SAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #792 : Sentence Completions

Select the word or word pair that best completes the sentence.

Just because I have changed my major seven times doesn't mean that I am __________ in every aspect of my life.

Possible Answers:

prodigious

incessant

fickle

esoteric

Correct answer:

fickle

Explanation:

Had this student actually completed seven degrees she could make the argument that her academic life was "prodigious" (which describes something that is enormous or exceptional). And one could attempt to argue that she "incessantly" (without ceasing) changed majors. But the best answer here is "fickle" (changing frequently; not particularly loyal or reliable).

Example Question #793 : Sentence Completions

Select the word or word pair that best completes the sentence.

Having composed thousands of text messages over the course of the month, John was struggling to keep his term paper from sounding too __________.

Possible Answers:

aloof

colloquial

livid

mediocre

Correct answer:

colloquial

Explanation:

Most people compose text messages using language that is more informal and conversational than the language they might use in a formal essay for school—instead of asking a friend, "Would you do me the honor of dining with me this afternoon?" you might simply text (more "colloquially"), "hey—let's get lunch." Thus, "colloquial" (language used in casual, everyday situations) is the best answer here.

Example Question #821 : Sentence Completion Questions

Select the word or word pair that best completes the sentence.

While I sometimes wished he were more serious, I generally appreciated Chris's __________ repartee when I'd had a rough day.

Possible Answers:

jocular

pompous

severe

perceptive

Correct answer:

jocular

Explanation:

You can hear the root meaning of joke within the word "jocular" (though it is pronounced not with the long O of "joke," but "JOCK-yuh-ler"). We learn here that Chris is rarely serious and that his personality provides welcome relief on difficult days. "Jocular" (joking and playful) is the best answer choice to describe him.

Example Question #822 : Sentence Completion Questions

Pick the best word to complete this sentence.

The art critic disapproved of the  __________ bright neon colors of the exhibit; he preferred more modest earth tones.

Possible Answers:

mauve

offensive

garish

subtle

frequent

Correct answer:

garish

Explanation:

The sentence sets up a contrast: the critic prefers "modest" colors, but the exhibit presents the opposite. We know this because the critic "disapproved of the . . . neon colors," and we were told what the critic prefers: "modest earth tones." What word best fits the opposite of "modest earth tones" and matches with "bright neon colors"? We should predict that we need to pick out a word that means something like bright and colorful. "Subtle" means understated or cunning, which is the opposite of the word we predicted. "Frequent" means occuring often, and doesn't fit the sentence. The best fit is "garish," which means gaudy or glaring and is closest to our prediction of bright and colorful, though it describes something that is too bright and colorful.

Example Question #823 : Sentence Completion Questions

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

The chairman was saddened by the __________ response that his controversial plan received from numerous outraged employees.

Possible Answers:

comatose

apathetic

laudatory

scathing

jubilant

Correct answer:

scathing

Explanation:

What sort of respose would we predict "numerous outraged employees" to give?  The key word is "outraged"—we should expect the response to be angry, upset, or critical. "Jubilant" means rejoicing or triumphant, so it is the opposite of the word we're looking for. Also, "lauditory" means full of praise—another opposite word. "Apathetic" means disinterested or unemotional, and "lethargic" means sluggish or having very little energy. The best word for the blank is "scathing," which means bitterly severe.

Example Question #792 : Sentence Completions

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

Even though he could have taken revenge on his defeated opponent, the general's generous peace terms showed his __________ nature.

Possible Answers:

magnanimous

concerned

instinctive

vindictive

excoriating

Correct answer:

magnanimous

Explanation:

Because the general did not take revenge when he could have and offered generous peace terms, we should predict that a word that accurately describes his nature should mean something like goodkindgenerous, or merciful. "Excoriating" means harsh and specifically refers to harsh, critical speech— this word has a negative connotation, so it doesn't fit with our prediction of a positively-connoted word to describe the general's nature. "Vindictive" means seeking or done to achieve revenge—precisely what the general did not do! "Concerned" is close, but it means troubled or anxious—we don't get the sense that the general is worried in this sentence, though. "Instinctive" means based on instinct instead of something that has been formally taught or done without thinking, so it can't be the correct answer either. "Magnanimous," however, means generous in forgiving an insult or injury, so that is the word we want!

Example Question #824 : Sentence Completion Questions

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

The politician resigned in disgrace after details of his __________ private affairs were leaked to the press.

Possible Answers:

convivial

lurid

candid

exemplary

chaste

Correct answer:

lurid

Explanation:

If someone resigns in disgrace after his private actions were revealed, those actions can't have been good. The word we want should mean something like badshocking, or scandalous. "Exemplary" means beyond reproach or of very high moral quality. No one would be disgraced for being found to be exemplary, so "exemplary" cannot be the correct answer. Likewise, "chaste" means pure, undefiled, or stainless. "Candid" means blunt and honest; it wouldn't make sense for a person to resign because their affairs were honest. "Convivial" means friendly or cheerful—this, too, wouldn't fit the sense of the sentence. Our best choice is "lurid," which means horrible or revolting. It makes sense to resign if the press learns that your actions were lurid.

Example Question #801 : Sentence Completions

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

Even after spending thousands of dollars on custom hair products to alleviate his baldness, the results were __________; only a few hairs grew back.

Possible Answers:

meager

stupendous

cavalier

inchoate

fallow

Correct answer:

meager

Explanation:

If only a few hairs grew back after someone spent thousands of dollars trying to cure his baldness, we would call the results poor or scanty. We're looking for a word that indicates the results were underwelming. "Stupendous" means the opposite of the word we're looking for—it means fantastic or amazing, and that would indicate the results were successful. "Cavalier" means unconcerned with something that one should be concerned about, so it would not make sense in the blank. "Fallow" means not in use or inactive and is often used to describe land, specifically, fields being allowed to rest and regain their nutrients. The results of the subject's attempt to cure his baldness weren't inactive, they were scanty. "Inchoate" means just beginning; that doesn't fit—the treatment has been concluded, and is not just beginning.  "Meager" is the best answer choice—it means deficient in results, scanty, or thin.

Example Question #781 : One Blank Sentences

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

The little boy ran back and forth on the beach, trying to fill a hole he had dug in the sand with water; the effort was __________, the sand absorbed the water, leaving the hole dry.

Possible Answers:

salutary

futile

inconclusive

extensive

acclaimed

Correct answer:

futile

Explanation:

How would you describe the effort of someone trying to fill a hole on the beach with sea water? It wouldn't work, would it?  Some good predictions could be pointless, ineffective, or unsuccessful. From our answer choices, inconclusive is close, but it means uncertain or unknown. However, the result of the boy's efforts is conclusive: it doesn't work. "Salutary" means healthy or wholesome, and while it might be salutary exercise to run back and forth on the beach, it certainly isn't a salutary effort to fill a hole with water. "Extensive" means far-reaching or comprehensive, so it doesn't fit the sense of the sentence. "Acclaimed" means widely praised, so it doesn't match our prediction. "Futile" means ineffectiveuseless, or doomed to failure.  That's our word!

Example Question #781 : One Blank Sentences

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

Given the __________ number of rubber bands that Darryl had in his possession, no one was surprised when he mentioned that he might try to break the world record for building the largest rubber-band ball.

Possible Answers:

ubiquitous

copious

venturesome

petulant

urbane

Correct answer:

copious

Explanation:

Since no one is surprised that Darryl wants to try to break the world record for largest rubber-band ball, we can infer that he has a great many rubber bands at his disposal. So, we need to pick an adjective for the blank that means something like ample or great. While "ubiquitous" sounds like it could be the correct answer, "ubiquitous" actually means occurring or found everywhere, and if it were used in the sentence, it wouldn't actually describe the number of rubber bands in Darryl's possession. "Copious," on the other hand, means abundant and makes sense in the sentence's context, so "copious" is the correct answer.

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