SAT Critical Reading : Parts of Speech in One-Blank Sentences
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading
All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #891 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Receiving his court summons, Carl cursed our __________ society for being overly concerned with lawsuits.
garrulous
supine
magnanimous
litigious
onerous
litigious
"Litigious" means interested in lawsuits or tending to go to court to solve problems. Summoned by the courts, Carl cursed society for being excessively prone to go to the law to settle disputes.
Example Question #892 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Bobby Orr is truly a __________ ice hockey defenseman; no defenseman has ever dominated the sport like him.
peerless
modest
mediocre
importunate
common
peerless
"Peerless" means eminent beyond or above comparison. Because Bobby Orr dominated his sport like no other defenseman, it can be said that he is eminent beyond comparison.
Example Question #1001 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The scientist reviewed all of the research on the matter and then proposed a __________ reason for the chimps' behavior.
plausible
inconsiderate
implausible
outlandish
intrepid
plausible
"Plausible" means reasonable. Naturally, a scientist would wish to put forward a reasonable (that is, plausible) explanation for the chimps' behavior.
Example Question #1002 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After years of talking down to his players as if they were ignorant children, the coach finally acknowledged that his attitude was __________.
commendable
variable
indifferent
condescending
fastidious
condescending
The phrases “talking down” and “ignorant children” suggest that the coach’s attitude toward his players was one of patronizing superiority. "Condescending" fits this definition.
Example Question #1003 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The superhero was __________ about his accolades; he said even less about his legendary powers.
portent
bombastic
grandiloquent
taciturn
caustic
taciturn
The semicolon indicates that a supporting relationship between the two thoughts separated by the semicolon. Here, the superhero said even less about his legendary powers. Thus, only "taciturn" (saying little) fits as an answer choice.
Example Question #893 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The card dealer suspected something was amiss as he noticed the card player’s __________ glances at his alleged spotter.
furtive
monotonous
preeminent
eloquent
bland
furtive
The card dealer suspecting that something is not quite right (“amiss”) suggests that the card player exchanged a secret, sneaky glance with his spotter. Only "furtive" meets this definition.
Example Question #351 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Although the art critics praised the new painting as original, Tom was convinced the he had seen similar work before and concluded that the work was __________.
robust
authentic
electric
derivative
strident
derivative
The word “although” indicates a contrast. Here, the art critics consider the artwork is original; therefore, Tom probably concludes the opposite. The phrase “he had seen similar work before” also suggests that the blank means the opposite of being an original. Only "derivative" (imitative) fits this definition.
Example Question #352 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The coach’s explanation to his team was extremely ___________, and whatever value his strategies may have given his team was lost in the lack of attention given to his words.
humorous
insightful
profound
informative
didactic
didactic
The team did not pay attention to their coach thanks to his style, so the correct answer needs to have a problematic sense. “Informative” and “humorous” would both indicate the speech was interesting, while “profound” and “insightful” both indicate the team was listening. Only “didactic,” which indicates an excessive lecturing and moralistic tone, works with the structure of the sentence.
Example Question #1002 : Sentence Completions
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The young boy was the __________ accomplice to his older sister’s misdeeds, as he simply followed her around wherever she went and never knew what was happening.
willing
knowing
unenthusiastic
important
unwitting
unwitting
The young boy “never knew what was happening,” and therefore had no knowledge of what his sister was doing. The correct answer choice should convey his lack of knowledge. Only “unwitting” has the correct sense out of all the answer choices.
Example Question #894 : Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
While all of his friends wanted him to choose sides in the fight, the young man remained __________.
excited
indifferent
angry
animated
fastidious
indifferent
The structure of the sentence indicates that the young man explicitly did not choose sides in the fight, so the correct answer choice needs to mean “uncommitted” or “not caring.” “Indifferent” is the only answer choice meaning just that, while all the other choices indicate choosing a side.
Certified Tutor
All SAT Critical Reading Resources
