All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #736 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
The car was __________ in the sand, unable to be transferred from its location by any means.
ensnared
wedged
lodged
immobile
confined
immobile
The key expression in this sentence is “unable to be transferred,” for this implies that the car cannot be moved. This is literally what is meant by the word “immobile,” which is merely the combination of the “im-” prefix, which here means “not,” with the base “mobile.”
Example Question #70 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
When Dee adopted it off of the street, the underfed kitten looked __________, with its skin tight against its bones, but within a week started to put on weight and looked much healthier.
listless
plump
healthy
concerned
gaunt
gaunt
We know that the kitten was "underfed" and "its skin [looked] tight against its bones," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "emaciated." "Plump" and "healthy" are antonyms of the word we're looking for, so neither can be the correct answer. "Gaunt," an adjective that means "lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age," is the correct answer because it best fits the sentence's context.
Example Question #71 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
The process was quite difficult to perform, for it required not only a number of sequential actions but also ones that had to be done __________.
strenuously
assiduously
progressivly
immediately
simultaneously
simultaneously
The contrast being asserted in this sentence is between “sequential” actions and ones that would be done in a non-sequential manner. A process that is done “sequentially” is one that has a number of steps done one after another. Therefore, the best contrast to this would be a process having steps done at the same time, or “simultaneously.” The “simul-” portion of the word comes from the Latin meaning “at the same time” and is distantly related to other “sameness” words like “similar” and “similarity.”
Example Question #72 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Being overly confident in their grasp of a subject’s details, young scholars often proclaim their most unsubstantial opinions as though they were __________ certain of them.
regularly
somewhat
relatively
apodictically
steadily
apodictically
Since the young scholars are described as being “overly confident,” the best option will reflect such confidence. They will thus be described as being very certain or as having unwavering certainty. When something is “apodictic,” it is considered to have been completely demonstrated, leaving no room to doubt it. This would well describe the great certainty of the young scholars.
Example Question #703 : One Blank Sentences
Karen and Dorothy were quite a pair of contrasts, for Karen was always emotional and agitated, while Dorothy had a rather __________ temperament.
cheerful
zestful
stoic
ebullient
sparkling
stoic
The contrast in this sentence is between someone who is said to be generally emotional and someone who is not. Just because Karen is emotional and agitated, one need not believe that she was nasty, sad, depressed, or anything else. The best contrasting term is “stoic,” meaning “undergoing difficulties without showing emotion.” It is often used in the broader sense of implying that a person shows no emotion when it would seem normal to do so. The term is taken from the ancient Greek (and later Roman) philosophical school (the Stoic school of thought) that is often given the simplistic characterization of promoting this kind of outlook on life.
Example Question #74 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
The distinction that the teacher was attempting to make were particularly __________, easily overlooked by students who were expecting an immediately evident explanation.
complex
subtle
arduous
difficult
simple
subtle
The best guide for answering this sentence is the expression “easily overlooked,” though the remark about “immediate evidence” is also helpful. When something is easily overlook and not evident with blinding immediacy, it can be said to be “subtle,” meaning that it is either indirect or even (more properly) fine / delicate. Something very “fine” or “subtle” is something small—i.e. not large, blatant, and obvious.
Example Question #611 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Regularly raging irately about almost any topic, Robert had a notoriously __________ personality.
disagreeable
unfriendly
tempestuous
vexing
perplexed
tempestuous
Since the expression “raging irately” is used in the participial clause, the best option will be the word that is as strong as this expression. The word “tempestuous” indicates such a strong temperament, better than the much weaker “disagreeable” and “unfriendly.” The word “tempestuous” literally means “like a storm,” as can be seen in its obvious relation to the word “tempest.”
Example Question #2122 : Sat Critical Reading
Instead of persecuting the questionable religious group, the state decided that it was best to be _________ until the group showed any aggression toward the broader society.
tolerant
vigilant
aware
watchful
distant
tolerant
Although one might say that the state was going to watch the questionable group, the contrast in this sentence is really with “persecution.” In opposition to that, it would be best to choose “tolerant,” for when one tolerates a group, he or she allows it to exist, even if it seems questionable or even undesirable. The sentence does not speak directly about surveillance and therefore does not merit the choosing of “vigilant,” “aware,” or “watchful.”
Example Question #751 : Sentence Completion Questions
The telescope observatory had gathered __________ data for years, charting the stars in the hopes of producing an outline of the universe’s history.
investigatory
research
scientific
astrological
astronomical
astronomical
Since the sentence directly mentions star charting, the best answer will be that which describes the data as being related to heavenly bodies or stars. Therefore, the two “astro-” options should stand out immediately. Here, you must be careful not to confuse the two words. Astrology is concerned not with the science of measuring (etc) stars but with the so-claimed “meaning” of stars in the sense of horoscopes and things of that sort. It is astronomy that studies the scientific laws of the stars. This is indicated by the “-nomy” at the end of the word, which is derived from Greek word for “law.” It is found in the word “autonomy,” literally meaning “having a self-given law.”
Example Question #752 : Sentence Completion Questions
The teacher’s __________ voice often amused the students with its musical and flowing sound.
soft
fluent
lisping
lilting
raspy
lilting
The key words to note are “musical” and “flowing.” The best description of the teacher’s voice will reflect these two parallel descriptions. Probably the most tempting trap answer is “fluent,” which means “flowing.” However, “lilting” better matches the two descriptions mentioned. A lilting sound is one that rises and falls in a pleasant manner. When applied to a voice, it means that it has such a gentle rising and falling. Although it does not directly mean “musical and flowing,” it does, by extension, imply a certain musicality and gentle flow to the voice. In any case, it is much better than “fluent,” which generally is used to describe one’s ability to speak well (often in another language) and only secondarily is used for the more general sense of “to flow;” thus, lilting fits more closely.