All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #824 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Clearly, the priest had little experience with __________ matters, so the members of his church offered to do the bookkeeping on his behalf.
applied
household
empirical
practical
fiscal
fiscal
The only thing implied by this sentence is that the priest needs help doing the “bookkeeping,” which generally is taken to mean the activity of tracking the financial accounting of an organization; therefore, the best choice to describe his lack of experience is that of being short in “fiscal” matters (whatever else might be said). The word fiscal comes from the Latin root for “basket,” which can be extended to mean something for storing goods or money. It is related to the English “confiscate,” which means not merely “to take” but also often conveys the sense of a government taking the property for the public use or financial benefit.
Example Question #823 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Peter, who always bumbled his words and was generally incomprehensible, was jealous of his brother, who, by contrast, was quite __________.
loquacious
dashing
articulate
rhetorical
mellifluous
articulate
The words “bumbled” and “incomprehensible” both indicate that Peter could not communicate in a clear way. One could likely say that he was “incoherent.” In contrast to this, his brother could be called “articulate,” meaning that he can express himself in a coherent manner. The word is derived from the Latin word for “joint.” An “article” is like the small joint that makes up a larger body of knowledge. When someone is “articulate,” that person is said to “cut the matter at its joints”—that is, he or she breaks the topic into its appropriate parts (or articles).
Example Question #824 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After compiling the __________ list of potential outcomes, Peter was certain that no surprises lay in front of him.
preliminary
preparatory
ancillary
exhaustive
introspective
exhaustive
Since Peter expected no surprises, it is safe to assume that he believed his list to be absolutely complete. The word “exhaustive” literally means “to drain out completely” in the sense of “examining every aspect.” When someone is “exhausted,” all of his or her energy has been trained. We likewise say that (for example) all options are exhausted when there are no more remaining.
Example Question #825 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since the class had only a week to read the thousand page book, the teacher decided to assign a(n) __________ version of the text, containing only the essential passages of the story.
elementary
pertinent
exemplary
abridged
outdated
abridged
The implication of the sentence is that the version of the text being assigned is a shortened version, “containing only the essential passages of the story.” An abridgment of a story is a shortened version of it, often claimed to contain the “essential passages.” The word “abridge” is related to other “shortening” words like “abbreviate,” “brief,” and “brevity.”
Example Question #826 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although Justine did not have an __________ talent for mathematics, with great devotion and study she managed to develop significant skills in this area, ultimately being able to minor in mathematics in college.
abundant
unquestioned
unquantifiable
immense
innate
innate
Since Justine was said to develop her abilities, the implication in the opposition-indicating “although” clause is that she did not have these naturally. An “innate” ability is literally one that is “inborn” or natural. It comes from the Latin word for “to be born,” which is found in English words like “nativity” and “natal.”
Example Question #825 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Though many thought the strange lump on Ronald’s forehead was an __________ trait, it actually had derived from a recent accident.
inborn
ancient
unbecoming
odd
injurious
inborn
Since Ronald’s lump was the result of a chance, external event, it was not a trait that he had naturally. The sentence clearly implies that the word needed must be opposed to the accidental manner by which he received the lump. Therefore, it is best said that people believed that it was an inborn characteristic.
Example Question #826 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Mary rarely thought in a systematic manner, instead preferring to gather her ideas __________ from any source that she found to be intriguing.
flippantly
eclectically
regularly
frivolously
occasionally
eclectically
The opposition being implied here is between an orderly, systematic approach and one that gathers things somewhat haphazardly. We cannot say that Mary’s approach is necessarily flippant or frivolous; however, it is fair to say that such a non-systematic approach is “eclectic,” which means “gathering from a broad number of sources,” often implying that this gathering is done without a single unifying principle (except perhaps in the tastes of the one gathering).
Example Question #171 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although Bryce was soft-spoken and inarticulate when talking one-on-one, he could be movingly __________ when addressing a crowd.
spirited
loquacious
boisterous
eloquent
convivial
eloquent
The opposition here is between someone who privately cannot speak well or articulately but apparently can do so when in a crowd. When someone can communicate articulately (and convincingly), such a person is said to be “eloquent.” The word is derived from Latin roots meaning “to speak,” found in English terms like “elocution,” “colloquy,” and “colloquial.”
Example Question #172 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Not only was Matthew’s handwriting sloppy, it was also so __________ that one needed to magnify it in order to read it.
faint
delicate
minuscule
illegible
scrawled
minuscule
The key word here is “magnify,” which implies that Matthew’s handwriting was not merely sloppy but also small. The word “minuscule,” (often spelled “miniscule”), means “very small.” Clearly, it contains the root related to “mini-”, meaning “small;” however, the original usage was applied to small letters in Roman script (as opposed to forms of script that was written in capital letters or “uncials”).
Example Question #811 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The librarian continually reminds students to choose __________ sources for their research papers since accuracy of information is important in the writing process.
credible
concise
conclusive
remarkable
unbelievable
credible
Since the librarian wants information that is accurate in students' papers, she most likely reminds students to choose credible or trustworthy sources.