SAT Critical Reading : SAT Critical Reading

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #2141 : Sat Critical Reading

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:

pollyanna

conceited

resolute

haughty

presumptuous

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 #2142 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Possible Answers:

planetary

celestial

unearthly

ethereal

scientific

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 #2143 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Possible Answers:

intricate

secondary

unknown

advanced

undisclosed

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 #2144 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Possible Answers:

racist

inflammatory

sedate

questionable

petty

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 #2145 : Sat Critical Reading

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:

coddling

insulting

defamatory

diminutive

despicable

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 #2146 : Sat Critical Reading

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:

tenuous

questionable

delicate

tacit

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 #2147 : Sat Critical Reading

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

Possible Answers:

effervescent

flowing

temporal

temporary

passing

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 #2148 : Sat Critical Reading

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:

fruitless

temporary

farcical

risible

worthless

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 #133 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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

Possible Answers:

moderately

astronomically

astonishingly

surprisingly

regularly

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 #134 : Adjectives And Adverbs In One Blank Sentences

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:

novel

authentic

pardonable

trite

necessary

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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