SAT Critical Reading : Sentence Completion Questions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : One Blank Sentences

Choose the option which best completes the following sentence.

The coach liked it when his team played away games, because the __________ of the opposing fans was much better at motivating his players than the adoration of the hometown crowd.

Possible Answers:

duplicitousness

dissent

contempt

integration

skepticism

Correct answer:

contempt

Explanation:

The contextual clues tell us that the feelings of the away fans are going to be the opposite of the home fans, and the home fans "adore" the team. "Contempt" is synonymous with hatred, so it is the best choice.

Example Question #4 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The orphan never learned the identity of the kind __________ who funded his college education.

Possible Answers:

aesthetic

tyrant

antagonist

benefactor

pacifist

Correct answer:

benefactor

Explanation:

The definition of "benefactor" is someone who gives a gift, often a sum of money. This is what happened to the orphan in this sentence, so "benefactor" is the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The movie was set in the eighteenth century, but it has a terrible __________ when an actor's cell phone is clearly visible in one scene.

Possible Answers:

tolerance

vindictiveness

antagonism

anachronism

complacency

Correct answer:

anachronism

Explanation:

"Anachronism" means the representation of something as existing or happening in the wrong time period, and a cell phone in the eighteenth century is clearly misplaced. To break the word down into its roots, "ana" means wrong and "chronos" means time, so this word literally means "wrong time."

Example Question #21 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

The high school teacher talked to her students about the importance of __________ in reaching their dreams.

Possible Answers:

tenacity

vindication

haughtiness

reticence

ascendancy

Correct answer:

tenacity

Explanation:

In order to succeed in their endeavors, students must be determined. Thus, a student must have tenacity or perseverance.

Example Question #22 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

The essay was one of many fascinating works in a(n) __________ edited by her favorite author.

Possible Answers:

anthology

obituary 

broadside

antagonism

soufflé

Correct answer:

anthology

Explanation:

An anthology is a published collection of shorter pieces of writing, such as essays. While obituaries and broadsides are also published written works, they do not contain a collection of essays. 

Example Question #31 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Harry couldn't keep up with their quick __________; they joked and teased each other constantly.

Possible Answers:

redundance

bravado

propriety

banter

childishness

Correct answer:

banter

Explanation:

Banter is correct because it means to speak playfully or wittily. Joking and teasing (especially when it is quick and witty) can be described as banter. 

Example Question #32 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

John reluctantly sat down to complete his math homework; Emma, on the other hand, jumped into her chair and attacked the problem sets with ­­__________.

Possible Answers:

benevolence

apathy

altruism

malediction

alacrity

Correct answer:

alacrity

Explanation:

The second half of the sentence contrasts with the first, as we can tell by “on the other hand.” This means that the word in the blank should mean the opposite of reluctance and grudge. The correct answer is “alacrity,” which means cheerful willingness.

Example Question #33 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences

Each sentence completion question is made up of a sentence with one or two blanks.  One blank indicates that one word is missing.  Two blanks indicate that two words are missing.  Each sentence is followed by five choices.  Select the one word or pair of words that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

At the _____ of her career, the figure skater Tara Lipinski won the Olympic gold medal in individual figure skating.

Possible Answers:

conclusion

decline

beginning

apex

plateau

Correct answer:

apex

Explanation:

The apex is the best fit in this sentence since Tara Lipinski won the highest medal possible at the height or apex of her career.

Example Question #111 : One Blank Sentences

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one or two blanks.  One blank indicates that one word is missing.  Two blanks indicate that two words are missing.  Each sentence is followed by five choices.  Select the one word or pair of words that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

The __________ between brother and sister was almost too much for their parents to bear on the cross country road trip.

Possible Answers:

accord

neutrality

contention

indifference

pacificity

Correct answer:

contention

Explanation:

The situation suggests that both son and daughter were willfull and had disagreements during the road trip; thus, they had contention between them.

Example Question #111 : One Blank Sentences

Each question below is made up of a sentence with one blank. The blank indicates that a word is missing. Each sentence is followed by five choices. Select the one word that will best complete the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Rather than take the information in the book at face value, it was important to note that the author used heavy sarcasm and _____.

Possible Answers:

allusions

veracity

analogies

satire

synecdoche

Correct answer:

satire

Explanation:

The key to this sentence is noting that the author does not simply write straightforward facts, but he instead uses sarcasm and ridicule or satire.

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