All SAT Critical Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 :Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Plato authoredThe Republicand changed the direction of Western thought with the__________of his message.
virulence
debacle
maliciousness
perdition
profundity
profundity
From the context of the sentence it is apparent that Plato’s work changed the direction of Western thought; therefore the answer we select must reinforce this meaning. Virulence and maliciousness both relate to thebitternessorimmoralityof an action, as the sentence makes no mention of these concepts we can eliminate these answer choices. Debacle meansdisaster, which neither fits grammatically nor matches the meaning of the sentence. Perdition meanseverlasting punishmentorhell, which likewise fails in both respects. Only profundity which meansintellectual complexityorinsightsupports the framework of the sentence.
Example Question #8 :Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
It is important for any budding orators to study __________ in order that they can make themselves best understood.
overabundance
experiments
articulation
advancements
implementation
articulation
An orator is someone who is talented at speaking to audiences. It stands to reason that the ability to make oneself best understood would be of critical importance to an orator. Articulation, which refers to the连贯的表达想法,想法和narrative, is the best fit for this sentence. Overabundance means tohave too much of something. Experiments would be of more useful study to a scientist than an orator. Advancements likewise might be useful for an orator, but far less important than speaking ability. Implementation meansto carry out an idea.
例子问题# 1:Nouns In One Blank Sentences
The _________ of Henry Clay was legendary in nineteenth-century America; he was a fine orator who could argue his position with great clarity.
boorishness
smugness
rhetoric
animosity
generosity
rhetoric
From the language of the second clause you know that the blank in the first clause must relate to the oratorical skills of Henry Clay and his ability to argue with great clarity. Orator, if you do not know what it means, issomeone who isgood at public speaking. Of the five answer choices only rhetoric could be correct. Rhetoric meanspersuasive speech that communicates a point. Boorishness refers to someone who isill-mannered; smugness meanscockiness; animosity refers tohostility between two or more parties; generosity refers tokindness and selflessness.
例子问题# 1:Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Having escaped the overwhelming light of the sun, Ronald stood in the__________of the large building at the edge of town, glad to find even the edge of a shady spot.
penumbra
chill
lobby
frigidity
foyer
penumbra
The "penumbra" cast by an object is theouter part of its shadow. The word comes from the Latin “umbra,” which meansshadeor evenghost, as well as from the verb “umbrare,” meaning,to cast a shadow on or to shade. Related words in English are not only “umbrella” and “umbrage” but also “somber” and “sombrero” (really as a Spanish import, of course).
Example Question #191 :Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The employee was never the most efficient worker, but his many years of unwavering__________to the firm made him one of the most trusted advisors even to the chief executive.
drudgery
servitude
fidelity
penury
reporting
fidelity
In order to be trusted by a firm, one would have to show great devotion to the firm—particularly in the case of such a worker that is perhaps not the most efficient. Such devotion could be termed “fidelity,” a word derived from the Latin "fides" (and related words), meaningtrustor (particularly later)faith. A related English word is "fideism" (the religious belief that knowledge relies solely on faith), and the motto of the U.S. Marines, “semper fidelis,” comes directly from the Latin foralways faithful.
例子问题# 1:Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
Children often learn by__________, repeating their parents’ actions long before they understand the meaning of the gestures and acts.
vision
trials
mimesis
attempts
questioning
mimesis
Although a number of options might be tempting, the emphasis of the sentence is merely on the fact that the children will repeat the actions of their parents. It does not necessarily say anything about multiple trials or the mode by which the learning occurs. In general, “mimesis” meansimitation. It is derived from Greek roots that are likewise reflected in words like “mime” and “mimic.”
例子问题# 1:Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The___________he suffered after falling down the main steps made him hesitant to go back to school.
abasement
indifference
pride
celebration
ambivalence
abasement
Both the event, falling down stairs, and the result of it, wanting not to go to school, indicate the boy was extremely embarrassed. The correct answer choice, therefore, will have a meaning ofshameorembarrassment的定义,即“屈尊”。“Indifference" and "ambivalence" both have a sense of a lack of caring, while "pride" and "celebration" are both too positive.
例子问题# 1:Nouns In One Blank Sentences
Choose the option which best completes the following sentence.
The coach liked it when his team played away games, because the__________of the opposing fans was much better at motivating his players than the adoration of the hometown crowd.
contempt
skepticism
dissent
duplicitousness
integration
contempt
The contextual clues tell us that the feelings of the away fans are going to be the opposite of the home fans, and the home fans "adore" the team. "Contempt" is synonymous withhatred, so it is the best choice.
Example Question #195 :Sentence Completion
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
The orphan never learned the identity of the kind__________who funded his college education.
pacifist
antagonist
benefactor
aesthetic
tyrant
benefactor
The definition of "benefactor" issomeone who gives a gift, often a sum of money. This is what happened to the orphan in this sentence, so "benefactor" is the correct answer.
Example Question #23 :Parts Of Speech In One Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
The movie was set in the eighteenth century, but it has a terrible__________when an actor's cell phone is clearly visible in one scene.
complacency
antagonism
vindictiveness
anachronism
tolerance
anachronism
"Anachronism" meansthe representation of something as existing or happening in the wrong time period, and a cell phone in the eighteenth century is clearly misplaced. To break the word down into its roots, "ana" meanswrongand "chronos" meanstime, so this word literally means "wrong time."
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