SAT II Spanish : SAT Subject Test in Spanish

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Spanish

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Fill in the blank with the correct answer. 

Ese chico es bajo, __________ chicos son altos. 

Possible Answers:

eso

este

eses

estos

estes

Correct answer:

estos

Explanation:

The correct answer is "estos." The word "estes" does not exist as a demonstrative adjective. "Ese" and "este" are the wrong number and "eses" does not exist. 

Example Question #1 : Numbers In Spanish

In which of these cities would you be least likely to hear Spanish?

Possible Answers:

Caracas

Lima

São Paolo

Madrid

Buenos Aires

Correct answer:

São Paolo

Explanation:

The student should know that São Paolo is the capital of Brazil, the only country in South america where Spanish is not the official or spoken language. Portuguese, a similar romance language, is used instead. 

Example Question #2 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Please choose the correct answer.

Which culture conquered Spain in the middle ages?

Possible Answers:

The Mongols

The Islamic Empire

The Maccabees

The Vikings

The Assyrians

Correct answer:

The Islamic Empire

Explanation:

The Islamic empire occupied Spain from the 700s until the 1400s. This occupation is evident in the culture of Spain, from the language to the food to the architecture.

Example Question #3 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Please fill in the blank with the correct answer

Yo no sé __________ nadar.

Possible Answers:

None of these prepositions

en

como

a

que

Correct answer:

None of these prepositions

Explanation:

The correct answer is "none." The verb "saber" in Spanish already means "to know how" so there is no preposition needed after the verb. 

Example Question #1 : Verb Tense In Spanish

Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Me __________ ir al concerto contigo, pero no tengo dinero. 

Possible Answers:

gustó

gustaría

gusto

gustaba

gustan

Correct answer:

gustaría

Explanation:

The correct answer is "gustaría," the conditional tense. When translated the sentence means "I would like to go to the concert but I don't have money."

"Gusto" is the wrong tense and person. "Gustaba" and "gustó" are the wrong tense, and "gustan" is the wrong tense and number.

Example Question #1 : Descriptive Adjectives In Spanish

Fill in the blank with the correct answer

El es hábil pero yo soy __________.

Possible Answers:

triste

cuerdo

joven

sano

torpe

Correct answer:

torpe

Explanation:

The sentence in English is translated to "He is skillful, but I am __________" Knowing this, we must choose the correct word that is the opposite of skillful. "Torpe," "Clumsy" is the correct opposite. The other words are "Sano = Healthy," "Triste = Sad," "Joven = Young," and "Cuerdo = Sane."

Example Question #1 : Mood Of The Verb In Spanish

Please fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Lo digo que en Oslo __________ frío en el invierno. 

Possible Answers:

sea

haga

hace

está

es

Correct answer:

hace

Explanation:

The correct answer is "hace." First the correct verb must be chosen. With expressions of weather in Spanish, the verb "hacer" is used. Then we are left with "hace" and "haga." Even though there is a "que" introducing a new clause in the sentence, the indicative is used, because there is no emotion or doubt expressed in the first clause; therefore, "hace" must be used. 

Example Question #1 : Subjunctive / Subjuntivo

What is grammatically incorrect about this sentence?

No creo que ellas pueden resolver los problemas. 

Possible Answers:

The second verb is in the incorrect form.

The tense of the first verb is incorrect

The definite article in the sentence is incorrect.

There is an "a" missing. 

The third verb shouldn't be an infinitive. 

Correct answer:

The second verb is in the incorrect form.

Explanation:

The correct answer is that the second verb in the sentence "pueden" is incorrect. Since the sentence is expressing a doubt, the subjunctive mood must be used. Instead of "pueden," "puedan" is used. 

Example Question #4 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Which one of these options CANNOT fill in the blank in the following sentence. 

Busco __________.

Possible Answers:

la playa

la secretaria

la oficina

un carro barato

un apartamento

Correct answer:

la secretaria

Explanation:

The only thing that cannot correctly fill in this blank is "la secretaria." Since this noun is a person, without the personal "a" before the noun the sentence would be grammatically incorrect. 

Example Question #1 : Preterite / El Pretérito

Fill in the blank with the correct answer. 

Nosotros __________ allí por ocho años. 

Possible Answers:

estábamos

éramos

vivíamos

íbamos

vivimos 

Correct answer:

vivimos 

Explanation:

The correct answer is vivimos. Even though the example given "por ocho años" was an action that occurred over a long period of time, since a definitive beginning and ending period is given in the sentence, the only viable verb is "vivimos," as all of the other verbs are in the imperfect tense. 

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