PSAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences
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Example Questions
Example Question #1101 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ behavior of Mother Theresa is legendary; over the course of her lifetime she gained a reputation for extreme kindness, self-sacrifice, and generosity.
holistic
polarizing
inaudible
magnanimous
arrogant
magnanimous
The second clause reveals that the first blank must describe how Mother Theresa’s behavior was kind and generous. The best answer choice is therefore magnanimous which means generous, high-minded, selfless and noble. Holistic refers to the consideration of all factors; inaudible describes something that cannot be heard; arrogant means cocky; polarizing means causes extreme division.
Example Question #1102 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The French Revolution was a(n) __________ occasion where the whole future of European society changed.
momentous
introspective
dismissive
irrelevant
polarizing
momentous
The sentence suggests that the French Revolution changed the whole future changed the whole future of European society. It must have therefore been an important occasion. Of the answer choices momentous best captures the implied importance. Momentous means highly significant. Irrelevant means not important; polarizing means extremely divisive; dismissive means to not consider something; introspective means reflective.
Example Question #1103 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The doctor was quite __________ in his praise of the patient for quitting smoking and losing weight; he spent five whole minutes congratulating him for his efforts to live a healthier lifestyle.
ambivalent
superficial
verbose
disparaging
esoteric
verbose
"Verbose" means wordy or long-winded. We know that the doctor "spent five whole minutes congratulating [the patient]" on his lifestyle changes, so "verbose" best fits the context of the sentence and is the correct answer.
Example Question #1104 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
Without the support of the congregation, the minister had to raise funds __________ for the new church building.
openly
ambivalently
bombastically
holistically
covertly
covertly
Without the support of the congregation, the minister had to find new methods of fundraising. "Openly" and "bombastically" both make little sense with the sentence considering the congregation's lack of support. "Holistically" and "ambivalently" both communicate an inappropriate lack of resolve by the minister to be correct. "Covertly," meaning secretly, is the correct answer.
Example Question #1105 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
In contrast to his mother’s grating and unmeasured voice, David’s grandmother’s voice had a markedly __________ character.
faint
muted
soft
elderly
euphonious
euphonious
The opposition to note is that between the word to be chosen and the “grating and unmeasured voice” of David’s mother. In opposition to such an annoying voice, the best description of his grandmother’s voice would be “euphonious.” The word comes from Greek roots literally meaning “good sounding.” The prefix “eu-” can be found in “eulogy,” meaning “a good word (often spoken at a funeral) and “euphemism,” a type of word or expression that makes a more coarse expression seem less uncultured, for instance, the use of “to pass gas” for the crass word “to fart.” The “-phonious” portion means “sound.” It is found in words like “symphony,” meaning “sounding (often in the sense of ‘playing’) together” and “telephone.”
Example Question #1106 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young boy’s __________ complexion alarmed his teacher, and she sent him to the school nurse to make sure he wasn’t coming down with the flu.
terse
pallid
glowing
torrid
tenuous
pallid
A white or light color in one’s cheeks is a symptom of sickness or ill-health, and “pallid” most closely means a paleness, typically attributed to poor health or sickness. The correct answer choice is "pallid."
Example Question #1107 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The author’s __________ output tended to overshadow the poor quality of the majority of his work.
meager
limited
infinitesimal
prodigious
unimpressive
prodigious
Here the word “poor” indicates that the author is not very good; therefore, he must have written a good amount of material if it overshadows the quality of the material. Only "prodigious" means in a great amount.
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