Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences

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SAT Critical Reading › Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences

Questions 1 - 10
1

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

The elderly woman’s __________ tone about modern dating habits made the young men hesitant to tell her about their personal lives.

approving

laudatory

inquisitive

censorious

curious

Explanation

As the young men avoid her, the elderly woman obviously dislikes modern dating habits, which rules out “approving” and “laudatory” as possible correct answers. Similarly, the young men’s unwillingness to talk indicates she was not “inquisitive,” or "curious." “Censorious,” meaning stern and critical, is the only possible correct answer.

2

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

The mill makes flour by __________ wheat between two large, heavy stones which are turned as horses pull them.

pulverizing

flattening

dealing

whetting

climbing

Explanation

We know that the mill makes flour by crushing wheat between two large stones, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "crushing." While "flattening" might seem like a potentially correct answer, "pulverizing" is the better choice, as "pulverizing" means "reducing to fine particles" or, more informally, "defeat utterly." Because "pulverizing" best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

3

During World War One, a doctor had to be removed from the frontline because the sight of so much blood made him __________.

swoon

cantankerous

enigmatic

jubilant

altruistic

Explanation

From the context of the question you know that the sight of blood caused a certain reaction in the Doctor, you also know that this reaction caused him to be removed from somewhere (the frontline) where he was likely to see a lot of blood; therefore it must have been something that hindered his abilities. Altruistic means generous or charitable, and does not fit. Enigmatic means mysterious, and jubilant means happy. You can rule out those two words. Cantankerous means easily angered and could possibly fit in this sentence, but swoon is the best answer as it means to faint. Fainting is a more plausible reaction to the sight of so much blood.

4

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

The mill makes flour by __________ wheat between two large, heavy stones which are turned as horses pull them.

pulverizing

flattening

dealing

whetting

climbing

Explanation

We know that the mill makes flour by crushing wheat between two large stones, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "crushing." While "flattening" might seem like a potentially correct answer, "pulverizing" is the better choice, as "pulverizing" means "reducing to fine particles" or, more informally, "defeat utterly." Because "pulverizing" best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

5

Kevin was not known for making __________ arguments, for his sentences were often labyrinthine, obscure masses of confusion.

lucid

vertiginous

amazing

childish

unaccomplished

Explanation

The contrast here is between obscurity and clarity. When something or someone is “lucid,” he or she is able to express ideas or thoughts in a clear manner. The word actually comes from base words for “light,” which are found in English relatives like “lucent,” “translucent,” and even “Lucifer” (the so-called “light bearing angel” who later fell from grace, according to Christian tradition).

6

When he was nervous about an exam, Sebastian would __________ the power of God to help him know the correct answers.

invoke

revoke

claim

assume

intercede

Explanation

The sense of the sentence is that Sebastian would “call upon” the powers of God for help. When one “invokes” someone or something, he or she does just that. From its roots in Latin, the word literally means “to call on.” The prefix “in-” can at times mean “on” because of the use of “in” in Latin, which also can me “on” in the sense of “on top of.” The “-voke” portion of the word comes from the Latin for “to call or name.” It is found in words like “vocation” and “advocate.”

7

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.

During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt gave many explanatory speeches to the American public, hoping to __________ fears over the lengthening economic crisis.

allay

exacerbate

harmonize

propagate

undulate

Explanation

This question requires a small amount of critical thinking on your part. You likely will conclude that the President would be seeking to remove or help ameliorate the fears of the American people during a depression. This would lead you to the correct answer “allay,” which means to calm or relieve. "Exacerbate" is opposite in meaning and means make something greater or worse; "harmonize" means complement; "propagate" means to spread; and "undulate" means to roll and ripple.

8

The doctors and policeman __________ to solve the case and serve justice to the kidnapper.

collaborated

compromised

imputed

reconciled

submitted

Explanation

Because two different professions are coming together to solve, the best choice is "collaborated," which means to work together.

9

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

The elderly woman’s __________ tone about modern dating habits made the young men hesitant to tell her about their personal lives.

approving

laudatory

inquisitive

censorious

curious

Explanation

As the young men avoid her, the elderly woman obviously dislikes modern dating habits, which rules out “approving” and “laudatory” as possible correct answers. Similarly, the young men’s unwillingness to talk indicates she was not “inquisitive,” or "curious." “Censorious,” meaning stern and critical, is the only possible correct answer.

10

The image of the apple was starkly visible in the __________ of the painting, standing out from the coffee shop portrayed behind it.

foreground

scenery

stillness

details

background

Explanation

The contrast expressed in this sentence is between the apple and the coffee shop, which is apparently behind the apple (as implied by “portrayed behind it \[the apple\]”). When something sits “in front” of other things so as to be very visible, it is said to be in the “foreground,” literally the “front ground” of the image, view, or painting.

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