PSAT Critical Reading : Sentence Completions
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #771 : Sentence Completions
The book includes long footnotes that serve as a place for _________ information like tangents, recommended reading, and notes on the work's historical context, none of which are absolutely necessary to the text itself.
pardonable
crucial
ancillary
joyful
winding
ancillary
We can infer that because the footnotes allow room for various types of information of which "none . . . are absolutely necessary to the text itself," we can infer that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "extraneous" or "extra." "Crucial," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "crucial" is an antonym of "extraneous" and "extra." "Ancillary," however, is an adjective that can mean " additional; subsidiary," and because it best describes the nature of the information the book's footnotes contain, "ancillary" is the correct answer.
Example Question #772 : Sentence Completions
The __________ knitter predicted the fashion trend toward homemade goods and started an online store, making a lot of money selling the scarves, hats, and mittens that she made.
minute
undiscerning
wholesome
astute
portable
astute
For this sentence, we can infer that the knitter must have been pretty smart to "[predict] the fashion trend toward homemade goods." So, we need to pick out an adjective to describe the knitter that means something like "smart." "Undiscerning," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "undiscerning" means "lacking judgment, insight, or taste," making it the opposite of the word for which we're looking. "Astute," however, is an adjective that means "having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage," and because "astute" best describes the knitter's profitable assessment of the fashion trend, "astute" is the correct answer.
Example Question #773 : Sentence Completions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
It typically takes years of __________ practicing in order to become a virtuoso piano player.
animated
astringent
anomalous
assiduous
austere
assiduous
The choice that makes the most sense is assiduous: showing great care and perseverance; diligent.
Example Question #774 : Sentence Completions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The __________ coach was thrown out of the game by the referee.
callous
arable
contentious
captious
arcane
contentious
The choice that makes the most sense is contentious: quarrelsome; causing or likely to cause an argument.
Example Question #775 : Sentence Completions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The __________ leader’s shaky voice was a signal to the brave troops that they would be on their own for the remainder of the battle.
cavalier
caustic
cloying
craven
categorical
craven
The choice that makes the most sense is craven: contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.
Example Question #776 : Sentence Completions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
You should be __________ of the perilous journey that lies ahead.
vicarious
wary
wistful
wry
vindictive
wary
The choice that makes the most sense is wary: feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Example Question #777 : Sentence Completions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
The inmate stopped the flattery and began to speak with a more __________ tone after he realized the guards would never be coaxed into releasing him.
veritable
venal
visceral
valedictory
vituperative
vituperative
The choice that makes the most sense is vituperative: bitter and abusive; scolding.
Example Question #778 : Sentence Completions
Select the answer choice that best completes the blank in the sentence.
Although I enjoyed your essay, it would be better if it were more concise and not as __________.
venal
verbose
venial
veritable
venerable
verbose
The choice that makes the most sense is verbose: using more words than are needed.
Example Question #779 : Sentence Completions
Pick the best word to complete the sentence.
Children of authoritarian parents are often anxious; they can become __________ easily.
antisocial
stressed
sensitive
difficult
underwhelmed
stressed
The clause that needs filling-in is simply a rephrasing of the first part of the setence—"stressed" is the closest synonym of anxious and therefore makes the most sense in the sentence.
Example Question #780 : Sentence Completions
Pick the best word to complete the sentence.
The young boy offered her his hand, grinning __________, since he knew it was still covered in mud.
devilishly
playfully
mistakenly
famously
awkwardly
devilishly
The subject of the sentence knows that he is going to cause someone displeasure, therefore he is being mischeivous—"devilish," when used in this context, means the same thing; therefore "devilishly" is the correct answer.
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