PSAT Critical Reading : Verbs and Adjectives or Adverbs in Two-Blank Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Critical Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #2772 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Eric loved his apartment, but the __________ crying of the baby in the apartment below him made it difficult to __________ on his studies, so he spent a lot of his time at the library.
piercing . . . confound
unencumbered . . . deplore
chagrinned . . . distract
persistent . . . concentrate
obsequious . . . deliberate
persistent . . . concentrate
The sentence's context clue that the baby's crying disturbs Eric enough to send him to the library gives a strong hint that the word for the first blank should involve high frequency or volume. "Persistent" and "hysterical" could each be correct, as "persistent" would indicate that the crying is constant and "piercing" would indicate that it is loud. In the latter portion of the sentence, the fact that Eric goes to the library tells us that his studying is not going well, and in this context, saying that he cannot "concentrate," or focus one's attention on something makes the most sense. So, the correct answer is "persistent . . . concentrate."
Example Question #2773 : Sat Critical Reading
Choose the set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The __________ behavior of the student caused the teacher to __________ him and send a note home describing the interruptions caused by the student during class time.
inexcusable . . . reprimand
unpardonable . . . excuse
intolerable . . . forgive
acceptable . . . compliment
reprehensible . . . commend
inexcusable . . . reprimand
That the teacher sent a note home "describing the interruptions caused by the student during class time" suggests that the student's behavior was bad and unjustified, and therefore "inexcusable." The teacher presumably "reprimanded" (scolded) him for his behavior and then sent the note home to his parents. So, the correct answer is "inexcusable . . . reprimand."
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