All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #731 : Sentence Completion Questions
The horror movie featured completely __________ creatures that had to avoid all forms light lest they die.
diurnal
nocturnal
lucifugal
vampiric
brackish
lucifugal
For this sentence, you must use your abilities to “piece together” words from their parts in order to find the correct answer. The creatures mentioned here must “avoid all forms of light.” The key thing to note is that it states “all” forms of light; therefore, “nocturnal” does not best work because that would only imply sunlight. Do not be tempted by “vampiric,” either, for that is not specific enough. The word “lucifugal,” though very rarely used in English, can be guessed even if you have never encountered it. The “luci-” portion of the word means “light” and is related to words like “translucent,” “lucid,” and “pellucid.” The “-fugal” portion of the word comes from Latin roots meaning “to flee” and is related to English words like “fugitive” and “refugee.” Based on this, we can see that the word “lucifugal” means “light-fleeing”—just what is needed for this sentence.
Example Question #55 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Robert loved to have large ceremonies in which he could __________ present himself before a crowd in a grandiose and self-centered manner.
unquestionably
impressively
pompously
skillfully
greatly
pompously
Since Robert likes to draw attention to himself with large ceremonies, he could be said to act “pompously.” In an older sense, “pomp” or a “pompous display” would merely mean a large and splendid event. However, the word often implies not only a grand style but likewise that it is meant to draw attention to the one showing said style.
Example Question #701 : One Blank Sentences
George was well known for the __________ talent to which he bore witness from his youngest days.
remarkable
amazing
precocious
astounding
academic
precocious
The key words in this sentence are “from his youngest days.” This helps to eliminate words like “amazing,” “remarkable,” and “astounding.” The best option is “precocious,” for a person who shows amazing talent from his or her youth is said to be “precocious.” It often can mean that one has developed such abilities “before their time” (i.e. much earlier than expected). It comes from Latin roots literally meaning “to be pre-cooked” or “pre-ripened.”
Example Question #61 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Although the conclusion to the argument appeared to be absolutely certain, in actuality, it was merely __________.
reductive
inductive
probable
deducible
questionable
probable
The answers to the argument are implied to be less than certain, though the sentence does not imply that they are completely impossible. Therefore, they must be said to hold in a weaker sense. When something is “probable,” it is often said to be “likely.” This does not mean that it is necessary. A probability is not a guarantee that something will or must occur.
Example Question #62 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
The car was __________ in the sand, unable to be transferred from its location by any means.
wedged
lodged
immobile
ensnared
confined
immobile
The key expression in this sentence is “unable to be transferred,” for this implies that the car cannot be moved. This is literally what is meant by the word “immobile,” which is merely the combination of the “im-” prefix, which here means “not,” with the base “mobile.”
Example Question #101 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
When Dee adopted it off of the street, the underfed kitten looked __________, with its skin tight against its bones, but within a week started to put on weight and looked much healthier.
listless
gaunt
plump
healthy
concerned
gaunt
We know that the kitten was "underfed" and "its skin [looked] tight against its bones," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "emaciated." "Plump" and "healthy" are antonyms of the word we're looking for, so neither can be the correct answer. "Gaunt," an adjective that means "lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age," is the correct answer because it best fits the sentence's context.
Example Question #901 : Sentence Completion
The process was quite difficult to perform, for it required not only a number of sequential actions but also ones that had to be done __________.
strenuously
simultaneously
immediately
progressivly
assiduously
simultaneously
The contrast being asserted in this sentence is between “sequential” actions and ones that would be done in a non-sequential manner. A process that is done “sequentially” is one that has a number of steps done one after another. Therefore, the best contrast to this would be a process having steps done at the same time, or “simultaneously.” The “simul-” portion of the word comes from the Latin meaning “at the same time” and is distantly related to other “sameness” words like “similar” and “similarity.”
Example Question #102 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Being overly confident in their grasp of a subject’s details, young scholars often proclaim their most unsubstantial opinions as though they were __________ certain of them.
steadily
relatively
somewhat
apodictically
regularly
apodictically
Since the young scholars are described as being “overly confident,” the best option will reflect such confidence. They will thus be described as being very certain or as having unwavering certainty. When something is “apodictic,” it is considered to have been completely demonstrated, leaving no room to doubt it. This would well describe the great certainty of the young scholars.
Example Question #721 : One Blank Sentences
Karen and Dorothy were quite a pair of contrasts, for Karen was always emotional and agitated, while Dorothy had a rather __________ temperament.
stoic
ebullient
sparkling
cheerful
zestful
stoic
The contrast in this sentence is between someone who is said to be generally emotional and someone who is not. Just because Karen is emotional and agitated, one need not believe that she was nasty, sad, depressed, or anything else. The best contrasting term is “stoic,” meaning “undergoing difficulties without showing emotion.” It is often used in the broader sense of implying that a person shows no emotion when it would seem normal to do so. The term is taken from the ancient Greek (and later Roman) philosophical school (the Stoic school of thought) that is often given the simplistic characterization of promoting this kind of outlook on life.
Example Question #901 : Sentence Completion
The distinction that the teacher was attempting to make were particularly __________, easily overlooked by students who were expecting an immediately evident explanation.
arduous
complex
subtle
simple
difficult
subtle
The best guide for answering this sentence is the expression “easily overlooked,” though the remark about “immediate evidence” is also helpful. When something is easily overlook and not evident with blinding immediacy, it can be said to be “subtle,” meaning that it is either indirect or even (more properly) fine / delicate. Something very “fine” or “subtle” is something small—i.e. not large, blatant, and obvious.