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:

estes

este

eso

estos

eses

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 #2 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

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

Possible Answers:

Madrid

São Paolo

Caracas

Lima

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 Islamic Empire

The Maccabees

The Mongols

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 #1 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Please fill in the blank with the correct answer

Yo no sé __________ nadar.

Possible Answers:

a

en

None of these prepositions

como

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 : Conditional Tenses

Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

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

Possible Answers:

gusto

gustaría

gustan

gustó

gustaba

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 #3 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

Fill in the blank with the correct answer

El es hábil pero yo soy __________.

Possible Answers:

torpe

triste

sano

cuerdo

joven

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 : Indicative / Indicativo

Please fill in the blank with the correct answer.

Lo digo que en Oslo __________ frío en el invierno. 

Possible Answers:

hace

haga

sea

es

está

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:

There is an "a" missing. 

The second verb is in the incorrect form.

The third verb shouldn't be an infinitive. 

The definite article in the sentence is incorrect.

The tense of the first verb is incorrect

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 #3 : Sat Subject Test In Spanish

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

Busco __________.

Possible Answers:

un apartamento

la oficina

la secretaria

un carro barato

la playa

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 : Past Tenses

Fill in the blank with the correct answer. 

Nosotros __________ allí por ocho años. 

Possible Answers:

vivimos 

estábamos

íbamos

vivíamos

éramos

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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