SAT Critical Reading : Sentence Completion Questions
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Critical Reading
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Example Questions
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.
confluence
anomaly
player
dissonance
foible
anomaly
An "anomaly" is something that varies from the norm, such as staying home while everyone else hangs out together.
Example Question #271 : Nouns In 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."
gargantuan
retribution
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.
Example Question #354 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Few of the artist’s works examine the __________ of men and women; he prefers to depict their ugliness.
sobriety
frivolity
hideousness
pulchritude
malformation
pulchritude
"Pulchritude" means physical beauty. An artist who prefers to depict ugliness would not depict physical beauty.
Example Question #361 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The model’s once atypical beauty eventually became the __________ by which all subsequent models were judged.
substandard
quandary
paradigm
moderate
unoriginal
paradigm
"Paradigm" means that which serves as a pattern or model. The model's once uncommon beauty eventually became the standard by which the beauty of other models was determined.
Example Question #362 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Because of her incomparable __________, the wicked stepmother easily tricked her new husband in the fairy tale.
frankness
artlessness
guile
naivety
sincerity
guile
"Guile" means deceitful and cunning behavior. A wicked stepmother tricking her husband, like those found in old fairy tales, would certainly brim with guile.
Example Question #274 : Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
His direct and somewhat offensive speech ably demonstrated a complete lack of __________.
obviousness
boorishness
nuance
forcefulness
bluntness
nuance
The man's direct, offensive speech is placed in contrast with the correct answer choice. Look for the word that is the best antonym for "direct" or "offensive." "Nuance," indicating subtlety or a fine meaning, is the closest antonym among the answer choices.
Example Question #363 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The professor suspected ____________ when the student's rewritten essay was much better than his previous efforts.
authenticity
brilliance
plagiarism
abhorrence
tolerance
plagiarism
The most important aspect of this sentence is the professor's suspicion of the student's essay. The correct answer needed to convert some sense of wrongdoing. "Plagiarism," the taking of credit for someone else's writing or work, is the only answer choice with such a sense.
Example Question #364 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The developer's new software garnered a great deal of __________ for the previously unknown young programmer.
hatred
jealousy
ignominy
renown
infamy
renown
This question is an example of finding the best fit among the answer choices, not just a word that makes sense in the sentence, which all the answer choices do. The inclusion of "previously unknown" in the sentence indicate that the correct answer has some meaning of fame for achievements, which is the definition of "renown."
Example Question #452 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
King Solomon was esteemed for his knowledge and __________, as his knowledge was counter-balanced by a practical wisdom.
irresoluteness
shallowness
indecisiveness
ardor
sapience
sapience
"Sapience" means great wisdom and discernment. King Solomon's knowledge was tempered by his practical wisdom (that is, his "sapience").
Example Question #453 : One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
She was a __________ with the cello, but her exceptional talent came at a heavy price; she had no social life.
clairvoyant
novice
virtuoso
hack
iconoclast
virtuoso
"Virtuoso" means a person with masterly technique, skill, or style. The cellist had masterly technique, skill, or style, but her accomplishment detracted from her relationships with others.
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