SAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #66 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

Tom secretly hoped to once again __________ a romance with Jasmine this winter.

Possible Answers:

jeopardize

kindle

scrutinize

pilfer

juxtapose

Correct answer:

kindle

Explanation:

"Kindle" means to ignite or light. "Jeopardize" means to risk or imperil. "Pilfer" means to steal or rip off. "Juxtapose" means to place two or more things side-by-side for comparison. "Scrutinize" means to scan or review in detail.

Example Question #67 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

The defendant hoped to __________ his guilty conscious by confessing to all his crimes.

Possible Answers:

assuage

inhibit

waver

emulate

cadge

Correct answer:

assuage

Explanation:

"Assuage" means to soothe or relieve. "Waver" means to shift back and forth or be indecisive. "Inhibit" means to restrict or inhibit. "Cadge" means to beg or scrounge. "Emulate" means to imitate the actions of someone or something.

Example Question #71 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences

Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.

The detective hoped to __________ as much information as he could from the missing man's diary.

Possible Answers:

glean

feign

obviate

aver

desiccate

Correct answer:

glean

Explanation:

"Glean" means to pick out or collect. "Obviate" means to make unneccesary. "Feign" means to pretend or fake. "Desiccate" means to dehydrate or dry out. "Aver" means to assert or maintain.

Example Question #501 : Sentence Completions

The majority of the country was opposed to the war, hoping that differences between the nations would soon be __________. 

Possible Answers:

mystified

reconciled

enticed

obscured

propagated

Correct answer:

reconciled

Explanation:

The people want the war to stop, so it is best to assume that they want the disputes between the nation to be resolved. The answer choice that most clearly displays this meaning is reconciled. 

Example Question #491 : One Blank Sentences

Sentence Completions: Select the word or phrase that most correctly completes the sentence.

 

The problem with the sink turned out to be a mass of food residue that needed to be __________ before the water could drain through the pipes.

Possible Answers:

coddled

expunged

compacted

machinated

inculcated

Correct answer:

expunged

Explanation:

We can infer from the sentence that the water is not draining through the pipes. "A mass of food residue" is causing the problem. We could guess that the food is blocking the pipes, so we should predict that the food needs to be removed or expelled. "Inculcated" means to have impressed something on the mind or to have some idea instilled into the brain. That makes no sense in this sentence!  "Coddled" means pampered or spoiled, and we don't want to treat the mass kindly, we want to get rid of it! "Machinated" means to have created an evil plot, so it doesn't make sense in the sentence. "Compacted" is close in meaning to the word we want; it means condensed or compressed, so it doesn't really fit the sentence, either. "Expunged" means to have obliterated or completely removed something. That's our best choice.

Example Question #491 : One Blank Sentences

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

By __________ the construction on the highway and taking an alternate route, Marge managed to get to the restaurant before all her friends.

Possible Answers:

jeopardizing

hallowing

adapting

circumventing

postponing

Correct answer:

circumventing

Explanation:

From the context of the sentence, we know that Marge got to the restaurant early because she was able to avoid the construction by taking an alternate route. So, we are looking for a verb that means to avoid. Since to "circumvent" something means to navigate around an obstacle, "circumventing" is the correct answer.

Example Question #492 : One Blank Sentences

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

Sally only __________ her secret after her sister promised she would not tell anyone.

Possible Answers:

lauded

divulged

coveted

impeded

endured

Correct answer:

divulged

Explanation:

The word that fits in this blank needs to be a verb that means something along the lines of told. Since "divulge" means expose secret information, it is the best answer.

Example Question #493 : One Blank Sentences

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

The medium claimed to be able to __________ the future by looking into her crystal ball.

Possible Answers:

squander

descry

oscillate

whittle

mollify

Correct answer:

descry

Explanation:

We're looking for a verb that means see, as the sentence involves the medium "looking into her crystal ball," or find out in advance, because we can infer that she claims to be able to know about the future in advance. Because of this, the best answer choice is "descry," which means either see or discover.

Example Question #411 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The younger sibling loved to __________ the anger of her brother by pestering him until he became irate.

Possible Answers:

undermine

expose

provoke

prevaricate

depose

Correct answer:

provoke

Explanation:

The sister here could be said to “pester” her brother, that is, to attempt to annoy him into anger. When someone “provokes” another person, he or she attempts to draw out or cause an emotion or reaction in that person. The word comes from roots that literally mean to draw forth. The “pro-” prefix can mean forward, as can be seen in words like “proceed” (to go forward with some chosen action). The “-voke” portion here means to call. It is found in words like “invoke” and “invocation.” It is also related to words like “vocal” and “vocation.”

Example Question #1444 : Psat Critical Reading

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

His throat parched and his entire body trembling from dehydration, Robert gladly __________ his thirst with a large bottle of water when he returned home.

Possible Answers:

ameliorated

slaked

recanted

overcame

defeated

Correct answer:

slaked

Explanation:

Since the sentence specifically mentions that Robert is dehydrated, it is best to choose the answer that best describes the removal of said condition. When one “slakes” his or her thirst, he or she quenches it or satisfies it. Although the word is distantly related to the notion of “slackening” (as in loosening), it is most often used to describe the act of quenching or reducing thirst.

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