SAT Critical Reading : SAT Critical Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #255 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The punk musician’s __________ ingratiated him to his fans; they loved his rudeness.
consideration
empathy
sincerity
nonchalance
insolence
insolence
"Insolence" means rudeness and arrogance, while "ingratiate" means make someone else see you positively. A performer whose fans love rudeness would bring himself into their good graces by being arrogant and rude.
Example Question #256 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The chess player found himself in a serious __________ when he lost his most powerful piece early in the game.
passivity
provocation
lexicon
caprice
quandary
quandary
"Quandary" means difficulty or problematic situation. A chess player would be in a difficult situation if he or she lost his or her most powerful piece early on in a game.
Example Question #257 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The aging professor believed his speeches on immigration laws gave his students a unique perspective, but they mostly viewed him as an out-of-touch __________.
testament
champion
hero
bigot
amusement
bigot
The students view their professor as out of touch, indicating that he is perceived in a negative light. Four of the possible answer choices are very positive. Only "bigot" is sufficiently negative.
Example Question #258 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The estate owner was well known for being stingy, and some of his contractors were still seeking __________ years after they had completed their work.
comfort
totality
access
remuneration
solace
remuneration
Upon looking at the answer choices, the word that should stick out in the sentence is "stingy," which means being tight with money; therefore, find the answer choice that is related to money or payment. "Remuneration," which specifically means payment for work, is the only choice with such a starkly financial meaning.
Example Question #259 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Even though he was the least talented member of the team, the coach always started the midfielder as a __________ to assist the team's fortunes.
talisman
functionary
burden
poison
hindrance
talisman
Remember that the correct answer choice is the best choice, not just an answer that can make sense in the sentence. Here, all the choices can make sense, but only "talisman," meaning a kind of lucky charm, fits best with the notion that the coach is assisting his team's fortunes.
Example Question #260 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
This year’s presidential address was criticized for its dry __________ since it iterated the same political notions over and over.
banter
reminiscence
paganism
redundancy
monotonous
redundancy
"Redundancy" means repetition or reiteration of the same ideas.
Example Question #351 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
__________ can be a desirable trait in poetry if the author wants his or her piece to have more than one possible interpretation.
Foreshadowing
Premonition
Stealth
Ambiguity
Opulence
Ambiguity
Since "ambiguity" is the opposite of clarity, an ambiguous poem is one that could have more than one interpretation.
Example Question #352 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The jurors were awed by the assailant’s coldness; he completly lacked __________ for the family members of those he murdered.
ingratitude
candor
indulgence
empathy
misery
empathy
"Coldness," in an emotional sense, is synonymous with a lack of empathy, pity, or compassion.
Example Question #353 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
James was a bit of a(n) __________ on the team, as everyone else seemed to enjoy socializing after games, whereas he preferred going home to be alone.
player
anomaly
confluence
dissonance
foible
anomaly
An "anomaly" is something that varies from the norm, such as staying home while everyone else hangs out together.
Example Question #354 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The children loved spending time with their grandfather, whose favorite __________ was "Always make time to stop and smell the roses."
retribution
gargantuan
maxim
distraction
scintilla
maxim
A "maxim" is a common saying of advice or virtue, such as "stop and smell the roses," which means that it's always a good idea to enjoy the little things in life.
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