Critical Reading Part 1: Sentence Completion. Statistic The 19 Sentence Completions count for about...

Critical Reading Part 1:

Sentence Completion

Statistic

• The 19 Sentence Completions count for about ¼ of your Verbal score.

About SAT Words

2 Types

Type 1: Almost-normal words

Words that you would encounter in the course of doing your homework, listening to articulate people, or watching TV

Example: If you saw the movie The Wizard of Oz, you heard the word pusillanimous.

About SAT Words

Type 2: Decodable words

Unusual words that they don’t expect you to know offhand but that you can figure out if you are clever.

Example: The word decodable is a decodable word

You can decode it like this:“de” = take out; reverse“code” = words or symbols with secret meanings+ “able” = capable of being

Decodable = capable of being taken out of its secret meaning

Strategies

• You should follow a basic thought pattern whenever you attack a sentence completion question

• Some of these thought patterns can be used together or arranged in different orders. You need to find what pattern(s) work best for you.

Strategy 1: Insert Your Own Word

• Read the sentence 1st

• Skip over the blanks – just get a feel for how the sentence is set up

• Read the sentence again guessing what YOU think the missing word(s) should be

• The word doesn’t have to be a “fancy” word.

Strategy 1: Practice

• Susan did not resent the arduous work, for she believed that every ___ that demands thought, attention, and independent judgment ___ the quality of daily life.

A. task … heightensB. profession … belittlesC. hobby … undercutsD. folly … exaltsE. diversion … disrupts

If you are unfamiliar with a word in the sentence, examine the context and make an intelligent guess. The sentence suggests that arduous work might be resented, for a special point is made that Susan did not resent it. What kind of work might be resented? Hard work is a good guess. Even if you didn’t determine the meaning exactly, you could still figure out that arduous work might be considered unpleasant.

Strategy 2: Use Your Foreign Language Skills

• Many of the roots you’ll encounter in SAT words come from Latin.

• Spanish, French, and Italian also come from Latin and have retained much of it in their modern forms.

• So, if you don’t recognize a word, you should try to remember if you know a similar word in another language.

Strategy 3: Use Positive and Negative Clues

Look at the word cantankerous.

Say it to yourself.

Can you guess whether it’s positive or negative?

• Often words that sound harsh have a negative meaning while smooth-sounding words tend to have a positive meaning.

• If cantankerous sounded negative to you, you were right. It means “disagreeable” or “difficult to deal with”

Negative Positive

Mal- Pro-

De- Ben-

Dis- Magn-

Un-

In-

Im-

A-

Mis-

• You can also use prefixes and roots to help determine a word’s charge.

• Not all SAT words sound positive or negative; some sound neutral. But if you can define the charge, you can probably eliminate some answer choices on that basis alone.

• When you determine whether the word(s) is a “negative” or a “positive” one, write a “+” or a “-” in the blank to remind yourself what type of word(s) you are looking for.

• Write a +/- sign next to each of the answer choices.

• Find the same +/- pattern in the answer choices and see if any of them fit your general idea of what the answer should be

• Plug in the answer that looks best and see if it makes sense, BUT LOOK AT ALL OF THE ANSWER CHOICES

Strategy 4: ZAP Wrong Answers

Don’t Be Tempted By

Distracters

EXAMPLE

“I don’t recommend the movie; it was long and _____.”

What word would you put in the blank?

dull, boring, monotonous(Negative words that explain this

statement)

EXAMPLE

“I strongly recommend the movie because it is _____.”

What word would you put in the blank?

exciting, thrilling, stirring, electrifying(positive words that explain this

statement)

She insulted Irving’s appearance by saying, “Your face is _____.”

A. cheerful

B. beautiful

C. handsome

D. charming

E. a wart-ridden, misshapen mass of snotty goo

Key Words and Groups of Words

• The SAT writers can’t use just any sentence and leave out any word. They have to give you enough information to make the correct choices inarguably correct and the wrong choice inarguably wrong.

For example

The general feeling in the high school was ___.

A. confident

B. confused

C. serious

D. gloomy

E. uncertain

In this example, all 5 of the choices could be correct.

Now let’s take a look at an improved version.

The general feeling in the high school was ____, since everyone expects to win the big game.

A. confidentB. confusedC. seriousD. gloomyE. uncertain

• The additional words tell us that the general feeling in the high school was confident. None of the other choices describe this feeling.

Two-Blank Questions

• Do the second blank first

Until Florence Nightingale made nursing _____, it was considered a _____ profession.

A. scientific … painstakingB. essential … dangerousC. noble … loftyD. patriotic … worthyE. respectable…degrading

Practice

The critic liked nothing about the movie; she called the plot ___ and the acting ___.

A. dreary … inspiringB. trite … dazzlingC. exhilarating … enthrallingD. stirring … unprofessionalE. tedious … amateurish

Practice

No one is neutral about Davis; he inspires either uncritical ___ from his supporters or profound ___ from his opponents.

A. adulation . . . antipathyB. enthusiasm . . . exuberanceC. apathy . . . revulsionD. condemnation . . . venerationE. disgust . . . aversion

LOOK AT ALL OF THE ANSWER CHOICES!

Definitional Sentences

Definitional Sentences

• In definitional sentences, the key word or group of words is a definition or explanation. Therefore, the answer is the word that is defined or explained in the sentence.

Definitional Sentences: Example

Prehistoric hunters worked _____; they helped one another capture mammoths and other big game animals.

A. warilyB. quietlyC. cooperativelyD. clandestinelyE. passively

The key groups of words provides a good definition of cooperative behavior, so the answer is (C).

Definitional Sentences:Practice

These criticisms are ___, and not directed against anyone in particular.

A. specific

B. impersonal

C. inaccurate

D. cowardly

E. crafty


2. Studying to become a doctor can be ___, in that it often requires long hours of hard work.

A. arduous

B. effortless

C. irregular

D. elusive

E. extravagant


3. The Southern Stingray is ___ animal that generally avoids humans as much as possible.

A. a gregarious

B. a dangerous

C. a nocturnal

D. an apathetic

E. a shy


• 4. Lauren is a ___ person who has always been willing to help those in need.

A. generous

B. clumsy

C. graceful

D. attractive

E. selfish


5. The philanthropist refused to identify his name and thus remained ___.

A. adventurous

B. notorious

C. boisterous

D. oblivious

E. anonymous


6. The queen and her more ___ counselors wished to avoid the war.

A. belligerent

B. reckless

C. aggressive

D. pacifistic

E. bellicose


7. The play’s organization is ___; that is, each scene is presented in the order of its occurrence.

A. dramatic

B. minimal

C. controversial

D. chronological

E. confusing


8. Their mutual teasing seemed ___, since the two neighbors enjoyed poking fun at each other.

A. aimless

B. bitter

C. friendly

D. insincere

E. original


9. Although she had no prior experience as a ___, Lauren nevertheless impressed company officials with her uncanny ability to find common sense solutions to difficult human relations problems.

A. consultantB. touristC. entertainerD. customerE. procrastinator

Synonym Sentences

Synonym Sentences

• The signal word signals that you are looking for an answer that supports or continues a thought.

• The answer is often a synonym or closely related word

Synonym Sentences:Key Words

• and

• also

• additionally

• since

• moreover• as well as• furthermore• indeed

Synonym Sentences:Example

Both ___ and ___, Wilson seldom spoke and never spent money.

A. vociferous … generous

B. garrulous … stingy

C. effusive … frugal

D. taciturn … miserly

E. reticent … munificent

In this sentence, you are looking for two words that describe Wilson. One of the words has to mean that he “seldom spoke” and the other that he “never spent money.” The correct answer is “taciturn … miserly.” Taciturn means “shy, unwilling to talk.” Miserly means “like a miser, extremely stingy.”

Synonym Sentences:Example

Both ___ and ___, Wilson seldom spoke and never spent money.

A. vociferous … generous

B. garrulous … stingy

C. effusive … frugal

D. taciturn … miserly

D. reticent … munificent

In this sentence, you are looking for two words that describe Wilson. One of the words has to mean that he “seldom spoke” and the other that he “never spent money.” The correct answer is “taciturn … miserly.” Taciturn means “shy, unwilling to talk.” Miserly means “like a miser, extremely stingy.”

Synonym Sentences:Practice

1. Churchill urged an uncompromising and ___ attitude with Hitler, rather than the policy of appeasement advocated by Neville Chamberlain.

A. flexibleB. resoluteC. desperateD. docileE. obedient


• 2. The long drought left the once fertile fields barren and ___.

A. luxuriant

B. productive

C. soggy

D. arid

E. lush


3. Outgoing and ___ by nature, Ursula became even more gregarious at the company party.

A. affable

B. reclusive

C. solitary

D. belligerent

E. deceptive


4. Theatergoers across America fell in love with the play’s charming and ___ heroine.

A. bland

B. vivacious

C. lethargic

D. merciless

E. erratic


5. Since the king believed his prime minister to be both ___ and trustworthy, he refused to consider the possibility that his advisor could be a traitor.

A. perfidiousB. deceitfulC. seditiousD. steadfastE. elusive


6. In temperament they were radically different: the older man was quiet and ___; the younger was ___ and uninhibited.

A. reserved . . . raucousB. aloof . . . restrainedC. harsh . . . restlessD. taciturn . . . laconicE. agitated . . . noisy

Contrast Sentences

Contrast Sentences

In each contrast sentence, the sentence contains a word or groups of words that signal a change in direction.

Contrast Sentences:Key Reversal Words

• but

• in contrast with

• despite

• rather than

• instead of

• although

• however

• nevertheless

• even though

• yet

Contrast Sentences: Example

Although computers appear to be bewilderingly complex, they operate on principles that are actually quite ___.

A. puzzlingB. elementaryC. frustratingD. advancedE. amoral

The reversal word although signals a contrast between how computers appear and the principles upon which they operate.

Contrast Sentences:Practice

1. The previous workers at the store had been rather ___, but the new owners hired employees who were unfailingly polite.

A. discourteousB. efficientC. graciousD. verboseE. entertaining


2. Although the professor’s syllabus for the course looked very interesting, his actual lessons were quite ___.

A. suspiciousB. strikingC. amiableD. casualE. tedious


3. The players’ dejected mood at the post-game news conference provided a vivid contrast to their ___ celebration at the pre-game pep rally.

A. gloomyB. diffidentC. obstinateD. exuberantE. listless


4. Some experts concluded that the diary is authentic, but skeptics still insist that it is ___.

A. genuine

B. factual

C. faithful

D. contemporary

E. fraudulent


5. The hotel’s lobby was both spacious and luxurious; however, its guest rooms were surprisingly ___ and ___.

A. cramped . . . plainB. ample . . . simpleC. small . . . lavishD. large . . . ostentatiousE. numerous . . . extravagant


6. Political scientists agree that accurate opinion polls must be taken from a random sample of the population rather than from a ___ group of subjects.

A. knowledgeableB. friendlyC. talkativeD. pre-selectedE. lucky


7. As a result of her long career and many controversial positions, the Senator’s popularity has swung between overwhelming ___ and wide-spread rejection.

A. disapprovalB. criticismC. approbationD. dismissalE. disfavor


8. Although the novel was bold and ___, the movie version disappointed many viewers who thought it was ___ and bland.

A. obsolete . . . captivatingB. distinctive . . . uniqueC. routine . . . commonplaceD. innovative . . . conventionalE. exciting . . . appealing

Cause and Effect Sentences

Cause and Effect: Key Words

• because

• in order to

• as a result

• hence

• therefore

• consequently• thus• was caused by• due to• since

Cause and Effect Sentences: Example

Because even the briefest period of idleness bored and exasperated her, she ___ worked at some project or activity.

A. constantly

B. reluctantly

C. occasionally

D. cynically

E. languidly

Because is the key to the answer. The way in which she works at a project or activity is a result of her boredom and exasperation.

Cause and Effect:Practice

1. The Food and Drug Administration rejected the experimental medicine because the patients who used it experienced ___ results.

A. nontoxicB. refreshingC. harmfulD. healthyE. invigorating


2. Because he ___ many young artists, Renaissance scholars often describe Lorenzo de Medici as a patron of the arts.

A. supportedB. stifledC. humiliatedD. rejectedE. regulated


3. Supporters of the new zoning law were ___ because there was no organized opposition to it within the community.

A. aggravatedB. interruptedC. repudiatedD. weakenedE. relieved

Cause and Effect: Practice

4. The commission criticized the legislature for making college attendance dependent on the ability to pay, charging that, as a result, hundreds of qualified young people would be ___ further education.

A. entitled toB. striving forC. deprived ofD. uninterested inE. participating in


5. Because their experimental findings are ___, the researchers have been praised for announcing a major breakthrough on the causes of cancer.

A. incompleteB. indisputableC. peculiarD. contradictoryE. tentative


6. Because of the presence of so many ___, it was reasonable to expect immediate ___ the plan.

A. adversaries . . . embracing of

B. adherents . . . opposition to

C. supporters . . . resistance to

D. antagonists . . . agreement with

E. backers . . . support for


7. Johnson’s writing is considered ___ and ___ because it is filled with obscure references and baffling digressions.

A. deceiving … ingenuousB. arcane … abstruseC. spare … didacticD. lucid … definitiveE. concise … esoteric


8. The second edition of the textbook provides ___ footnotes; since the first edition, the editors have apparently ___ a great deal of background data.

A. meager … accumulatedB. illegible … clarifiedC. copious … amassedD. voluminous … excisedE. monotonous … embellished

Answering the Toughest Sentence Completion Questions

• The SAT has an evaluation system that rates each question on a scale of E, M, H or 1 - 5

• Normally, 80 percent or more of the students who answer an H or 5 question will select the wrong answer.

Characteristics of Level 5or H Sentence Completion

Questions• H or level 5 sentence completion questions are

easy to find. They always appear 9th or 10th in a set of 10 questions (or 8th / 9th in a set of 9 questions).

• Their degree of difficulty is based on 2 key factors:


Questions1. Challenging Vocabulary

• Level 5 or H sentence completion questions contain a number of challenging vocabulary words. Difficult words are used in both the answer choices and the sentence.

• In order to successfully answer Level 5 or H sentence completion questions, you must have a strong vocabulary.


Questions2. Complex Sentence Structure

• The most challenging sentence completion questions contain combinations of definitions, reversal words, cause-and-effect words, and support words.

• As a result, it is imperative that you have a full command of the sentence completion skills presented in this review.


• Without marking an answer at this time, review the following two sentence completion questions:

1. An apparently gratuitous gesture, whether it is spiteful or solicitous, arouses our suspicion, while a gesture recognized to be ___ gives no reason for surprise.

A. warrantedB. dubiousC. affectedD. benevolentE. rancorous

2. The novelist brings out the ___ of human beings time and time again by ___ their lives to the permanence of the vast landscape.

A. absurdity . . . relatingB. transience . . . likeningC. evanescence . . . contrastingD. complexity . . . comparingE. uniqueness . . . opposing


• Would you rate these 2 questions easy, medium, or hard?

The SAT writers would agree with you if you said “hard.”

Reminders

• ALWAYS look at all of the choices before deciding.

• ALWAYS ZAP

• ALWAYS use + / - cues

• ALWAYS use foreign language hints

Critical Reading Part 1: Sentence Completion. Statistic The 19 Sentence Completions count for about...

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