SAT Critical Reading : Sentence Completion Questions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #1024 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The coach’s explanation to his team was extremely ___________, and whatever value his strategies may have given his team was lost in the lack of attention given to his words.

Possible Answers:

didactic

informative

profound

humorous

insightful

Correct answer:

didactic

Explanation:

The team did not pay attention to their coach thanks to his style, so the correct answer needs to have a problematic sense. “Informative” and “humorous” would both indicate the speech was interesting, while “profound” and “insightful” both indicate the team was listening. Only “didactic,” which indicates an excessive lecturing and moralistic tone, works with the structure of the sentence.

Example Question #1025 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

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

The young boy was the __________ accomplice to his older sister’s misdeeds, as he simply followed her around wherever she went and never knew what was happening.

Possible Answers:

unwitting

knowing

important

unenthusiastic

willing

Correct answer:

unwitting

Explanation:

The young boy “never knew what was happening,” and therefore had no knowledge of what his sister was doing. The correct answer choice should convey his lack of knowledge. Only “unwitting” has the correct sense out of all the answer choices.

Example Question #353 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

While all of his friends wanted him to choose sides in the fight, the young man remained __________.

Possible Answers:

animated

fastidious

indifferent

excited

angry

Correct answer:

indifferent

Explanation:

The structure of the sentence indicates that the young man explicitly did not choose sides in the fight, so the correct answer choice needs to mean “uncommitted” or “not caring.” “Indifferent” is the only answer choice meaning just that, while all the other choices indicate choosing a side.

Example Question #354 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The director's __________ demeanor tended to terrify new employees, but after spending a few months in the company, they usually realized he was harmless.

Possible Answers:

hurried

gargantuan

demonstrative

consoling

abrasive

Correct answer:

abrasive

Explanation:

The word "demonstrative" may be tempting, because it sounds like "monster." but that actually means tending to show emotion. Abrasive means harsh and rough in manner.

Example Question #351 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

James took the position simply because it was the only one he could find, but the more time he spent as an intern, the more __________ he found the possibility of working there.

Possible Answers:

insinuating

deplorable

alluring

decisive

terrifying

Correct answer:

alluring

Explanation:

The use of the word "but," after saying that he took the internship simply because it was all James could get, demonstrates that there was a change in his ambiguous feelings. The indication is, therefore, that he will feel positive about working there. "Alluring" means to powerfully attract or charm, which fits the context.

Example Question #356 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Despite having lived in a deplorably dirty dorm room during his college years, when he got his own apartment, Greg was actually quite __________.

Possible Answers:

hygienic

bedraggled

unkempt

disheveled

disillusioned

Correct answer:

hygienic

Explanation:

"Hygienic" is a synonym of clean. That he was "actually quite __________," despite being dirty in college tells the reader that the word should be the opposite of dirty.

Example Question #357 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Alex always comes across as __________, because his attire is perpetually immaculate and people are commonly put off by his inattention to them.

Possible Answers:

compassionate

narcissistic

salacious

inept

deplorable

Correct answer:

narcissistic

Explanation:

The sentence hints at someone who is both well-dressed and inattentive to others. This could possibly be an arrogant or self-absorbed person, and "narcissistic" means basically that.

Example Question #352 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Austin was completely __________ from the hike up the mountain, so he fell asleep on the couch as soon as he got home.

Possible Answers:

truculent

sardonic

enthused

palpable

enervated

Correct answer:

enervated

Explanation:

"Enervated" means tired or exhausted, and given the fact that he was soon napping, it is safe to assume that this is how he was feeling.

Example Question #351 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

I was grateful for Marie’s __________ personality when she and I were able to repair our broken friendship.

Possible Answers:

bashful

timorous

deterrent

conciliatory

priggish 

Correct answer:

conciliatory

Explanation:

In order for Marie to be willing to amend the friendship, her personality must be one that tends towards peace and compromise. The only word that means this out of the answers is "conciliatory."

Example Question #353 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

The formation of a strong hypothesis to base your experiment on is the __________ part of any scientific research.

Possible Answers:

scant

prolific

steadfast

admissible

paramount

Correct answer:

paramount

Explanation:

Something you base your entire research on must be the most important part of it, and we should look for a word that conveys the importance of a hypothesis. "Paramount" fits here.

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