SAT Critical Reading : Sentence Completion Questions
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #41 : Sat Critical Reading
The lost cameo ring, which held priceless family value and sentiment but was never found.
The cameo ring, which held priceless family and value and sentiment but was lost, was never found.
Nobody ever found the lost cameo ring, even though it held priceless family value and sentiment.
The lost cameo ring, which held priceless family value and sentiment but was never found. (No change)
The lost cameo ring, which held priceless family value and sentiment, was never found.
The lost cameo ring was never found, even though it held priceless family value and sentiment
The lost cameo ring, which held priceless family value and sentiment, was never found.
The original sentence is a fragment; the entire phrase is just a subject. To fix this, end the “which” phrase after sentiment so that “was” becomes the main verb. Nothing else needs to be changed. The options with “even though” introduce a transition that is illogical; the family value does not make it more likely to be found.
Example Question #42 : Sat Critical Reading
I would much rather take a vacation to the mountains than my husband; he likes to explore the city.
Taking a vacation to the mountains is much more preferable to me than my husband; he likes to explore the city.
Taking a vacation to the mountains is something I would much rather do than my husband; he likes to explore the city.
I, rather than my husband, would like to take a vacation to the mountains; he likes to explore the city.
I would much rather take a vacation to the mountains than my husband; he likes to explore the city. (No change)
I would much rather take a vacation to the mountains than my husband would; he likes to explore the city.
I would much rather take a vacation to the mountains than my husband would; he likes to explore the city.
The problem with the original sentence is that it compares two unlike things: the action of taking a vacation to the mountains to the person of the husband. To correct this, simply add “would” after husband. Now the sentence compares the speaker’s preferences to her husband’s.
Example Question #43 : Sat Critical Reading
We could either go to the movies, get ice cream, or also we could go to the park.
We could either go to the movies, go to get ice cream, or also go to the park.
We could go to the movies, get ice cream, or also we could go to the park. (No change)
We could either go to the movies, get ice cream, or go to the park.
We could either go to see the movies, get ice cream, or we could go to the park.
We could either go to the movies, go to get ice cream, or also we could go to the park.
We could either go to the movies, get ice cream, or go to the park.
This sentence does not show parallel structure. The correct answer structures all three items in the list in the same way. It is also more concise; the words “also” and “we could” aren’t really necessary.
Example Question #31 : Sentence Completion Questions
Every student should make their own individualized study plan in order to prevent poor scores.
poor
every
No error
individualized
their
their
Since “every student” is singular, “their” should be replaced by “his or her.” “Their” can only refer to a group of people.
Example Question #32 : Sentence Completion Questions
Which of the underlined words in this sentence is used incorrectly?
Without being aware of it, ravenous termites can invade, infest, and eat away at your home.
and
at
No error
ravenous
being
being
“Being” is an example of incorrect gerund usage. A better option would be, “Without your awareness,” which would eliminate the –ing verb altogether.
Example Question #33 : Sentence Completion Questions
Having been being the only person over the age of thirty in the room, Joe felt old and out-of-place.
Being the only person over the age of thirty in the room, Joe felt old and out-of-place.
As the only person over the age of thirty in the room, Joe felt old and out-of-place.
Having been being the only person over the age of thirty in the room, Joe felt old and out-of-place. (No change)
He was the only person over the age of of thirty in the room, Joe felt old and out-of-place.
Having been the only person over the age of thirty in the room, Joe felt old and out-of-place.
As the only person over the age of thirty in the room, Joe felt old and out-of-place.
Watch out for odd variants of “to be” such as “being” and even worse, “having been being.” There is usually a cleaner way to phrase this. In this case, replacing it with “as” is the most concise and clear solution.
Example Question #34 : Sentence Completion Questions
She never quite believed that the entire scheme was planned and successfully carried out by Mr. Miller’s son.
She never quite believed that Mr. Miller’s son planned and successfully carried out the entire scheme.
She never quite believed that the entire scheme was planned by Mr. Miller’s son and he successfully carried it out too.
She never quite believed that the entire scheme was planned and successfully carried out by Mr. Miller’s son. (No change)
She never quite believed that the planning and the successfully carrying out of the plan was all done by Mr. Miller’s son.
She never quite believed that Mr. Miller’s son planned the entire scheme and then successfully carried it out.
She never quite believed that Mr. Miller’s son planned and successfully carried out the entire scheme.
The original sentence is needlessly in the passive voice. The correct option rephrases it so that it is in the active voice: the doer of the action is the subject of the sentence. The other options, both active and passive, drag out the sentence by separating the verbs.
Example Question #35 : Sentence Completion Questions
Find the error, if any, in the following sentences.
If I was you, I would stop conversing with my friends during Mr. Jones’s biology lectures.
Jones's
was
No error
conversing
my
was
The sentence should begin, “If I were you.” “Was” is the simple past tense, while “were” is the subjunctive. It indicates a hypothetical situation.
Example Question #1 : Conjunctions And Sentence Logic In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
In truth, the task was not __________, although the young man certainly acted as though it were the greatest burden he had ever undertaken.
deplorable
abhorrent
remarkable
onerous
outstanding
onerous
The key here is to pay heed to the description “burden” in the subordinate clause. The word we are searching for will best match that notion. While a burdensome task might be "remarkable" or "outstanding" (or even perhaps the other more negative choices), it most definitely is “onerous,” which means excessively burdensome. (This is further supported by the adjective “greatest” describing the perceived burden.)
The word “onerous” is derived from the Latin "onus," which means burden or load. Our English is derived from a form of the word that has the base “oner-.”
Example Question #1 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although Jeremiah was unable to stand up due to his injury, he hoped one day not only to be able to stand but also to be __________ without any aiding devices.
ambulatory
ameliorated
cured
recovered
strengthened
ambulatory
The necessary word describes a strengthening of the activity of standing. (The key to this interpretation is the phrase “but also”); therefore, the best fit is “ambulatory,” which means able to walk.
It is derived from the Latin "ambulare," to walk, which has derivatives not only in words like "ambulate" but likewise in the more familiar “ambulance,” which is indirectly derived from the Latin via a French expression for a type of moving (in a broad sense, "ambulating") field hospital.
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