PSAT Critical Reading : One-Blank Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #601 : One Blank Sentences

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

Her lifelong love of cars began with a trip to an automotive museum as a young girl, which __________ her passion at a young age.

Possible Answers:

repulsed

tempered

kindled

hampered

slowed

Correct answer:

kindled

Explanation:

The museum trip started and encouraged her love of cars. "Kindled," literally meaning started a fire, but here used metaphorically to mean ignited an interest, is the only answer choice that appropriately completes the sentence.

Example Question #602 : One Blank Sentences

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

The gunman would not __________ to the policeman's demands to step out of his car, so he was forced to tase him.

Possible Answers:

concur

husband

spurn

vindicate

acquiesce

Correct answer:

acquiesce

Explanation:

The sentence tells us that the police had to tase the gunman, from which we can infer that he didn't cooperate. Because the omitted word is preceded by "not," the proper choice should be something similar in meaning to "cooperate." "Acquiesce" means accept, consent or give in, so "acquiesce" best fits the context of the sentence and is the correct answer.

Example Question #603 : One Blank Sentences

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

The city councilman __________ the virtues of building a waterfront business park to attract companies to their city, but he was generally opposed because the boardwalk currently located there was very popular.

Possible Answers:

extricated

deliberated

obliterated

espoused

caucusing

Correct answer:

espoused

Explanation:

"Espouse" means support, promote or advocate. It is clear that this is what the city councilman was doing, as the opposite involved people opposing the waterfront business park.

Example Question #604 : One Blank Sentences

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

The activists, hoping to generate popular support, __________ their pamphlets throughout the community.

Possible Answers:

obfuscated

disseminated

dismembered

concealed

dissembled

Correct answer:

disseminated

Explanation:

"Disseminate" means spread widely. Activists, intent on building popular support, would likely wish to spread their message widely throughout a community.

Example Question #605 : One Blank Sentences

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

Benjamin __________ about his new girlfriend; his excessive enthusiasm was grating.

Possible Answers:

complained

objurgated

quibbled

downplayed

rhapsodized

Correct answer:

rhapsodized

Explanation:

"Rhapsodized" means engaged in excessive and enthusiastic praise of someone or something. The speaker finds this excessive enthusiasm quite annoying.

Example Question #606 : One Blank Sentences

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

When all the calculations were finally done, it was revealed the broker had __________ his clients out of millions in a Ponzi scheme.

Possible Answers:

fractured

imported

joined

awarded

bilked

Correct answer:

bilked

Explanation:

Even if Ponzi scheme, a fraudulent investment scam, is an unfamiliar term, the tone and structure of the sentence indicate the broker did something illegal or dishonest. Look for an answer choice that indicates cheating or defrauding, which is the very definition of "bilked."

Example Question #607 : One Blank Sentences

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

Her mother had little idea that her lax rules about computer use _________ the acts of open rebellion the teenager performed.

Possible Answers:

refused

nullified

inured

hampered

engendered

Correct answer:

engendered

Explanation:

The teenager's rebellious acts and her mother's unawareness both indicate the computer is somehow helping the teenager's rebellion.  "Engendered," which means caused or enabled, is the only answer choice which indicates help, while all the other choices indicate an active harm.

Example Question #611 : One Blank Sentences

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

Many rivers will __________ a larger body of water such as a lake, sea, or ocean.

Possible Answers:

empty into

emulate

elude

annul

enervate

Correct answer:

empty into

Explanation:

Rivers will flow into larger bodies of water. Only "empty into" fits as an answer choice.

Example Question #612 : One Blank Sentences

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

His previous sloppy work led his professor to ___________ his reports more thoroughly.

Possible Answers:

scrutinize

anticipate

dismiss

inoculate

contemplate

Correct answer:

scrutinize

Explanation:

The sloppy element of the work indicates the professor needs to review more carefully the work of the student. “Dismiss,” “inoculate,” and “anticipate” do not have the appropriate sense of review, while "contemplate" does not convey enough seriousness to the sentence.

Example Question #613 : One Blank Sentences

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

In an effort to __________ his mother's desire to have long conversations with him, Taylor would multitask while he talked to her on the phone.

Possible Answers:

mollify

satiate

apprehend

machinate

defragment

Correct answer:

satiate

Explanation:

That he finds things to do while talking on the phone gives us a hint that this word will somehow mean he is fulfilling his mother's wish to have conversations with him. "Satiate" means to satisfy, and this is a perfect fit.

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