Two Verbs in Two-Blank Sentences - PSAT Critical Reading

The word “arbitrator” means a person who mediates between two parties to settle a dispute. So, the arbitrator would hope to reconcile the disputing parties. We can eliminate "castigate . . . exterminate" because "castigate" means criticize or reprimand severely. The second blank requires a word that means take away; therefore, "reconcile . . . eliminate" is the right answer.

"Bristle at" means show anger or indignation in response to something, while "bilking" means cheating, defrauding, or swindling. Because Elizabeth was not a thief, it is natural that she would be indignant at the idea of swindling her clients our of their money.

As you begin to think about this sentence, try using some of your own words in the blanks to understand the meaning of the sentence: The scientists doubted the credibility that such an offering would help literacy in general.

The meaning seems to be based on cause and effect: whatever word the first blank needs, and notice that the answer choices for the first blank are all verbs, is related to the word needed in the second blank. So we need two action words that form a cause and effect relationship.

The answer choice, extolled . . . denigrate, offers words that begin with prefixes indicating “out”, “down” or “away” as in expel, excommunicate, deny or debase. Yet the words excellent, extend and extrovert are positive words so perhaps the first word could work but we may be unsure about the second one.

“Touted . . . invigorate” seems possible since the first word sounds like shouted, tooted or hooted which mean something similar to celebrated. “Invigorate” includes the noun “vigor” which sounds like vigorous and vigilant indicating life and alertness. This seems like the best answer.

The answer “mitigated . . . squander” does not seem to fit well since “mitigated” is a word sometimes heard in legal discussions and sounds like meeting or to moderate. The word “squander” sounds like wander, which could be just coincidence, but it does indicate the negative action of wastefulness.

“Equivocated . . . quagmire” is interesting because the root “equi” indicates balance which may suggest that the scientists were trying to assess the balance of the interdisciplinary offering. Yet “equivocated” usually means to mislead in a negative direction. “Quagmire” sounds like quandary which is a problem or question. It also includes “mire”; to be mired down means to get bogged down. Let’s keep looking.

“Denigrated . . . enmesh” sounds like a negative answer since “deni” seems very like deny and the prefix “en” means surround as in enclose, envelope or entertain.

In this double-blank sentence, start with the first blanks since the verbs given for the first blanks may be more familiar to you.

The answer “endeavored . . . pilfer” sounds possible because the word endeavored means worked or planned but you might not know what pilfer means. Since the one word does work, key this answer for now.

“Feigned . . . revere” may seem impossible if you do not know what feigned means but revere sounds like reverent or reverence meaning praise. This sentence sounds like something went wrong due to the phrase “much to his dismay”.

“Collaborated . . . scam” might fit well because the sentence says “the eager collectors will negotiate, compete and cooperate” which is to collaborate. Even if you do not know that scam means fool or trick, keep this answer as a possibility.

“Declined . . . upbraid” starts out well since declined would be the opposite to what the sentence is explaining which fits with “much to his total dismay”. You may not know what upbraid means but keep this answer as a possibility.

“Conspired . . . reimburse”: Conspire does mean to work together as the sentence indicates but possibly in a negative way which also seems to work. But why would the collectors reimburse or pay the antiques dealer back his money?

Of all the possible answers offered, “collaborated . . . scam” seems to work best.

"Vacillate" means to waver, hesitate or be indecisive. "Interject" means to say something abruptly, especially as an interruption. The word "between" provides a strong clue that the boy was having a hard time deciding, and the end of the sentence provides a clue that the second word should involve interrupting the boy. So, "vacillated . . . interjected" is the correct answer because it best fits the context of the sentence.

One clue as to which word should go in the first blank is that the daughter fears not having long talks but will still be able to. This tells us that the word that goes in the first blank should somehow involve relieving fears. "Mollify," "dissipate," and "assuage" could each work. "Assuring" is the only word choice for the second blank which involves positive reinforcement, though, so "assuaged . . . assuring" is the correct answer.

That the Emancipation Proclamation resulted in energy tells us that the word should involve inspiring someone. "Galvanize" means stimulate or stir to action. That the British were considering doing something on the Confederate's behalf tells us that the second word should involve doing something for someone else. "Intercede" means intervene on behalf of someone else. So, the correct answer is "galvanized . . . interceding."

The astronaut had for a while planned his potential action. Upon choosing to undertake this plan he “executed” it. Although we might think of “execute” as meaning to kill, its primary meaning is to carry out or put into effect. This meaning is almost a direct translation of the Latin roots of the word: “ex-” (out / out of) and “sequi” (to follow). The latter is found in words like “consecutive” and the direct Latin phrase, often used in English, “non sequitur”—something that does not logically follow.

Drilling out of the craft would clearly cause a hole in its hull. Therefore, it would “rupture it” – a word with Latin roots meaning “to break” and found in similar English words like “disrupt”, “corrupt”, “interrupt”, and “erupt” (among many others).

The key to this sentence is the fact that the original painting is done by a professional artist; the painting is presumably well done. Thus, if you wanted to mimic or emulate the painting, you would need to look at it closely or scrutinize it.

The sense of the sentence is one of opposition (because of the word “however”). The pair “invigorated . . . languishing” captures this best. To be “invigorated” is to be given energy. Looking at the word, you can see the two parts: in + vigor, which roughly could be translated to put strength into. To “languish” is to lose strength or vigor. It comes from a Latin root that is likewise found in words related to “lax,” in the sense of being “loose.” Another related word is “languid,” meaning showing little energy for exertion.

Since we know that "the heist would have not succeeded" without the driver's help, we know that for the first blank, we're looking for a verb that means helped. Two answer choices look like they could work: "abetted" (helped someone commit a crime) and "assisted" (helped). Now, we have to choose between "recipient" and "relinquisher" for the second blank. We can infer that the driver was given some of the loot, so we're looking for a noun that means someone who gets a portion of something. Since "recipient" means someone who receives something and "relinquisher" means someone who gives something else up, the correct answer is "recipient," so the answer is "abetted . . . recipient."

Since we can infer that Gregor's muscles became weaker during his stay in the hospital, we need to pick out a verb for the first blank that means something like "became weaker." Either "atrophied" (significantly weakened due to lack of use) or "deteriorated" (worsened) could be correct. For the second blank, we know that Gregor was probably losing energy quickly as he walked if he had weak muscles, so we need to pick out a verb that means losing. Either "depleting" (using up the available amount of) or "exhausting" (extremely tiring) could work. Of the four words we've identified as possibly correct answers, only two line up in a single answer choice: "atrophied" and "depleting." So, "atrophied . . . depleting" is the correct answer.

In an old usage, “meet” meant “to be proper or just.” When one “metes” a sentence, he or she issues a judgment. The sentence implies that the judge does not like giving (meting) out such sentences because it is difficult see and interpret all of the details in the midst of life’s ambiguities. To attempt to see and discern such details in an exact manner would be to “ascertain” them. The word is derived from the Latin word for “sure or settled” and is related to English words for “surety” such as “certificate” and “certitude.”

Given that neither party is remaining silent, clearly the argument is happening in the open. Therefore, the options for “simmering” and “smoldering” are likely inapplicable for the specific needs. Now, the sense is that each party in the argument is trying to outdo the other one by way of insults. Such an argument, continually becoming more heated and worse, is best said to be “escalating.” The word is related to “escalator,” indicating that something is “going upward,” generally in the metaphorical sense of “becoming more intense.”

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like get or buy. Either "obtain" (acquire) or "afford" (have enough money to be able to buy) could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a verb that means something like last or be used. Either "serve" (be adequate) or "suffice" (be enough) could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "obtain" and "suffice" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "obtain . . . suffice."

For the first blank, we know that smelling brownies might encourage one to break a rule that states "no dessert before dinner," so Sam must have found it difficult to listen to that rule. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "listen." Either "adhere" ("stick fast to a surface or substance," "believe in and follow the practices of," or "represent truthfully and in detail") or "obey" ("behave in accordance with") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick a verb that can describe the movement of a scent in the air; either "wafted" ("passed or caused to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air") or "drifted" ("be carried slowly by a current of air or water") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "adhere" and "wafted" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "adhere . . . wafted."

We can infer from the sentence's context that we need to pick out a word for the first blank that means something like "made" or "encouraged" since we know that Harriet's apprehension likely made her do something. Either "convinced" ("persuaded someone to do something") or "compelled" ("forced or obliged someone to do something") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "not participate in" or "stop," given that Harriet saw other kids getting hurt in the snowball fight and that she was apprehensive about it. Potentially correct answer choices include "avoid," "stop," and "forgo" ("refrain from"). Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "compelled" and "forgo" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "compelled . . . forgo."

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "used," because we know that Sam must have used energy "when he dashed down the sidewalk." Either "exerted" ("put oneself into action or to tiring effort") or "used up" could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "interrupt," because we know that Sam's goal was to prevent John from arriving home before his surprise party was set up. Either "stopped" or "intercepted" ("stopped, seized, or interrupted in progress or course or before arrival") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "exerted" and "intercepted" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "exerted . . . intercepted."

For the first blank, we can infer that we're looking for a word that means something like "declared." Either "decreed" ("ordered something by decree") or "announced" ("make a public and typically formal declaration about a fact, occurrence, or intention") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "increase," because we know that the king plans to order the addition of new trebuchets and increase the walls' height. Either "bolster" ("support or strengthen; prop up") or "supplement" ("add an extra element or amount to") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "decreed" and "bolster" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "decreed . . . bolster."

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "steal," because we know that the sentence concerns a "thief" and thieves are likely to steal treasures. Either "finagled" ("obtained something by devious or dishonest means") or "purloined" ("stole something") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we know that the thief does not approve of his nephew's decision to become a thief, because "he just didn't want to see his nephew get into any trouble with the law." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "support," because we know that the thief could not support his nephew's decision. Either "condone" ("accept and allow behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive to continue") or "approve of" could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "finagled" and "condone" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "finagled . . . condone."