All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #114 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
If he is able to convince the judge that he is truly sorry, he may be granted __________.
hyperbole
clemency
onus
nostalgia
fidelity
clemency
"Clemency" means mercy or forgiveness. "Fidelity" means loyalty or faithfulness. "Hyperbole" means exaggeration or overstatement. "Nostalgia" means a sentimentality or fondness for the past. "Onus" means duty or responsibility.
Example Question #115 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Carl von Linné, more commonly known as Linnaeus, is famous in the history of science for coming up with a system of __________ for living things, and for helping to establish the convention of giving each known species a unique Latin name.
equilibrium
entourage
disorganization
fathom
classification
classification
Since we know that Linnaeus helped establish the Latin naming convention, we can infer that his system had something to do with organizing knowledge of living things. So, we're looking for a noun that means something like "systematization." While "disorganization" might look like a good initial choice because it includes the word "organization," it is not the best answer choice since the "dis-" prefix means not, so it means "the disruption of an orderly system," and not the creation of one. "Classification," on the other hand, means "the action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities or characteristics," so it is the best answer.
Example Question #116 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although many think that __________ exist only in religion, such formalized action can be found throughout many aspects of developed culture.
imprecations
sacrifices
customs
prayers
rituals
rituals
The key word here is “formalized action.” A “ritual” is not merely a religious action but instead can apply to any kind of sequence of actions that are done according to a certain prescribed order. The word is related to other words like “rite” and “ritualistic.”
Example Question #117 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
John thought his reasoning was perfectly cogent, but those listening to him believed that he committed a number of __________, invalidating much of what he said.
elisions
faux bas
degradations
fallacies
dispensations
fallacies
There are two key words in this sentence, “cogent” and “invalidating.” The word “cogent” means “logical” or “convincing.” When something “invalidates” an argument, it makes it no longer hold. The contrast in this sentence is between the cogency that John believes his reasoning has and the number of invalidities that it has in reality. When someone commits a fallacy, he or she makes an error in reasoning. The word is related to words like “infallible” and “false.”
Example Question #281 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
“How dare you question the __________ of my brother—he is always honest!”
efficacy
philanthropy
guile
anachronism
probity
probity
"Probity" means honesty or integrity. "Philanthropy" means charity or generosity. "Guile" means slyness or cleverness. "Efficacy" means effectiveness or productiveness. "Anachronism" means error in time placement.
Example Question #282 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Given her reputation as a lifelong __________, we were all surprised to see Mrs. Tennyson at the county fair.
pessimist
refugee
recluse
skeptic
busybody
recluse
Under certain circumstances you might be surprised to find a skeptic (if she were skeptical about whether a fair could be fun), a refugee (if she were fleeing from carnies), or a busybody (if her busyness was of a type that would keep her from having time to go to a fair), but the best fit here is "recluse"—someone who would rarely want to be out in public.
Example Question #102 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The robin is often considered a __________ of spring, with people assuring each other that the season is soon to arrive when the first bird is spotted.
competitor
concluder
monotone
force
harbinger
harbinger
We can infer from the sentence that we need to pick out a word that means something like "sign," because the season is expected to arrive "when the first bird is spotted." "Concluder" cannot be the correct answer, then, because it is an antonym of the word we're looking for, which refers to something that heralds the arrival of something, not its conclusion. "Harbinger" is a noun meaning "a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another" or "a forerunner of something"; it is the correct answer because it best fits the sentence's context.
Example Question #283 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
As a(n) __________ of fine cuisine, he was able to differentiate between authentic flavors of international foods and mimicked flavors.
virtuoso
authority
connoisseur
critic
prodigy
connoisseur
Since he was familiar with food and the sentence indicates he is an expert, the best answer choice is connoisseur.
Example Question #291 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The actor missed his __________ and entered the scene a bit later than planned, but luckily it didn't affect the plot of the play.
jump
project
summons
tardiness
cue
cue
We know that the actor missed some direction telling him to enter the scene, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "signal." While "summons" might seem like the correct answer, "cue" fits the context of the sentence better; while "summons" means "an authoritative or urgent call to someone to be present or to do something" or "an order to appear before a judge or magistrate, or the writ containing it," "cue" means "a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance." Because "cue" best fits the theatrical context of the sentence, "cue" is the correct answer.
Example Question #292 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The meetings had no preplanned __________, so topics would arise each week in an ad hoc manner depending on the questions raised by the attendees.
agenda
intention
locale
scope
extent
agenda
When something is done ad hoc, it is performed for this or that purpose, not in a planned, cohesive manner. (The expression comes from Latin meaning “to this [purpose / end].”) The implication, therefore, is that the meetings were not planned but merely addressed issues as they arose. Therefore, it did not have any preplanned agenda. The word come from the Latin meaning “things to be done.” It is related to many “act” words like “agent,” “action,” “activity,” and so forth.
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