical Reading : SAT Critical Reading

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #651 : Sentence Completion Questions

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:

revered

impugned

 piqued 

assuaged

appeased

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 #571 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

validated

obfuscated 

befuddled

 shrouded

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 #192 : 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:

included

encouraged

enjoined

quarantined

adhered

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 #1562 : Psat Critical Reading

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

leapt

cowered

stormed

hustled

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 #1563 : Psat Critical Reading

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:

enhanced

vilified

quantified

negated

harmed

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 #1564 : Psat Critical Reading

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:

coerce

compel

blandish

intimidate

deceive

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.

Example Question #658 : Sentence Completion Questions

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

__________ by his pacifism, Gandhi knew he had to find another solution for his people, rather than violence.

Possible Answers:

Emboldened

Envenomed

Incensed

Constrained

Liberated

Correct answer:

Constrained

Explanation:

"Constrained" means restricted. Restricted by his belief in nonviolence, Gandhi knew he had to find another way to achieve his goals.

Example Question #1565 : Psat Critical Reading

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

The scientist was __________ when it was discovered that he had falsified his research data in order to get results that would make him famous.

Possible Answers:

discredited

imputed

emulated

substantiated

corroborated

Correct answer:

discredited

Explanation:

To "discredit" is to harm the reputation of or to disgrace.

Example Question #521 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The king __________ the throne after his infidelity to the country became public, allowing his son to ascend the throne.

Possible Answers:

descended

abdicated

took

beatified

tarnished

Correct answer:

abdicated

Explanation:

"Abdicate" means give up royal power. Since the king had created a scandal with his infidelity or disloyalty, he would likely given up the crown. “Beatify” means make extremely happy or make a saint, “descend” means lower, and “tarnish” means lessen in value—none of which logically answer the question.

Example Question #522 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The composer was masterfully able to __________ the very different styles of music into a beautiful score.

Possible Answers:

delineate

integrate

clash

burden

scramble

Correct answer:

integrate

Explanation:

"Integrate" means bring together into a unified whole, and in this context we are looking for a word that expresses the merging of the two pieces into one. The contextual clues of "masterfully" and "beautiful" tell us that it should be a positive thing, and this is why "integrate" is chosen over "clash" or "scramble." "Clashing" would imply a bad combination and "scramble" would imply randomness.

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