SAT Critical Reading : SAT Critical Reading

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #83 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Instead of quitting in despair, David decided to face the coming difficult month with a __________ attitude, convinced that he could thus overcome the hardships through his determination.

Possible Answers:

haughty

presumptuous

pollyanna

conceited

resolute

Correct answer:

resolute

Explanation:

The key word here is “determination,” for it describes David’s overall attitude. When someone is “resolute,” he or she is fixedly determined to do something. When one makes a “resolution,” he or she fixes that resolution as a goal. Traditionally, people make “new year’s resolutions” as goals for the coming year.

Example Question #84 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Watching the stars from his windows every night and reading about constellations during the day, Omer was deeply interested in all things __________.

Possible Answers:

celestial

ethereal

unearthly

scientific

planetary

Correct answer:

celestial

Explanation:

Omer could be said to have an interest in “the heavens.” The word “celestial,” is an adjective meaning “concerning heavenly bodies” or “concerning the things of space.” It is derived from the Latin word for “heavens” or “skies.” The instrument called “the celeste” is so named because of its “heavenly” sound.

Example Question #85 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

Although the puzzle was not particularly __________, it still perplexed John, taking him several hours to solve.

Possible Answers:

unknown

undisclosed

advanced

intricate

secondary

Correct answer:

intricate

Explanation:

The key word to note is “perplexed,” which helps to give sense to the contrast being proposed in this sentence. The sense is that the puzzle was not particularly perplexing or difficult. While the option “advanced” might appear to be an adequate option, it does not signify the sense of perplexity as well a the word “intricate.” The word “intricate” implies a certain “trickiness” or complicated nature. It is derived from the Latin for “to entangle,” which itself is derived from the word for “trick.” It is related to words like “intriguing” and “extricate.”

Example Question #121 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

William did not realize how ___________ his remarks were, for he would not personally have been angered by them.

Possible Answers:

inflammatory

petty

racist

questionable

sedate

Correct answer:

inflammatory

Explanation:

The sentence implies that William’s words apparently angered some people, even if they would not have angered him. When something (particularly words or speech) provoke anger, they are said to be “inflammatory.” The word has the sense of “setting on fire,” which is obvious from the “-flam-” portion of the word, which is related to “flame.”

Example Question #921 : One Blank Sentences

Justine hated when her husband used __________ expressions to name her, for such words only functioned only to make her seem small and powerless in comparison with him.

Possible Answers:

defamatory

insulting

coddling

despicable

diminutive

Correct answer:

diminutive

Explanation:

The key expression is “small and powerless,” in particular “small.” When something is “diminutive,” it is very small, though when the adjective is applied to words or expressions, it implies the usage of such words either in affection (“darling,” “sweetie”) or as expressing contempt (by treating the other person as being “little” and, by implication, not fully mature). The word is clearly related to English words like “diminish” and “diminution.”

Example Question #922 : One Blank Sentences

Although the two countries had not settled on an official trade agreement, for many years they operated under a __________ state of friendly exchange.

Possible Answers:

tacit

tenuous

questionable

delicate

fragile

Correct answer:

tacit

Explanation:

Based on what is stated in the sentence, one cannot say whether or not the current state of friendly exchange is either weak or questionable; however, it can be described as being “unsaid” in the sense of not having an official status in treaties or law. The word “tacit” means “being known without being stated explicitly.” It is related to Latin words for “to be silent.” Someone who speaks very little can be described as being “taciturn.”

Example Question #761 : Sentence Completion Questions

While nouns often seem to imply nothing about the past, present, or future, verbs always appear to have some kind of __________ aspect.

Possible Answers:

temporal

temporary

effervescent

passing

flowing

Correct answer:

temporal

Explanation:

The contrast between nouns and verbs is here being expressed as a matter of implying (or not implying) “past, present, or future.” Something is called “temporal” when it is related to time. In older speech, people would speak of “temporal” matters in opposition to “spiritual” ones (that would be “after or outside of time”). The word is related to other time-related words like “temporary” and “extemporaneous.”

Example Question #762 : Sentence Completion Questions

When one sees the crumbling faces of old monuments, it is tempting to think that even the most enduring accomplishments are mere __________ attainments.

Possible Answers:

farcical

worthless

fruitless

temporary

risible

Correct answer:

temporary

Explanation:

The key work for the contrast here is “enduring.” In opposition to “enduring,” one could speak of “passing” things. When something is “temporary,” it only lasts for a “time” and is, therefore, not permanent. (Sometimes, people speak of “temporary employment,” which is the state of being employed only for a limited, contracted time.) The word “temporary” is related to other time-related words such as “temporal” and “extemporaneous.”

Example Question #2141 : Sat Critical Reading

After three years of extreme inflation, the price of potatoes had increased _________.

Possible Answers:

regularly

astonishingly

moderately

surprisingly

astronomically

Correct answer:

astronomically

Explanation:

The key expression “extreme inflation” indicates that the prices greatly increased. “Inflation” occurs when the money supply increases, causing prices to shift upward. The adjective “astronomically” most properly means “relating to the stars” (as in “astrology” or “astronomy”). It can likewise be used in a metaphoric sense to mean “going as high as the stars” or “in a great amount.”

Example Question #2142 : Sat Critical Reading

Jason's professor liked his creative writing piece, but thought that it was too full of __________ sayings like "the early bird gets the worm" that detracted from the work because of how overused the sayings were.

Possible Answers:

necessary

novel

authentic

trite

pardonable

Correct answer:

trite

Explanation:

We can infer that because Jason's creative writing piece was full of overused sayings, we need to pick out a word that means something like "overused" to describe those sayings. Neither "authentic" nor "novel" will do, because each of those words is an antonym to "overused." "Trite" is an adjective that is used of a remark, opinion, or idea and means "overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness," and because it is the answer choice that best suits the sentence's context, "trite" is the correct answer.

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