All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
In the symphony, a single theme was __________ numerous times, emerging as the recognizable primary melody of the overall piece.
undertaken
altered
recapitulated
resumed
recited
recapitulated
The sentence implies that the theme was repeated multiple times. Although one might think that “resume” is acceptable, one cannot say that the theme “stopped” and then was “started again.” Likewise, “recited” really has more to do with repeating memorized words than anything with music. The word “recapitulation” can be used in music to refer to a section in which various themes are repeated. Here, the sentence expresses that the theme was repeated or “recapitulated.” The word literally means bringing the heading (i.e. theme) back. The “heading” portion comes from the Latin for head, which is found in words like “capital” (head city of a nation) and “per capita” (literally meaning “per head” or “as applies, perhaps on average, to each person in a group”).
Example Question #32 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Although the ship had been sailed several times, the public still wished to hold an official ceremony in order to __________ it for official service.
acknowledge
christen
advertise
announce
promulgate
christen
Since the sentence is concerned with a ceremony on behalf of the ship, the verb that is needed will best describe the action of a ceremony that makes something usable for official service. Although we might often think of “christen” in a religious sense, it more generally means to dedicate something (for some end or set of ends) in an official, public, and ceremonial manner.
Example Question #451 : One Blank Sentences
In order to make amends for her recent remarks, the teacher was forced to stand before her peers and __________ the statement that she had made and furthermore to promise never to make such a remark in the future.
recant
commentate
clarify
overlook
explicate
recant
The sense of this sentence is a bit difficult, for you must choose the least bad answer. Since the teacher had to promise never to make such a remark again, it is more likely that she was asked to “take back” the remark than merely to “commentate” or “clarify.” The word “recant” means “to take back” or “to declare that one does not believe what one has held or proclaimed in the past.” The word comes from the combination of “re-”, here used as meaning “going back” (as in “return”), and “-cant,” which comes from the Latin for “to sing” (as found in English words like “chant” and “cantor”). The English word reflects the Latin development of these two parts taken together, for in latter language, the word “recantare” meant “to revoke”—a meaning quite close to ours.
Example Question #411 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
When Edward discovered that his daughter had cheated on her exam, he was __________ by the news and immediately called her into his den in order to reprimand her sternly.
saddened
disappointed
dispirited
surprised
incensed
incensed
Since the sentence states that Edward reprimanded his daughter sternly, it can be implied that he was angered by the news of her cheating. The best option is “incensed,” which means “having been made very angry.” It is derived from Latin words concerned with fire and is related to English words like “incense” and “incendiary.”
Example Question #351 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
The construction company __________ the old building before beginning construction on the new one, and in the interim left a completely empty lot where the older building had once stood.
grounded
restored
razed
left
opened
razed
We can infer that because the construction company "left a completely empty lot where the older building had once stood," they completely tore down the old building before putting up the new one. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "completely tear down." "Restored" cannot be the correct answer choice because it means the opposite of the word we are looking for, and while "grounded" may look like a potentially correct answer choice because the construction company left only bare ground after they were done tearing down the old building, "razed" is the best answer because it is a verb that means "completely destroy a building, town, or other site."
Example Question #33 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Since his study was being crowded with books that he had bought, Vincent decided to simplify the room by __________ all of those texts that he deemed to be unnecessary for his research.
spurning
contemn
rejecting
reducing
eliminating
eliminating
The only thing that the sentence says about Vincent’s action is that he decided to simplify the room. Therefore, do not imply anything else in your answer, such as “spurning” or the like. The best option, though very simple, is “eliminating.” Interestingly, the word “eliminate” literally means “to place outside of the threshold (of some area, whether physical or figurative).” The “threshold” portion of the meaning is signified by the “-liminate” portion of the word, and it is related to words like “limitation” and “delimit.”
Example Question #34 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
With the concert ready to begin, the band director __________ the audience for assistance in filling the critically necessary lead tuba part that was not filled due to an illness.
queried
requested
implored
inquired
asked
implored
The key phrase in this sentence is “critically necessary.” Since the director needs to fill such an important part in the orchestra, it is likely that he will not merely ask for help in a reserved manner. Instead, it is more likely that he will ask for such help in an earnest manner. The word is derived from the Latin roots that mean not merely to ask or request but to do so often with the implication of tearfully doing so. It is related to the English “deplorable,” which indicates conditions that are extremely lamentable—very worthy of disapproval.
Example Question #415 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
When he was nervous about an exam, Sebastian would __________ the power of God to help him know the correct answers.
invoke
claim
assume
revoke
intercede
invoke
The sense of the sentence is that Sebastian would “call upon” the powers of God for help. When one “invokes” someone or something, he or she does just that. From its roots in Latin, the word literally means “to call on.” The prefix “in-” can at times mean “on” because of the use of “in” in Latin, which also can me “on” in the sense of “on top of.” The “-voke” portion of the word comes from the Latin for “to call or name.” It is found in words like “vocation” and “advocate.”
Example Question #35 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
For years, Carol’s family tried to __________ her from drinking alcohol as heavily as she did, but eventually they realized that she would have to convince herself of the merits of such a choice.
dissuade
detach
oblige
require
force
dissuade
The key word is in the second half of the sentence, namely “convince.” The implication is that the family was trying to convince Carol not to drink heavily. It was not attempting to force her to stop. The word literally means “to convince away from.” The “dis-” prefix can mean “away from” or some other form of reversal of an action. It is thus used in words like “disease” and “dismay.” The “-suade” portion of the word comes from the Latin for “to urge or recommend.” Related English words are “persuade” and “persuasive.”
Example Question #591 : One Blank Sentences
Since it was not extremely cold, Raul believed that the two blankets would __________ to keep him warm for the evening.
insulate
provide
cover
supply
suffice
suffice
Since it was not very cold, the two blankets presumably were sufficient for warming Raul that evening. That is, they “did the job” well enough, given the circumstances. When something “suffices,” it meets the needs of a given situation. Given that the sentence stresses the fact that it was not extremely cold, this is the best option, as it conveys the sense implied in remarks comparing the number of blankets to the moderate weather.