40 Practice Sentence Completion Questions In each of the following sentences, one or two words have been omitted (indicated by a blank). Choose the word(s) from the answer choices provided that make the most sense in the context of the sentence. Use the answer sheet below to record your answers. ANSWER SHEET –LEARNINGEXPRESS ANSWER SHEET– 47 1.abcde 2.abcde 3.abcde 4.abcde 5.abcde 6.abcde 7.abcde 8.abcde 9.abcde 10.abcde 11.abcde 12.abcde 13.abcde 14.abcde 15.abcde 16.abcde 17.abcde 18.abcde 19.abcde 20.abcde 21.abcde 22.abcde 23.abcde 24.abcde 25.abcde 26.abcde 27.abcde 28.abcde 29.abcde 30.abcde 31.abcde 32.abcde 33.abcde 34.abcde 35.abcde 36.abcde 37.abcde 38.abcde 39.abcde 40.abcde 5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 47 5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 48 1. Although the valiant explorer tried for years to reach the South Pole, his was never rewarded. a. mendacity b. tenacity c. husky d. predicament e. sport 2. Ms. Pearson’s rule was that a boor would not be allowed at her salon; likewise, any person of manner could be admitted. a. illicit b. tough c. pretty d. genteel e. atrocious 3. Callie thought her cousin Amanda was the most girl she had ever met; in other words, she found Amanda the height of sophistication. a. brave b. genuine c. urbane d. benevolent e. erudite 4. As a result of the candidate’s replies to her opponent in the debate, the conservative newspaper wrote a scathing review of her performance. a. deferential b. contumelious c. formulaic d. systematic e. diaphanous 5. Mr. Castle thought himself a conversa- tionalist, as he always had something to say; but others just thought him a. consummate garrulous b. copious cowering c. veritable utopian d. stolid masterful e. invincible pliable 6. McCafferty was widely praised for his wartime heroism, but many found his efforts on behalf of the environment similarly a. naïve b. trite c. acme d. vivacious e. laudable 7. Some manufacturers have found a simple way to secure repeat customers, namely planned for their products. a. conciliation b. belligerence c. obsolescence d. utopia e. parity 8. The fact that people seldom understood what Frances meant was due to her way of expressing herself. a. cryptic b. contraband c. obedient d. mediocre e. nominal –THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION– 49 5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 49 9. Although James took his physician’s advice and moved to Miami to take advantage of the effects of a warm climate, his health did not improve. a. noxious b. innocuous c. salubrious d. mawkish e. inadvertent 10. Charles was the of fitness; therefore, the coach him from running laps. a. extension forbade b. epitome exempted c. insurance prohibited d. nihilist preempted e. clinician nominated 11. Staying in bed for months had several effects on Hillary; for example, and weakness. a. fortitude b. incandescence c. laceration d. ridicule e. pallor 12. Sometimes, a(n) nature can lead to stress. a. fastidious b. slovenly c. easygoing d. savoir-fare e. queasy 13. Coyotes had killed three of Chester’s sheep; how- ever, he bore them no a. latency b. veterinarian c. fencing d. rancor e. enclave 14. As as he was , the notorious cat burglar of Venice was never apprehended. a. incisive inclusive b. pedantic alluring c. sporadic chipper d. undulating vicious e. furtive larcenous 15. The sales representative was given when working with his clients; for instance, he could take them to the most expensive restaurant in town if he thought it would help close a deal. a. restrictions b. derring-do c. carte blanche d. quid pro quo e. affinity 16. When Casey set a goal, she admitted no ; thus, she nearly always overcame obstacles. a. critics b. impediments c. oracles d. junctures e. homily 17. Genevieve usually remains even when she hears bad news, but when she lost her job, there was no cheering her up. a. impassive b. pessimistic c. duplicitous d. chronic e. sanguine –THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION– 50 5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 50 18. Because Cheryl was so at home, her par- ents found it hard to believe she seldom spoke in class. a. panoramic b. pithy c. loquacious d. disaffected e. credible 19. Claire’s father complained bitterly about her music, though it seemed barely to her. a. scurrilous b. droll c. onerous d. audible e. bourgeois 20. Despite their viewpoints, the delegates managed to reach a a. ostentatious discussion b. disparate consensus c. profane vote d. dilatory promontory e. ridiculous principle 21. The two siblings have a nature; therefore, it was no surprise that their political discourse at the party escalated into a full-blown a. sublime . . discussion b. compromising . . fight c. contentious . . altercation d. cantankerous . . reverie e. feisty . . analysis 22. Although Mr. Brinton lived on a fixed income, his to the poor was exemplary. a. vestibule b. oratory c. seance d. benevolence e. calumny 23. Tracy’s primary reading material was poorly written gossip magazines, so her English essays were likewise a. badinage b. jaunty c. radical d. idyllic e. banal 24. Over the years, Jenny went from being a casual observer of baseball to a(n) ; in other words, she began to follow every game during the season. a. amateur b. dilettante c. lark d. aficionado e. joker 25. As a result of her effort to attain the mountain’s , Lauren was exhausted. a. venomous vestibule b. protracted pinnacle c. probing outside d. messy metamorphosis e. hysterical glacier 26. Hoffman tried to parlay his success as a commu- nity activist into a stint as mayor, but the rebuffed his effort. a. rhetoric b. lunatic c. mutant d. defendant e. electorate –THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION– 51 5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 51 27. Mr. Ford never seems affected by joy or grief; similarly, his son has developed the same nature. a. passionate b. tolerant c. optimistic d. adroit e. stoic 28. Due to the nature of Alice’s tears, she soon found herself in a pool of salty water. a. copious b. conspicuous c. consolable d. humane e. tenable 29. Despite Doug’s to the instruction man- ual, he found it impossible to properly assemble his desk. a. complication b. predicament c. instability d. partition e. fidelity 30. Daphne always did what she was expected to do; therefore, it was an that she joined the circus when it came through town. a. obfuscation b. anomaly c. achievement d. imposition e. exhortation 31. Durwood was born with no discernible musical talent; however, his play very well. a. misnomer b. hasps c. progeny d. prosecutors e. truants 32. The nation’s new rulers tried very hard to all former influences; for example, they all officials with any trace of influence over the people. a. insinuate surmounted b. purge ousted c. explicate castigated d. debrief continued e. cover installed 33. Children of the tribe were brought up with one prime ; namely to their elders and ancestors. a. policy polish b. errand cherish c. reward discourage d. dictum venerate e. interest inculcate 34. Chelsea forgot to mail her payment for the park- ing ticket; thus, her was late. a. extrication b. palliation c. remittance d. precedent e. dichotomy –THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION– 52 5658 SAT2006[03](fin).qx 11/21/05 6:42 PM Page 52 . SHEET– 47 1.abcde 2. abcde 3.abcde 4.abcde 5.abcde 6.abcde 7.abcde 8.abcde 9.abcde 10.abcde 11.abcde 12. abcde 13.abcde 14.abcde 15.abcde 16.abcde 17.abcde 18.abcde 19.abcde 20 .abcde 21 .abcde 22 .abcde 23 .abcde 24 .abcde 25 .abcde 26 .abcde 27 .abcde 28 .abcde 29 .abcde 30.abcde 31.abcde 32. abcde 33.abcde 34.abcde 35.abcde 36.abcde 37.abcde 38.abcde 39.abcde 40.abcde 5658. mayor, but the rebuffed his effort. a. rhetoric b. lunatic c. mutant d. defendant e. electorate THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION 51 5658 SAT2 006[03](fin).qx 11 /21 /05 6: 42 PM Page 51 27 . Mr. Ford. for the park- ing ticket; thus, her was late. a. extrication b. palliation c. remittance d. precedent e. dichotomy THE SAT CRITICAL READING SECTION 52 5658 SAT2 006[03](fin).qx 11 /21 /05 6: 42 PM