All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #331 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Tommy's older brother told him that he had to try the spiciest hot sauce; it would test his __________.
perspicacity
mettle
tact
vigilance
treachery
mettle
"Mettle" is correct because it means strength of spirit or disposition. If Tommy can handle the spiciest hot sauce, he must be strong.
Example Question #1272 : Psat Critical Reading
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The old man, after years of active public life, decided to live his life as an isolated __________, devoting his life to reading, writing, and reflection.
wanderer
hedonist
hermit
vagabond
ne'er-do-well
hermit
The key word here is “isolated.” Nothing else in the sentence gives us a particular indication of the old man’s character or the ends to which he wishes to devote his reading, writing, and reflection. The word “hermit,” though often having religious overtones, can mean merely “living a solitary life.”
Example Question #332 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The ornate __________ of the peacock attracted the tourists' attention in the wild animal park.
ensconce
decoration
resonance
plethora
plumage
plumage
"Plumage" works the best here since it means "feathers of a bird," and a peacock is a bird that would have ornate feathers.
Example Question #333 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
It is very difficult to draw an accurate __________ between pre-Industrial European society and modern European society.
comparison
prediction
candor
rehearsal
regression
comparison
In this sentence the word “between” provides a clue to the blank word. You know that it must be describing some form of evaluation of the differences between pre-Industrial and modern European society. Prediction, rehearsal (practice), and candor (honesty and directness of character) all fail to fit comfortably within the sentence. Regression, which means to return to a less developed situation,could potentially fit if there were some other reference to a movement backwards. As there is not, the correct answer is comparison, which means the process of examining the differences or similarities in two or more things.
Example Question #334 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
There was a strong __________ among the coworkers that the sandwich shop next to their building was by far the best option for lunch.
detraction
foreboding
contention
disagreement
consensus
consensus
The context of the sentence tells us that the word should involve agreement, as all of the coworkers concur that the sandwich shop is the best restaurant at which to eat lunch. "Consensus" means an agreement reached by a group, so "consensus" is the correct answer because it best fits the sentence's context.
Example Question #335 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
In some stratified and hierarchical societies, each higher __________ has a certain set of prerogatives denied to those considered as being “beneath” their superiors.
aristocrat
functionary
bureaucrat
echelon
nobleman
echelon
The only thing implied by our sentence is that some higher “layers” of society have certain views of themselves. All of the wrong options imply too much specificity regarding such strata. The word “echelon” merely means a level in society or an organization. It comes—at several levels of remove—from the Latin word for “ladder” through later French versions of the same word. Each “echelon” is like a step on the ladder.
Example Question #336 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The members of the transit workers union came out in force, striking to support the __________ of the law that had been preventing the improvement of overtime wage rates.
abrogation
tapering
banishment
beseeching
arrogation
abrogation
While several of the answer choices may have to do with appeals or “doing away with,” the correct choice, "abrogation," is the BEST answer choice, referring to the repeal of a law or formal agreement. The other potential choices reference formal codes or laws, but aren’t directly related to the repeal or dissolution of laws or agreements.
Example Question #241 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The old man had a sweet __________ with his grandchildren, but was ornery with the assistants in the nursing home.
ego
habit
nomenclature
chimeric
deportment
deportment
The sentence creates a contrast with the word “but,” so the correct answer choice will be an antonym “ornery.” Since the sentence already has the word “sweet” provided, the correct answer choice will be a reference to a character or personality. “Deportment” fills this meaning.
Example Question #336 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The sailor was allowed a ten-day __________ in order to attend to the estate of his late father.
petard
exodus
dismissal
furlough
recall
furlough
The sentence is referencing an allowed break from service, so the appropriate answer choice is “furlough.”
Example Question #431 : Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Richard’s status as a __________ was enhanced by his refusal to join the group’s effort.
maverick
sluggard
devotee
participant
follower
maverick
Richard’s refusal to join the others means he is set apart from the group, which is the opposite meaning of "participant," "follower," "devotee," and unrelated in meaning to the word "sluggard." "Maverick" is the correct answer.