All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #533 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Paula wanted to __________ the real estate assets in her parents’ estate, for her impecunious habits had led her to need significant funds at hand immediately in order to pay of a number of pressing debts.
redeem
insure
recoup
liquidate
remove
liquidate
According to this sentence, Paula is in need of funds that can be spent immediately, something that cannot be done by well with real estate, an asset that has worth but must be sold before it can yield its value. “Liquidation” occurs often when one is selling assets in order to settle debts. However, one can also be said to “liquidate” assets into a cash form that can be spent readily.
Example Question #534 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although Vincent was extremely frustrated with affairs at work, he resolved to ___________ this vexed energy into productive activities.
channel
restrain
acquire
repress
ignore
channel
When one channels something, he or she redirects it from one location to another. Vincent is clearly doing this, having resolved to transfer is energy from his annoyances to productive work. The word literally indicates a structure (manmade or natural) that allows fluid to flow, though it is often applied to any sort of medium (even electromagnetic) allowing for the passage of content from one point to another. It is related to the word canal.
Example Question #535 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
With indefatigable insistence, Timothy’s girlfriend knew how to __________ him into changing his attitudes regarding events that he had preferred to avoid.
argue
admonish
berate
deceive
cajole
cajole
In this sentence, there is no implication that Timothy’s girlfriend would be nasty in trying to convince him into changing his attitude. The only thing that is indicated is that she is “indefatigable,” a word meaning “untiring;” therefore, the best option would be “cajole,” which means to persuade insistently or even through flattery. Though no flattery is implied in our sentence, the insistence is implied, and that suffices in comparison with the other options.
Example Question #531 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Every morning, the child would _________ some small candy from his father’s lunch pail, eating the sweet on the way to school.
plunder
pilfer
abscond
burglarize
loot
pilfer
Since the child is stealing something insignificant, the best option is “pilfer.” Although several of the options pertain to stealing, only “pilfer” adds the sense of taking something of little value—in this case, “some small candy.”
Example Question #532 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although there was no explicit corporate policy on the matter, George’s decision to ask his subordinate out on a date struck his coworkers as _________ the general boundaries of propriety.
annulling
questioning
overcoming
destroying
transgressing
transgressing
When someone “goes beyond” the boundaries, he or she is said to “transgress” them. The “trans-” prefix means “across” as is evident in words like “translate” (to carry across—languages in this case) and “transform” (to change “across” from one form or appearance to another). The “-gress” comes from the Latin for “to walk or step” found in English words like “gradient,” “grade,” and “egress.”
Example Question #491 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Although Fred would not let his younger sister enrage him with her streams of critical remarks over the minor details of his appearance, such __________ did become a bit vexing over time.
pronunciations
questioning
barrages
niggling
pickiness
niggling
When someone “niggles” over the details of something, he or she criticizes minor details. In our sentence, this best captures the sense hinted at by the sister’s “streams of critical remarks over the minor details . . .” The verb “to niggle” can also be applied to one who is “niggling” over the details of a given work, even his or her own. Someone who never is satisfied with the small details of his or her (e.g.) writing will often “niggle” over these details incessantly.
Example Question #492 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After many years of having his motives questioned, Richard’s actions were at last __________ when the public saw the heroic sacrifices he had to make in undertaking his life’s work.
unveiled
vindicated
revealed
discovered
unearthed
vindicated
The key thing to note here is that Richard's motives were prejudged in a way that appears to be negative. When someone is vindicated, he or she is cleared of suspicion. The word comes from Latin roots for “avenger.” One who is vindicated can often be said to be “avenged,” though without necessarily carrying the somewhat violent connotations accompanying that word.
Example Question #493 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since the old man was extremely well-read on many topics, his discussion very readily __________ over many pertinent topics.
ranged
stumble
veered
meander
tumbled
ranged
For this sentence, it is necessary to avoid implying anything more than is warranted. Most of the options given have a negative connotation (i.e. “meander,” “stumble,” “tumbled,” and “veered”). In distinction from such negative words, one can be said to “range” over topics without it being implied that such ranging is mere rambling in an undirected manner; therefore, this is the best option.
Example Question #494 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Since the meat was rather rough and hard, it needed to be __________ in a marinade for several days before it could be chewed at all.
macerated
masticated
manducated
stored
manipulated
macerated
Do not be tricked by the many options that appear to be similar in meaning. To “masticate” is to chew, and to “manducate” is to eat. The best term is “mascerate,” which means “to soften something by soaking it.”
Example Question #161 : Verbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After __________ with his advisors, the prince nevertheless decided to take up the cause of war against the neighboring land, thus ignoring the advice given him in the meeting.
contradicting
disdaining
disagreeing
arguing
consulting
consulting
Since the sentence indicates that the prince had been in a meeting, we can safely assume that the “after . . . “ describes an event preceding his act of deciding. This event is referred to in the subordinate clause, “thus ignoring . . .” as being a meeting. Since he is said “nevertheless” to have ignored the advisors, it is safe to say that the meeting was held in order to “consult” with them.
Certified Tutor
All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
