SAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #411 : Sentence Completion

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

The scholar, angered by the internal conflict of the thinkers of his age, wrote a long book lamenting the __________ of these supposed “philosophers.”

Possible Answers:

inanity

foolishness

tedium

incoherence

farcicalness

Correct answer:

incoherence

Explanation:

If the doctrines of a thinker or group of thinkers have internal conflict, they do not “hang together” well in a single cohesive manner. The term “coherence” comes from Latin roots meaning “to stick together.” The “co-” portion gives us the “together (or with)” in this meaning, while “-herence” is related to words like “adhere,” “adhesive,” and “cohesion.” If something is “incoherent,” it does not make sense as a whole—the pieces do not “stick together” well.

Example Question #412 : Sentence Completion

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

Benjamin was often surprised at his mother’s apparent __________, for she always seemed to know all the details of his actions even before he returned home from school.

Possible Answers:

visualization

predictability

omnicompetence

omnipotence

omniscience

Correct answer:

omniscience

Explanation:

Since Benjamin’s mother seems “to know all,” it would be best to say that she appeared to be “omniscient.” This word literally means “all-knowing.” The prefix “omni-,” meaning “all,” is found in English words like “omnivorous” and “omnipotent.” The “-science” portion of the word means not merely “science” but instead more broadly means “knowledge.”

Example Question #413 : Sentence Completion

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

Although many states have laws against having many wives, can a woman with many husbands be charged with __________?

Possible Answers:

incest

adultery

polyandry

infidelity

polygyny

Correct answer:

polyandry

Explanation:

Most properly speaking, a woman with many husbands is practicing “polyandry.” This word literally means “many husbands” or “many men.” The “poly-” portion means “many,” as can be seen in other English words like “polymath” or “polyglot.” The “-andry” portion is derived from the Greek for “man” and is found in words like “androgen” (male hormones) and “androgynous” (a person looking neither wholly male nor female). This latter term also shows why you should not confuse “polygyny” with “polygamy.” The latter means “having more than one husband or wife,” while the latter means strictly “having more than one wife.” The “-gyny” portion of that word is related to the same base found in “gynecologist,” a doctor specializing in female diseases and reproductive issues.

Example Question #414 : Sentence Completion

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

The release of the manuscripts led to a true __________ in classical music, as many artists began to play a number of heretofore overlooked pieces of music.

Possible Answers:

investigation

research

exuberance

renaissance

recognition

Correct answer:

renaissance

Explanation:

The sentence implies that the manuscripts led to a revival of classical music in the culture. Literally, a “re-vival” is a “re-living” or a “re-enlivening.” The term “renaissance” is closely related to these expressions, literally meaning a “rebirth.” The “-naissance” comes from Latin roots for “to be born” found in words like “natal,” “nativity,” and “nascent.”

Example Question #415 : Sentence Completion

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

Throughout his life, Lawrence had always felt __________ with oppressed groups, for he knew well their plight and was quite able to empathize with them.

Possible Answers:

depression

persecution

oppression

pained

solidarity

Correct answer:

solidarity

Explanation:

Since Lawrence could empathize with oppressed groups, he could be said to feel united with them. Such connection is known as “solidarity,” a word distantly related to the roots for “solid.” In its original Latin, this was used particularly in the sense of having the same material throughout a given solid mass. Thus, “solidarity” has the sense of unity across multiple people or groups of people.

Example Question #231 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The thick substance presented an __________ barrier, able to deflect bullets by means of its amazing physical properties.

Possible Answers:

insuperable

indestructible

impenetrable

exterior

elusive

Correct answer:

impenetrable

Explanation:

Since the substance was able to deflect bullets, it was not able to be penetrated by them; therefore, the best option for this sentence would be “impenetrable.” The only other close option would be “insuperable,” meaning unable to be overcome; however, the sense implied by the sentence is clearly that the barrier does not leave bullets through its surface.

Example Question #232 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

Although most members of congress cannot agree on how much money should be spent on national defense, all of them acknowledge the need for some __________ for such expenses in every proposed budget.

Possible Answers:

argument

margin

discussion

squabble

outlay

Correct answer:

outlay

Explanation:

The key thing to note here is that although the congress members do argue over the specifics of such money expenditures, they do agree that the money should be spent. An “outlay” is an amount of money spent for any given thing, as though it is the amount that is “laid out.” This best fits the needs of this sentence in comparison with all of the other “discussion” related words that might be tempting.

Example Question #231 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

Nobody doubted René’s __________; nevertheless, he continued to publish scholarly articles and publish books as though he were trying to prove his abilities.

Possible Answers:

competence

talents

erudition

mastery

perspicuity

Correct answer:

erudition

Explanation:

The implication of the sentence is that nobody doubted René’s scholarly abilities. While a number of the options are generally acceptable, only “erudition” expresses the sense of having scholarly or intellectual achievements. The word literally is derived from the prefix “e-,” here meaning “away from” (in the sense of “not being”), applied to the base for “rude,” here in the sense of “uneducated” or “lacking culture.”

Example Question #232 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

The man was accused of being a traitor because he offered aid and __________ to the country's enemies during wartime.

Possible Answers:

antipathy

succor

meddling

anger

intent

Correct answer:

succor

Explanation:

We can tell from the context of the sentence that we need to pick out a word with a positive connotation that means something like "aid." Neither "antipathy" or "anger" can be the correct answer because both of those words have negative connotations. "Succor," however, is a noun that means "assistance and support in times of hardship and distress." Because "succor" is the word that best fits the context of the sentence, "succor" is the correct answer.

Example Question #233 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences

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

Nathanael differed significantly from his peers, for while the latter were eager to support and to fight in the war, he personally had markedly __________ sentiments, thinking all war to be destructive nonsense.

Possible Answers:

yellowbellied

lazy

pacifist

fearful

terrified

Correct answer:

pacifist

Explanation:

Since Nathanael’s reason for objecting to the war are based upon his thought out opinions, it is not fair to say that they derive from cowardice, as is implied by a number of the options. Instead, the best thing to say in this sentence is that he desires peace. When someone is a “pacifist,” he or she believes that war or violence are not able to be legitimated. The word is derived from the Latin for peace and is found in English words like “pacify,” “pacific,” and “appease.”

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