All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #191 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Having learned of her new husband’s __________ past, the bride sought to __________ the marriage.
moribund . . . reciprocate
scandalous . . . annul
distinguished . . . invalidate
reprehensible . . . euthanize
defamatory . . . validate
scandalous . . . annul
"Scandalous" means that something contains defamatory material and is in somw way shocking, while "annul" means to make void or invalid. The new bride, having learned of her husband's shocking past, wished to invalidate her marriage.
Example Question #231 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
John’s grandmother __________ him for his __________ appearance at the graduation ceremony.
chided . . . unkempt
scolded . . . tidy
cajoled . . . vituperative
slandered . . . ebullient
praised . . . disorderly
chided . . . unkempt
"Chided" means scold, while "unkempt" means disorderly or untidy. John's grandmother scolded him for his untidy appearance at the graduation.
Example Question #244 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The medieval painting featured __________ depictions of warriors who had been __________ in battle and were unlikely to survive.
endearing . . . dismembered
disenchanting . . . awkward
exotic . . . motivated
grotesque . . . maimed
disturbing . . . victorious
grotesque . . . maimed
That the warriors were "unlikely to survive" tells us that the second word should somehow involve injury. This leaves "maimed" and "dismembered" as potentially correct choices. A painting of such subject matter would not be very "endearing," but it could certainly be "grotesque." Therefore, "grotesque . . . maimed" is the correct answer.
Example Question #1602 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
My aunt cannot __________ the idea of visiting contemporary art museums; she finds contemporary art to be fundamentally unoriginal and __________.
suffer . . . meritorious
countenance . . . prosaic
comprehend . . . innovative
disregard . . . inspired
detest . . . ostracized
countenance . . . prosaic
"Countenance," when used as a verb, means admit as acceptable or possible, while "prosaic" means unoriginal. The speaker's aunt finds contemporary art to be so unoriginal that she cannot even admit as a possibility the idea of visiting a contemporary art museum.
Example Question #1603 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The high school principal was __________ in his praise of the football team, describing the defense in flattering terms and __________ the work ethic and discipline of every player.
nostalgic . . . discounting
effusive . . . extolling
incensed . . . affronting
hasty . . . consoling
erudite . . . bemoaning
effusive . . . extolling
The main clues for the first blank are the phrases “praise of the team” and “flattering terms” separated by a comma, which indicate that the missing word enhances the praise that the principal had for the football team. Since "effusive" means to express feelings of approval in an unrestrained manner, it is correct. For the second blank, the conjunction “and” links the two clauses and indicates that the principal had similarly positive praise for the work ethic and discipline of every player. "Extolling" means to praise enthusiastically, and thus fits the second blank.
Example Question #181 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Believing the painting to be __________, the art critic did nothing but __________ the painter.
magnificent . . . criticize
execrable . . . disparage
vituperative . . . patronize
loathsome . . . champion
abominable . . . calcify
execrable . . . disparage
"Execrable" means loathsome, while "disparage" means to criticize. Understandably, an art critic who found a work loathsome would criticize the artist.
Example Question #201 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ prosecutor was unwilling to listen as the defendant tried to __________ his fault.
intransigent . . . expiate
bashful . . . blandish
unwavering . . . expedite
remorseful . . . atone
obstreperous . . . categorize
intransigent . . . expiate
"Intransigent" means unwilling to compromise, while "expiate" means to make amends for, atone. An unrelenting prosecutor would have no patience for a defendant trying to atone for his mistakes.
Example Question #242 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ballerina’s __________ body seemed to __________ at the music; she really appeared to employ her grace and suppleness to rejoice.
alloyed . . . recoil
diaphanous . . . glower
cumbersome . . . thrill
supple . . . degenerate
lithe . . . exult
lithe . . . exult
"Lithe" means graceful, flexible, and supple, while "exult" means rejoice. The ballerina's graceful body seemed to rejoice at the music.
Example Question #61 : Verbs And Adjectives Or Adverbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even when he was young, John Thomas expressed a desire to explain the sometimes __________ aspects involved with racial heritage in order to __________ them instead of viewing those aspects as disparate.
heinous . . . implicate
copious . . . compile
arduous . . . rebuff
contradictory . . . commingle
ancient . . . formulate
contradictory . . . commingle
When we work with a double set of blanks in a sentence, sometimes it is easier to solve just the first or second one to begin. This sentence uses the phrase “those aspects as disparate” so the second blank must need a word meaning the opposite of disparate which means different. Let’s try the second words in each answer to see which one completes the idea best.
Is “formulate” the opposite of disparate? No, formulate means to state, plan or express an idea.
How about “commingle”? This may be an unfamiliar word for you but what does “mingle” mean? To mingle with your friends means to get together and if we add “co” like in cooperate, combine or committee, this word seems like it might work.
Let’s consider “rebuff”. The prefix “re” often means to do again as in repeat, rework or redo and even if we cannot think of what “buff” may mean, this does not seem as fitting as commingle.
“Implicate”? This word sounds and looks like imply, implore or implicit which does not relate to bringing together.
What about “compile”? The prefix “com” usually does mean coming together like in complete, committee and combine so let’s keep it for now.
Now we need to check the first words but only for two answers: contradictory…commingle and copious…compile. Read the sentence and try each set of words to see which one conveys the meaning of bringing different aspects related to racial heritage together the best? The answer “contradictory…commingle” works best because “copious” means a lot of something but does not work as well in the sentence as “contradictory” or different.
Example Question #203 : Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
At first __________ by the child’s rapid changes in mood, the teacher later understood it as just the boy’s __________ nature.
perplexed . . . impassive
assuaged . . . capricious
ameliorated . . . stolid
baffled . . . predictable
discomfited . . . mercurial
discomfited . . . mercurial
"Discomfited" means made uncomfortable or baffled, while "mercurial," means characterized by rapid change in temperment. Naturally, a teacher would first be baffled by a child's rapid change in moods (that is, his mercurial nature).
Certified Tutor