Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Approach each reading question systematically.  Cover up the answer choices.  Focus on the blank that seems easier and make a prediction for that blank.  Then eliminate any answer choice that does not match your prediction for that blank.  Use the same process with the other blank.

Explorer David Livingstone has ------- reputation: some historians revile him as a proponent of imperialism, while others ------- him as a founder of African Nationalism.

Look at the first blank.  The structure of this sentence tells you everything that you need to know about David Livingstone’s reputation.  Some people believe one thing about him, but others believe something else.  Predict that his reputation is “twofold.” 

(A) a substantial . . exalt

(B) a sketchy . . vilify

(C) an illustrious . . dismiss

(D) a dichotomous . . praise

(E) a pristine . . castigate

(A) Something that is substantial has a lot of substance.  You don’t care whether Livingstone’s reputation is big; you care that his reputation is divisive.  Eliminate this choice because it does not match your prediction.  (B) The word “sketchy” does not mean “twofold.”  Eliminate this choice.  (C) The word “illustrious” is related to the word “illuminated.”  If something is illuminated, it is visible.  Livingstone’s reputation seems a little unclear because different people believe different things about him.  Eliminate this choice.  (D)  You should recognize the Latin root “di,” which means “two.”  This matches your prediction.  Keep this choice.  (E)  If you are not sure what this word means, keep it and move on to the next blank.

Start with the information that you know.  Some people “revile” Livingston.  You know that something vile is really bad.  Even if you are not sure about the meaning of this word, you might remember imperialism mentioned in a negative context in a history class.  If some people think that this man had a negative influence, but others do not feel the same way, it makes sense that the others think of Livingston as having a positive influence.  Predict a positive word or phrase.  You might choose the word “applaud” or “honor.”  Look down at the answer choices that you have not yet eliminated.

(D) a dichotomous . . praise

(E) a pristine . . castigate

(D)  The word “praise” is definitely positive.  Keep this choice.  (E)  This word may be confusing to you if you recognize that the Latin root “cast” means “pure.”  However, this word actually means “to purify,” and correction can be a painful process.  Anything in need of purification is not positive.  Eliminate this choice.

The correct answer is (D).

Words used in this SC:

Revile: to attack someone with abusive language

Proponent: one who supports something; an advocate

Imperialism: forcefully extending a nation’s authority

Substantial: of considerable amount, or of solid character

Exalt: honor, esteem

Sketchy: crudely outlined, incomplete, or unsafe

Vilify: defame or slander

Illustrious: highly distinguished or famous

Dismiss: discard or reject

Dichotomous: divided into two pieces

Praise: commendation or thanks

Pristine: unspoiled

Castigate: correct or punish severely

On sat.collegeboard.org, 62% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Link of the Day

Those who overcome obstacles inspire others to do the same.  Remember the young girl who was shot for advocating education for girls?  (You can review the original story from last October here.)  This girl has been nominated for a Nobel peace prize and is now resuming her own education.  If this story interests you, write down the broad themes from it (such as education) and specific details (such as the spelling of Malala and her age, 15).  Think about how you could use the broad themes in this current event to support a position on almost any essay prompt, then try connecting it to the prompts below:

(1) Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?

(2) Can knowledge be a burden rather than a benefit?

(3) Has today’s abundance of information only made it more difficult to understand the world around us?

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up the answer choices until you have read the sentence carefully and made a prediction to fill the easier blank.  Then eliminate any choices that do not match your prediction.  Do the same with the other blank.

Laboratories have been warned that provisions for animal protection that in the past were merely ------- will now be mandatory; ------- of this policy will lose their federal research grants.

Look at the first blank.  Animal protection was once one thing, but now it is mandatory.  The “now” lets you know that a change has been made.  You can predict the word “optional,” but remember that any word that could be used for something that is “not mandatory” will work.

(A) comprehensive . . adversaries

(B) nominal . . advocates

(C) disregarded . . proponents

(D) recommended . . violators

(E) compulsory . . resisters

(A) Your teachers have probably told you at some point that you would have a comprehensive test.  That kind of test covers a lot of the topics that you studied.  These tests are generally not optional!  Look back at the original sentence and notice the word “merely.”  The words “merely” and “comprehensive” sound odd together.  This is like saying that the test “only includes a lot,” which is not strictly logical.  Eliminate this choice.  (B)  If you don’t know a word, keep the answer choice.  (C) Something disregarded could be optional. Keep this choice.  (D)  This seems like the strongest answer.  Recommended means optional but advisable, and it seems advisable to protect animals.  Keep it.  (E)  This word is a synonym of mandatory; it is the opposite of what you want.  Eliminate it.

Now look at the second blank.  The second blank involves a punishment, the loss of research grants.  People who do not do mandatory things get punished for it.  Predict “disobedient people” and look down at your answer choices.

(B) nominal . . advocates

(C) disregarded . . proponents

(D) recommended . . violators

(B)  Knowsys word!  People who advocate something are for that thing.  If they are for the policy, they will not disobey it.  Eliminate this choice.  (C) A proponent is also for something.  Eliminate this choice.  (D)  You see signs everywhere that list rules along with the words, “Violators will be prosecuted.”  Violators break rules.  Keep this choice.

The correct answer is (D).

Words used in this SC:

Comprehensive: broadly or completely covering something

Adversaries: opponents or rivals

Nominal: being such in name only, or minimal

Advocates: people speaking in support of something

Disregarded: ignored

Proponents: supporters, advocates

Recommended: suggested, encouraged

Violators: people who break the rules

Compulsory: required, mandatory

Resisters: people who fight against something

On sat.collegeboard.org, 73% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up your answers until you have read the sentence carefully and made a prediction to fill the easier blank.  Then eliminate any answer choice that does not match your prediction.  Use the same method for the other blank, carefully looking at all the choices that have not yet been eliminated.  You can select the correct answer even if you do not know the meaning of several of the words.

His inclination to succumb to flattery made him ------- to the ------- of people who wished to take advantage of him.

Look at the first blank.  Notice the structure of this sentence.  This man is inclined to succumb to the flattery of others.  Your two blanks are aligned in the same format as this first statement.  What is this man likely to do when people try to take advantage of him?  He is “inclined to succumb.” You cannot make a more precise prediction than one that uses the words in the sentence.  If you do not know what these words mean, check out the little word “to.”  Usually you listen “to” flattery (The opposite would be running “from” it, or rejecting it – if you use “to” you are going towards something), so this guy is going to be open to listening to anyone who tells him nice things.  He is “likely to be open to negative things.” Look down at your answer choices.

(A) immune . . predilection

(B) prejudicial . . intentions

(C) susceptible . . cajolery

(D) resistant . . blandishments

(E) amenable . . rejection

(A) The word “immune” is the opposite of your prediction.  Eliminate this choice.  (B) The word “prejudicial” does not mean open to hearing things, but maybe this word is used to mean that he is prejudiced in favor of people who flatter him.  If you are not sure you can eliminate a choice, keep it.  (C) If you are susceptible to a disease, you are likely to catch it.  This word matches your prediction perfectly.  (D) This man is not resisting flattery!   This word is the opposite of what you need.  Eliminate it.  (E)  If you do not know this word, you should keep it as an option – this word matches your prediction perfectly.

Now turn your attention to the second blank.  This man’s problem is that he listens to flattery.  Flattery is usually given with some ulterior motive.  Therefore, this man is inclined to succumb to the flattery of people who want to take advantage to him.  Predict the word “flattery” and look down at your remaining answer choices.

(B) prejudicial . . intentions

(C) susceptible . . cajolery

(E) amenable . . rejection

(B) The word “intentions” is completely neutral.  “Intentions” does not mean “flattery.”  Eliminate it.  (C) This word comes from a French word.  Even if you do not know what it means, you can tell that it is a better choice than the next word.  (E) Rejecting a person is the opposite of flattering a person.  You have no idea how this man responds to rejection.  Eliminate this answer choice.

The correct answer is (C).

Words used in this SC:

Inclination: leaning towards or tending towards something

Succumb: yield, give in to

Immune: not subject to; protected from; not susceptible to

Predilection: an established preference for something

Prejudicial: exhibiting bias or causing harm or injury

Intentions: purposes or attitudes

Susceptible: likely to be affected by something, easily influenced

Cajolery: persuasion by flattery

Resistant: resisting, repelling

Blandishments: flattering speech designed to persuade

Amenable: open to influence or persuasion, ready to agree

Rejection: exclusion, denial, refusal

On sat.collegeboard.org, 63% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up the answer choices and read the sentence carefully.  Focus on the easier of the two blanks, making a prediction to fill it.  Eliminate any answer choice that does not match your prediction.  Use the same process with the other blank.

The “double feature,” which featured two films for the price of one, became popular in the 1930s as a scheme to ------- former moviegoers who had begun to stay home since the ------- of the Depression at the beginning of the decade.

Start with the first blank.  You know that companies offer good deals in order to bring in more customers.  The sentence even tells you that there are specific people who need to be brought in to the movies: those who used to come all the time before the Depression.  Predict the answer “bring in” and look down at your answer choices.

(A) lure . . advent

(B) discourage . . end

(C) dissuade . . dawn

(D) perplex . . onset

(E) instigate . . devastation

(A)  Does “lure” mean “bring in”?  Well, when you use a fishing lure to catch a fish, you bring it into your net, or cooler, from its native waters.  This answer choice matches your prediction, so keep it.

(B)  This is the opposite of your prediction.  The moviegoers are already discouraged from going to the movies by the bad economy.  The “double feature” is intended to encourage them to go to the movies anyway.  “Discourage” does not mean “bring in.”  Eliminate this answer choice.

(C)  This word comes directly from Latin.  The root “dis” means “off,” “against,” or “away.”  The root “suad” means “urge,” just as it does in the word “persuade.”  Thus, “dissuade” means to urge someone away rather than to bring that person in.  Eliminate this answer choice.

(D) You know the word “complex.”  If something is complex, it will perplex people.  The Latin root “per” means “through” and the root “plex” means “plait” or “braid.”  Something complicated is going on in this word.  There is nothing complicated about offering two movies for the price of one.  “Perplex” does not mean “bring in,” so you can eliminate this answer choice.

(E) The word “instigate” has Greek origins.  The root “stig” means “prick,” as in to stimulate or incite someone to action by provocation.  The “double feature” is meant to goad people into coming back to the movies, so this answer might work even though it does not match your prediction as well as choice (A).  Keep it.

Now turn your attention toward the second blank.  Even if you do not remember from your history class that the stock market crashed in 1929, you should notice that the sentence emphasizes the “beginning of the decade.”  The word “begun” is also used in the sentence to describe when the people stopped coming to the movies.  Clearly the word “beginning” is important to the meaning of this sentence.  People didn’t gradually quit going to the movies, they stopped at the very beginning of the Depression, even though that might not have been the most miserable period of the Depression.  Predict the word “beginning” and look down at your remaining answer choices.

(A) lure . . advent

(E) instigate . . devastation

(A)  The Latin root “ad” means “in addition to,” but it also means “movement toward.”  For Christians, the Christmas holiday historically begins with something called the “Advent season” that ushers in a day of celebration.  The word “advent” indicates the coming of a certain period.  This choice matches your prediction.

(E)  Although the Depression was a time of devastation, the word “devastation” does not match the word “beginning.”  Eliminate this choice.

The correct answer is (A).

Words used in this SC:

Lure: something that tempts or attracts

Advent: coming, or arrival

Dissuade: to convince someone not to do something

Perplex: to cause to feel puzzled or baffled

Onset: the start of something, or the start of an attack

Instigate: to urge forward

Devastation: destruction and desolation

On sat.collegeboard.org, 71% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT reading, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Link of the Day

Current events may be used to distinguish the present from the past or link the present to the past.  You have all learned about the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, the one abolishing slavery.  Read this article explaining that the last state has finally ratified that amendment.  After all these years, is this an empty gesture or a meaningful conclusion?  Pay particular attention to the motivation of those behind the ratification and notice that they were not government employees.  How many common SAT themes can you spot in this current event?  Which details should you write down in order to use this current event effectively in an essay format?

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up the answer choices and read the sentence carefully.  Select the blank that seems easier to you and focus on predicting a word for that blank.   Uncover your answer choices and eliminate any that do not match your prediction.  Use the same process with the other blank. 

Allison had only ------- knowledge of the recent legislation; although she had glanced at a summary, she had not ------- the details of the new law's many provisions.

Start with the first blank.  When you use the word “only,” you are generally trying to emphasize that the amount of something is small.  The idea that Allison did not have a lot of knowledge is also supported by the fact that she “glanced at a summary.”  Predict that she has “a little” knowledge and look down at your answer choices.

(A) superficial . . examined

(B) subjective . . studied

(C) sketchy . . vacated

(D) questionable . . endorsed

(E) cursory . . opposed

(A) A superficial observer only sees what is obvious.  Allison only took a glance.  The word “superficial” could mean “a little,” so keep it.  (B) The word “subjective” is the opposite of “objective.”  “Subjective” does not mean “a little,” so eliminate this choice.  (C) A sketch is quick and hasty, and so was Allison’s look at the summary.  “Sketchy” can mean “a little,” so keep this choice.  (D) “Questionable” does not usually mean “a little,” but the word could be used to emphasize that Alison does not know much about the legislation.  Keep it.  (E) The Latin root “curs” means “run.”  This word also implies haste, just as Alison’s glance did, so keep it.

Now look at the second blank.  It comes after the keyword “although.”  This word lets you know that there must be a contrast between the next two ideas.  If the first idea is that Allison only glanced at a summary, then the second idea would logically be that she carefully read all of the details.  Predict “carefully read” and look down at the remaining answer choices.

(A) superficial . . examined

(C) sketchy . . vacated

(D) questionable . . endorsed

(E) cursory . . opposed

(A) “Examined” matches your prediction perfectly.  Before you select it, check the other answer choices.  (C) The Latin root “vac” means empty, and you have probably heard of vacant houses before.  “Vacated” does not mean “carefully read,” so eliminate this choice.  (D)  You know that when celebrities endorse products, they recommend them to the public.  You do not care how Allison felt about the legislation; you just want to know that she read it carefully.  Eliminate this choice.  (E) “Opposed” does not mean “carefully read.”  Eliminate this choice.

The correct answer is (A).

Words used in this SC:

Superficial: shallow, based on face value

Examined: observed or inspected critically, studied

Subjective: based on feeling rather than reasoning

Sketchy: rough or hasty

Vacated: left or moved out

Questionable: problematic, open to doubt

Endorsed: supported with approval or wrote on a check

Cursory: brief or broad, not cautious or detailed

Opposed: against something

On sat.collegeboard.org, 66% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Always cover your answer choices and use the sentence to predict a response to fill the blanks.  Match your prediction to the correct answer choice, eliminating any words that do not match.

His ------- prior experience notwithstanding, David was judged by the hiring manager to be ------- the job.

This sentence is a little harder to predict than some others, but you should always make a prediction so that you don’t get bogged down in the answer choices.  You don’t know whether David had experience and you don’t know whether he got the job, but you should immediately spot a keyword in the sentence.  “Notwithstanding” tells you that although David’s experience was one way, it was judged another way.  In other words, the two blanks will contrast one another: you will have one negative and one positive blank.  Look down at your answer choices.

(A) illustrious . . entitled to

(B) limited . . qualified for

(C) applicable . . assured of

(D) useful . . overqualified for

(E) irrelevant . . perplexed by

(A) The word illustrious comes from the Latin “illustris,” which means “lighted” or “brilliant.”  Illustrious is a positive word.  It would also be a positive thing if a manager judged David to be entitled to a job.  This answer choice has two positives, but you predicted a negative and a positive.  Eliminate this choice.

(B) The idea of limited experience is negative.  However, qualifying for a job is a positive thing.  You found a positive and a negative.  Keep this answer choice and quickly check the remaining choices.

(C) Applicable experience would be good during a job search.  Being assured of a job is also good.  Eliminate this choice.

(D) Useful experience would be good during a job search.  Being overqualified for a job is bad if you don’t get hired.  At first glance this choice seems to fit your prediction; however, remember the keyword “notwithstanding.”  It is logical to say that a person with a lot of useful experience may be overqualified.  There is no contrast between these ideas.  Eliminate this answer choice.

(E) Irrelevant experience won’t help you; it is negative.  Being perplexed by a job is also a bad thing.  Eliminate this answer choice.

The correct answer is (B).

Words used in this SC:

Notwithstanding: in spite of, nevertheless

Illustrious: famous, dignified, glorious

Entitled: has the right to something

Limited: confined, lacking

Qualified: meeting the standards for a position

Applicable: relevant

Assured: guaranteed, certain

Overqualified: has more than required

Irrelevant: not related

Perplexed: baffled, puzzled

On sat.collegeboard.org, 63% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Link of the Day

One of the released SAT essay prompts asks “Has today’s abundance of information only made it more difficult for us to understand the world around us?”  Before you answer this question, take a look at this current event.  This current event could be used to argue either yes or no, but think for a moment.  Have you ever heard this man’s name before?  Did you know any of the facts associated with the massacres of Guatemalan villagers?  If not, why not?  What other information have you absorbed instead? 

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up your answer choices so that they do not distract you while you read the sentence carefully.  Predict a word to fill the blank that you find easier, and then eliminate any answer choices that do not match your prediction for that blank.  Use the same method with the other blank.  Remember to eliminate each wrong choice, even if one answer matches one of your predictions exactly. 

Lazarro's last movie polarized viewers: while many ------- the film for its artfully directed scenes, others ------- it for being inaccessible.

The key word in this sentence is “polarized” – a Knowsys word!  However, you can still find the correct answer if you do not know what the word “polarized” means.  Start with the first blank.  If people think that the film is “artfully directed” that is a very positive observation.  If no word comes to mind immediately, predict “a positive word” and look down at your answer choices.

(A) praised . . extolled

(B) disparaged . . blamed

(C) regarded . . commended

(D) admired . . endorsed

(E) lauded . . criticized

(A) “Praised” is positive.  Keep it.  (B) Another Knowsys vocabulary word!  “Disparaged” is negative; it is the opposite of what you want.  Eliminate this answer choice.  (C) The word “regarded” often just means “to look.”  This is a neutral word rather than a positive word.  However, if you start over thinking the sentence, it is easy to remember that to “give that person my regards” is to give them respect or show interest in them.  If you aren’t comfortable with eliminating this word yet, keep it.  (D) “Admired” is positive.  Keep it.  (E) Another Knowsys word!  Remember that the Latin root “laud” means praise.  Keep this choice.

Now look at the second blank.  If people say that the film is inaccessible, that means that it was difficult to understand or they couldn’t get into it.  That is a criticism.  Predict “a negative word” and look down at your remaining answer choices.

(A) praised . . extolled

(C) regarded . . commended

(D) admired . . endorsed

(E) lauded . . criticized

(A) Another Knowsys word!  Are you studying your Knowsys SAT vocabulary?  If so, you know that extol is positive and you can eliminate it.  If not, keep it.  (C) This word is related to the word “recommend.”  If a teacher commends you or recommends you for something, those are good things.  Eliminate this choice.  (D) If celebrities endorse a product, they recommend trying that product and say positive things about it.  Eliminate this choice.  (E) You know that the word “criticized” is negative.  Always go with what you know on the SAT rather than hazarding a guess on what you don’t know.

Note:  If you knew the word “polarized,” you could have simply looked for two words that are opposites in your answer choices.

The correct answer is (E).

Words used in this SC:

Polarized: Made something completely opposite, at two different extremes

Extolled: Praised highly

Disparaged: Criticized disrespectfully

Regarded: Looked at or paid attention to

Commended: To reward or praise

Endorsed: To support or give approval to someone or something

Lauded: Praised

On sat.collegeboard.org, 64% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up your answers before reading the sentence carefully.  Make a prediction to fill one blank, the easier one, and eliminate any answer choice that does not match your prediction for that blank.  Do the same with the blank that is left.  Using this method, you will be able to eliminate answers even if you do not know one of the words in the answer choice.

Refuting the claim that the surest way to reduce anger is to express it, the author asserts that------- anger can actually increase its -------.

The key word in this sentence is “refuting” because the logic of the sentence hinges on this one word.  Don’t panic if you don’t know this word.  You also have the word “actually” to help you out. The word “actually” often corrects an incorrect notion.  For example, some people think that, but this is actually true.  Paraphrase the sentence so that it corrects an incorrect notion.  Some people claim the best way to reduce anger is to express it, but the author says that ------- anger can actually increase its -------.

Start with the second blank if it seems easier.  You set up a contrast between the first and second parts of the sentence.  The opposite of reducing anger would be increasing its strength.  Predict the word “strength,” or a similar word, and look down at your answer choices. 

(A) denying . . impact

(B) understanding . . importance

(C) overcoming . . likelihood

(D) venting . . intensity

(E) voicing . . benefits

(A) Impact can mean strength, so keep this choice.  (B)  Something doesn’t have to be strong to be important.  Eliminate this choice.  (C)  If you are already angry, the likelihood of being angry is already at one hundred percent!  You cannot increase its likelihood.  Eliminate this choice.  (D) Intensity can mean strength, so keep this choice.  (E) The sentence assumes that anger is bad, that it is something that people want to get rid of.  Benefits are good.  Eliminate this choice.

Now think again about your paraphrased version of the sentence.  Some people claim the best way to reduce anger is to express it, but the author says that ------- anger can actually increase its strength.  You set up a contrast, so some students might be tempted say that the opposite of expressing an emotion is hiding it.  But wait!  If people think they can reduce anger by expressing it, and the author says that hiding it can increase its strength, these two statements agree!  In order to set up a contrast, you need to set up statements that are truly opposite.  If people think expressing anger will reduce it, this author must say that expressing anger will increase it.  Predict the word “expressing” and look down at your answer choices.

(A) denying . . impact

(D) venting . . intensity

(A) Denying an emotion would be hiding it.  This is the opposite of what you are looking for.  (D) Venting is definitely expressing a strong emotion.  This matches your prediction.

The correct answer is (D).

Words used in this SC:

Refuting: disproving or rejecting

Asserts: declares strongly, states positively, affirms

Denying: not allowing or saying that something is not true

Impact: the force or influence of something

Venting: relieving oneself of pressure, usually through angry speech

Intensity: strength

On sat.collegeboard.org, 55% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up your answer choices and carefully read the sentence.  Predict a word for the easier blank and eliminate any answer choices that do not match your prediction.  Then do the same with the other blank and the remaining answer choices.

When, in 1864, a factory established by Alfred Nobel to manufacture nitroglycerin blew up, the scientist discovered that the explosive was as ------- as it was powerful, ------- to detonate without warning.

Start with the blank that is easier for you, even if it is the second blank.  In this case the second blank is easy to predict if you take into account the information in the sentence.  If the explosive in the factory blows up the entire factory, it can detonate without warning.  Predict the word “able” and look down at your answer choices.

(A) dormant . . ready

(B) fickle . . unlikely

(C) volatile . . liable

(D) unprecedented . . intended

(E) inactive . . designed

(A)  Does “ready” mean “able?”  If someone is ready to something, that usually means that they are able to.  Hang onto this one if you are not sure that you can eliminate it.  (B)  “Unlikely” does not mean “able.”  You were just given an example of when something exploded, so it seems pretty likely that the explosive will blow up.  Eliminate this choice.  (C) The word “liable” has two meanings.  Most people know that it means “legally responsible.”  However, words can change meaning over centuries.  If you are liable for something, people can sue you if something bad happens connected with that liability.  It eventually became acceptable to use the word “liable” whenever something bad was likely to happen.  Ex: In an economic downturn people are liable to become stressed.  A factory blowing up is an unfavorable outcome, so keep this answer choice.  (D) The word “intended” has to do not with what actually happened, but what someone planned to happen.  Nobel did not plan for his own factory to blow up; he only discovered that it could.  Eliminate this choice.  (E)  “Designed” and “intended” can be used as synonyms.  No one designed this explosive to blow up the factory; Nobel just accidentally discovered that it could.  Eliminate this answer choice. 

Now turn your attention to the the first blank in the sentence.  Now that you have thought about the sentence while checking the other blank, you probably understand that Nobel was surprised by his discovery.  He did not know the explosive was so likely to blow up until his entire factory was gone.  It is okay to use a phrase as your prediction.  Predict that he discovered the explosive was “capable of exploding,” and look down at your remaining answer choices.

(A) dormant . . ready

(C) volatile . . liable

(A)  The Latin root “dorm” means “sleep.”  An explosive is active, not “sleepy” or “inactive.”  Eliminate this choice.  (C)  The Latin root “vol” means “fly.”  An explosion definitely sends things flying.  Think of a volcano that sends fire up into the air very suddenly.  Keep this choice.

The correct answer is (C).

Words used in this SC:

Detonate: to explode suddenly and violently

Dormant: inactive, as if asleep

Fickle: quick to change, not loyal

Volatile: explosive

Liable: likely to do something or susceptible to something, prone to

Unprecedented: never before seen or done

Intended: planned

Inactive: not functioning or passive

Designed: intended or planned

On sat.collegeboard.org, 60% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Link of the Day:

Current events can be part of tradition or even mandated by the U.S. Constitution.  Read this article about President Obama’s inauguration, and think about how the present interacts with the past.  How and why do things change or stay the same?  Look for themes that are likely to show up in an SAT essay, and make note of interesting details and facts that could be used to support your opinions about these themes.

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up your answer choices and devote all of your attention to reading the sentence carefully.  Choose the easier of the two blanks to examine first.  Predict a word to fill the blank, and then eliminate answer choices that do not match your prediction for that blank.  Repeat the same process with the second blank.

Ms. Fergusson’s main criticism of the artist’s rendering of the ancient mammal’s physical appearance is that, unsupported by even a ------- of fossil evidence, the image is bound to be -------.

If a sentence seems complicated, paraphrase it.   Ms. Fergusson is critical of a drawing because it is unsupported by even some kind of evidence so the image is something.  Focus on the second blank.  If the appearance of the rendering is unsupported, what kind of drawing will it be?  Unsupported!  Using a word from the sentence as your prediction can help you be more precise and save time.  Look down at your answer choices.

(A) modicum . . speculative

(B) particle . . supplemented

(C) perusal . . substantiated

(D) fabrication . . obsolete

(E) recapitulation . . exhausted

(A) The word “speculative” has to do with “conjecture” or “abstract reasoning,” so it could mean “unsupported.”  Keep it.  (B)  A “supplement” is something additional.  The problem is that the artist may have just made up the image or added more than is backed by evidence.  If you are not sure about this word, keep it.  (C) The word “substantiated” is the opposite of “unsupported.”  Eliminate this answer choice.  (D)  The word “obsolete” should be connected to the word “old” in your mind.  That does not match your prediction.  Eliminate this choice.  (E)  The word “exhausted” should be connected to the word “tired” in your mind.  That does not match your prediction.  Eliminate this choice.

Now look at that first blank.  You know that there is not enough evidence about the appearance of this mammal.  Logically, you can deduce that there is only a little bit of evidence, if any.  Use “little bit” as your prediction, and look down at your remaining answer choices.

(A) modicum . . speculative

(B) particle . . supplemented

(A) Maybe you know the Latin root “modus” can mean “measure” or “size,” so you can discern that this word relates to the amount of something, whether it is a lot or a little.  Maybe you have heard someone say that a person needs “at least a modicum of common sense.”  If you aren’t sure about the meaning of the word, keep this answer choice.  (B)  This answer is meant to distract you because a particle is very small.  Read the sentence with this word in the blank.  How would anyone ever know that this mammal existed if there was not a particle of fossil evidence?  The word “supplement” means in addition to something else, but if there is not a particle of evidence, you cannot add to it.  This choice is illogical, so you must eliminate it.

The correct answer is (A).

Words used in this SC:

Modicum: a small or minimal amount

Speculative: based on guess or unfounded opinions

Particle: a tiny piece of matter

Supplemented: added to something

Perusal: reading or study

Substantiated: supported, proved, or established

Fabrication: something made up or a lie

Obsolete: no longer in use, outdated

Recapitulation: a review or summary

Exhausted: without energy or used up

Did you spot the two Knowsys vocabulary words in this question?

On sat.collegeboard.org, 55% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Link of the Day

Have you caught the flu?  Have you had a flu shot?  Even something as mundane as the flu virus can make a great current event for your SAT essay.  Instead of focusing on your own experiences, take a broader look at the debate about flu vaccinations.  Read this article, looking for themes that are likely to show up on the SAT.  Be sure to scrutinize how the people in this article make the choices that they make.  If you choose to use this as one of your current event examples, memorize some specific details and facts so that your essay includes more than vague generalizations.  For those of you about to take the January SAT:  Take care of your health!  The SAT will seem much longer if you are sick! 

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up your answer choices and read carefully so that you can predict a word to fill one of the blanks.  Make a prediction for the easier blank and eliminate the answer choices that do not match your prediction.  Do the same for the other blank.

Alvin is an exceedingly ------- person: he unselfishly ------- his friends without ever expecting anything in return.

Start with the blank that seems easier.  What would an unselfish person do for his friends?  Help them!  Use the word “helps” as your prediction, and look down at your answer choices.

(A) opportunistic . . supports

(B) noble . . undermines

(C) bemused . . aids

(D) caustic . . neglects

(E) altruistic . . assists

(A) "Supports" can mean "helps".  Keep this choice.  (B) Undermining someone is the opposite of helping them.  Eliminate this choice.  (C) "Aids" and "helps" are synonyms.  Keep this choice.  (D) Neglecting someone is not helping!  Eliminate this choice.  (E) "Assists" and "helps" are synonyms.  Keep this choice.

Now look back at the first blank.  Right after the blank, you read that Alvin is unselfish.  Predict that Alvin is an “unselfish” person, and look down at your remaining answer choices.

(A) opportunistic . . supports

(C) bemused . . aids

(E) altruistic . . assists

(A) Does "opportunistic" mean "unselfish?"  No.  People who are always looking for opportunities may just be looking for opportunities for themselves.  Eliminate this choice.  (C)  Don’t confuse the word “bemused” with the word “amused,” but they both refer to the way that one person feels.  You aren’t looking for a feeling word; you are looking for a word that means unselfish.  Eliminate this choice.  (E) This word comes from French: “autrui” means “to others.”  Altruistic people are concerned with others; they are unselfish.

The correct answer is (E).

Words used in this SC:

Opportunistic: taking advantage of situations (often selfishly)

Supports: helps or keeps from falling

Noble: honorable or aristocratic

Undermines: hinders or sabotages

Bemused: confused or preoccupied

Aids: helps

Caustic: burning, sharp or bitter (often refers to language)

Neglects: disregards, fails to care for

Altruistic: Unselfishly concerned for others (Knowsys word!)

Assists: helps

On sat.collegeboard.org, 72% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!

Sentence Completions

Critical Reading: Sentence Completions

Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. 

Cover up your answer choices until you have made a prediction about the words that must fill the blanks.  Use your prediction to eliminate all of the answer choices that are incorrect.

Since the explanations offered are ------- to the exposition, it would be unfair to treat them as ------- parts of the studies under consideration.

If you read a sentence and you have no idea what it is saying, try paraphrasing it:  Since the explanations are one thing, it would be unfair to treat them as another thing.  From this paraphrase, you can see that you are setting up a contrast.  The first blank must be the opposite of the second blank.  Look down at your answer choices.

(A) tangential . . subsidiary

(B) irrelevant . . superfluous

(C) referable . . correspondent

(D) incidental . . essential

(E) crucial . . immutable

(A)   Tangential is a Knowsys vocabulary word.  You can also think of how this word is used in math: something that touches but does not cross into the center of a shape.  The other word, subsidiary, contains the Latin root “sub” which means below. These words are synonyms; both of them mean that something is not central to the main theme or is less important than it.  Eliminate this choice. 

(B)  The Latin root “ir” means not, so the first word is “not relevant.”  The second word contains “super,” meaning “over,” and “fluous” meaning “flowing.”  Both irrelevant and overflowing information is excessive or more than you need.   These words are synonyms, not antonyms.  Eliminate this choice. 

(C)  You know what it means to refer to something, and you know that “correspondent” refers to a relationship between two things that are the same in math.  Both of these things mean relating to another, so they are synonyms rather than opposites.  Eliminate this choice. 

(D)  An incident is something that just happens to happen or be mentioned, while something essential must be included.  These words are opposite, so they match your prediction.  Keep this answer choice. 

(E)  The word immutable includes the Latin root “mut,” meaning to change.  Something that is crucial might or might not be changeable, it is just important.  These words have no clear relation.  Eliminate this choice.

The correct answer is (D).

Words used in this SC:

Exposition: a written statement meant to explain something

Tangential: slightly related

Subsidiary: subordinate or secondary

Irrelevant: not applicable or pertinent

Superfluous: unnecessary or needless

Referable: relating to something

Correspondent: in agreement or conformity with something else

Incidental: loosely associated with something

Essential: necessary or of high importance, crucial

Crucial: essential, indispensable

Immutable: unchangeable

On sat.collegeboard.org, 45% of the responses were correct.

For more help with SAT vocabulary, visit www.myknowsys.com!