SAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #261 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Prime Minister Julian had been a total failure in __________ matters; therefore, he turned his attention to external, foreign affairs for the remainder of his term.

Possible Answers:

budgetary

fiduciary

bureaucratic

domestic

financial

Correct answer:

domestic

Explanation:

The contrast in this sentence is between matters internal and external to the state.  The word “domestic” is derived from Latin roots for “home” found in words like “domicile” and “domesticate.”  The word has an extended meaning when applied to political affairs, indicating that certain classes of actions and undertakings are related to matters “at home” as opposed to those that are “abroad.”

Example Question #262 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The situation with the foreign country was so precarious that the president granted __________ authority to Thomas, leaving the latter to act in any capacity that he felt necessary in order to calm the heated relations.

Possible Answers:

peacemaking 

plenipotentiary

ambassadorial 

diplomatic

political

Correct answer:

plenipotentiary

Explanation:

Someone with “plenipotentiary” authority is authorized to act on behalf of a nation (or any other person / group / etc) in any fashion whatsoever.  Such a person is said to have “full authority,” a meaning that comes out in the literal meanings of the parts of the word.  “Pleni-” is derived from the Latin “plenus” meaning “full” or “complete” and is found in English words like “plenty” and “plenitude.”  The second half (“-potentiary”) comes from roots meaning “power” or “ability” and is related to words like “potency,” “impotent,” and “potential.”

Example Question #831 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

When learning another language, it is easiest to remember vocabulary words that are __________ to words in other languages that you know, sharing the same linguistic roots.

Possible Answers:

identical

approximate

cognate

analogous

equivalent

Correct answer:

cognate

Explanation:

Cognate words are ones that share the same lineage, such as the word “fenestra” in English (meaning “an opening in bandage or an opening made in the midst of a surgery”) and the French “fenêtre” (meaning “window”) are both derived from the Latin “fenestra,” (meaning opening for light or a window).  The word “cognate” literally means “of the same birth” or “with+born.”  The “co[g]-” prefix means “with” (like “cohabitate” or “coordinate”).  The “-[g]nate-” portion is derived from Latin roots related to birth.  Similar English words are “nativity,” “natal,” and “nascent.”

Example Question #832 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

After spending the summer near the ocean, Lawrence was thrilled to return to the __________ hills of his hometown to see the arboreal scenery that he found to be so beautiful in the autumn.

Possible Answers:

craggy

sylvan

isolated

pastoral

secluded

Correct answer:

sylvan

Explanation:

The key word to note is “arboreal” which indicates that the scenery in the hometown has something of a “tree-like” character (or, more likely, is filled with many trees).  Nothing is said about the seclusion of the area, and “pastoral” above all implies fields.  The word “sylvan” comes from the Latin “silva” for forest. 

Example Question #833 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

George vexed his friends by his __________ personality, always lecturing and sermonizing on topics related to the events of contemporary society.

Possible Answers:

predicatory

pompous

imperious

magnanimous

arrogant

Correct answer:

predicatory

Explanation:

The clues in this sentence indicate that George was a “preachy” type of person.  Such a person could be called “predicatory,” a rather uncommon word, but one with roots that you can perhaps see.  It really is a combination of “pre” and “dicactory.”  The prefix here means “before” in the sense of being “before (=in front of) the crowd.”  The later is related to words like “diction,” “contradict,” and “dictionary.”  Together the word makes an adjective describing one who speaks in front of a crowd.  

Example Question #834 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The boy’s mother, remembering earlier times when he was an innocent, upright child, was saddened by the ___________ criminal activities for which he was convicted and sentenced.

Possible Answers:

unannounced

surprising

questionable

nefarious

unanticipated

Correct answer:

nefarious

Explanation:

The implied contrast in this sentence is not merely a matter of expecting one personality type and unexpectedly finding another.  Although that is certainly true, the boy’s mother is shocked at the character of the criminal activities.  In contrast with an innocent and upright childhood, these activities would not only be unexpected but also “nefarious,” meaning “wicked” or “criminal.”

Example Question #835 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

Although statistics and physics both utilize significant amounts of mathematics in their explanations, does that mean that these subjects are in reality identical or is it better to say that they are _________?

Possible Answers:

opposed

differentiated

interchangeable

equivalent

cognate

Correct answer:

cognate

Explanation:

The key to this sentence is to strike a balance between strict equivalence and opposition.   An equivalence would not provide the needed distinction, and there is nothing in the sentence to indicate a complete contrast.  The word “cognate” strikes just such a balance.  Although it usually describes words that are descended from the same linguistic roots, “cognate” can also mean “related” or “connected.” The word literally means “of the same birth” or “with+born.”  The “co[g]-” prefix means “with” (like “cohabitate” or “coordinate”).  The “-[g]nate-” portion is derived from Latin roots related to birth.  Similar English words are “nativity,” “natal,” and “nascent.”

Example Question #836 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

Rembert’s large frame was matched by a rich, __________ voice, which had a depth proportional to his imposing appearance.

Possible Answers:

sonorous

deafening

piercing

shrill

blaring

Correct answer:

sonorous

Explanation:

Clearly, the sentence wishes to express the depth of Rembert’s voice, but this does not imply anything about its loudness.  Do not be fooled by the word “imposing.”  It is the depth that is compared to his imposing appearance.  The word “sonorous” implies depth and fullness to a voice, which well matches what is needed here. 

Example Question #837 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The moralist often examined the possible answers to his inquiries by asking himself if his hypotheses were either discordant or __________ with his personal experience.

Possible Answers:

erratic

turbulent

germane

confused

consonant

Correct answer:

consonant

Explanation:

Although it is difficult to tell if the sentence is looking for a contrast to the word “discordant” or a synonym to it, it should be clear that none of the options can be a synonym in any strict sense.  The metaphor of being “discordant” implies that something “clashes” with the moralist’s experience.  Therefore, if it must be a contrast, the word “consonant” would work best, as it implies that something is “in agreement with” his experience.  Literally, to be consonant means to “sounds with” something else.  Two agreeing notes in a piece of music are considered to be “consonant.”  The usage here is metaphorical. 

Example Question #273 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Joshua had a very _________ daily schedule, rigidly planning every hour of the day.

Possible Answers:

grueling

regimented

laborious

strenuous

monastic

Correct answer:

regimented

Explanation:

Although it might seem that a rigid schedule is difficult, we cannot imply that directly. The word “regimented” best fits the needs of this sentence, meaning “strictly organized in a strict schedule.”  The word is related to a number of words for “ruling” such as “regal,” “regent,” and “regalia.”

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors