PSAT Critical Reading : Adjectives and Adverbs in One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #2083 : Sat Critical Reading
His mother said dismissively that the film was full of __________ violence, but Fred liked all the blood and gore.
captivating
shrewd
bewitching
gratuitous
gruesome
gratuitous
Because of the "but" in the sentence, we know that the mother's opinion of the violence should contrast with Fred's. Since Fred liked it, the mother didn't, and the blank calls for a negative adjective. Gruesome and gratuitous are the options we have left. We can eliminate gruesome because it is not often that someone speaks "dismissively" of something that grosses them out. Gratuitous works best because it means uncalled for or unjustified.
Example Question #668 : One Blank Sentences
The __________ soccer player returned to training after her third ACL surgery and difficult recovery.
opulent
impetuous
restrained
tenacious
wary
tenacious
Since this was her third surgery, the soccer player must be stubbornly persistent, or "tenacious" in returning to training once again after a difficult recovery.
Example Question #1621 : Psat Critical Reading
Many actors spend their entire lives chasing after the __________ high that is associated with being onstage in front of an audience.
divergent
exemplary
ephemeral
jubilant
frugal
ephemeral
"Ephemeral" works best here since a high is a temporary rush of euphoric emotions, which can only last so long before disappearing, making it temporary.
Example Question #1622 : Psat Critical Reading
The college freshman considered her dorm room very __________ after sharing a room with her three sisters all her life.
arid
capacious
florid
enervating
frugal
capacious
Because she had shared a room with her three sisters all her life, she was probably accustomed to a cramped and small living space. Thus, the dorm room must seem very large, or "capacious," to her.
Example Question #701 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Once a boring part of town life, the town meeting was now __________ with tension after the high school controversy.
prosaic
fraught
reclusive
provacative
mundane
fraught
The best answer is "fraught," which means "filled with," and captures the transformation of the town meeting from boredom to tension.
Example Question #585 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
The seemingly __________ puppy never tired, even after several vigorous hours of play.
heretical
uninhibited
volatile
satirical
indefatigable
indefatigable
"Indefatigable" means incapable of being tired out, or never tired.
Example Question #671 : One Blank Sentences
Lewis and Clark are often regarded as the daring and __________ pair that explored the entire western United States.
inadvertent
benign
mercurial
rancorous
intrepid
intrepid
The fact that Lewis and Clark explored the entire western United States would make them “intrepid”—adventurous or fearless.
Example Question #572 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
The public was pleasantly surprised and relieved by their congresswoman’s speedy and __________ recovery from pneumonia.
incongruent
superficial
inauspicious
exacerbated
resilient
resilient
“Resilient” indicates a quick recovery from illness or adversity.
Example Question #701 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Most people were impressed with George’s grasp of __________ trivia, but Susan saw it as a mere parlor trick.
popular
significant
arcane
useful
common
arcane
George’s knowledge of trivia is not something that everyone knows, ruling out both "common" and "popular." Susan’s dismissal of George’s knowledge indicates that it is also not "significant" or "useful," so "arcane" is the correct answer.
Example Question #872 : Sentence Completion
Becky's locker was __________—all of her papers were filed by date and class, all of her notes were color-coded, and there wasn't a speck of dust or piece of trash to be seen.
deprived
vulnerable
perfidious
immaculate
humble
immaculate
We're looking for an adjective that conveys how clean and organized Becky's locker is, so "immaculate," which means perfectly clean, neat, or tidy, is the best answer.
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