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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Two Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
In order to __________ the techniques in the professional artist's painting, she needed to __________ the painting's details.
efface . . . fathom
apprehend . . . overlook
supplant . . . dismiss
obliterate . . . discern
emulate . . . scrutinize
emulate . . . scrutinize
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.
Example Question #2 : Two Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Despite having __________ a few treasures in his day, the thief could not __________ his nephew's decision to follow in his footsteps and pursue the same profession; he just didn't want to see his nephew get into any trouble with the law.
frozen . . . narrow
opined . . . market
finagled . . . condone
purloined . . . determine
returned . . . approve of
finagled . . . condone
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."
Example Question #1 : Two Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Pick the best pair of words to complete the sentence.
He __________ cupcake upon cupcake into the box, __________ a mess of icing.
heaps . . . generating
stacked . . . creates
places . . . tidying
overturns . . . internalizing
throws . . . scraping
heaps . . . generating
The verbs in this sentence need to make sense in each other's context—so, although "to stack" and "to create" have the proper meaning, they are not grammatically sound options. Out of the rest of the possible answers, "heaps . . . generating" makes the most sense, since it means to put the cupcakes in a pile and then create a mess.
Example Question #2 : Two Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Answer the following sample question. Select the word or pair of words that most correctly completes the sentence.
The lawyer advised Jane to __________ the terms of the rental contract, but not to __________ her duties as a landlord.
usurp; procrastinate
glean; pander
harbinger; oscillate
nullify; eschew
wane; incite
nullify; eschew
"Nullify" means to negate or make invalid. "Eschew" means to avoid or dodge a responsibility or duty. "Usurp" means to take over or seize. "Procrastinate" means to put off doing something. "Wane" means to decline or dwindle. "Incite" means to provoke or agitate. "Harbinger" means to herald or give a prior indication. "Oscillate" means to move in a side-to-side motion. "Glean" means to gather or collect in a gradual manner. "Pander" means to provide what someone wants even though it may not be preferable.
Example Question #21 : Parts Of Speech In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
After his extended period of bed rest in the hospital, Gregor realized that his muscles had _________ when it was surprisingly difficult for him to walk without quickly __________ his energy.
deteriorated. . . bolstering
provoked . . . kindling
atrophied . . . depleting
rescinded . . . exhausting
capitulated. . . gleaning
atrophied . . . depleting
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.
Example Question #6 : Two Verbs In Two Blank Sentences
Choose the word or set of words that best completes the following sentence.
The bank robbers were __________ by the man who drove the getaway car, and since the heist would not have succeeded if they had not had his assistance, they made him a __________ of some of the loot.
divulged . . . stoic
elevated . . . forebear
abetted . . . recipient
assisted . . . relinquisher
exonerated . . . dilettante
abetted . . . recipient
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."
Example Question #41 : Two Blank Sentences
Sam found it difficult to __________ to his mother's rule of "no dessert before dinner" when the smell of fresh-baked brownies __________ out of the kitchen.
adhere . . .wafted
obey . . . flew
ignore . . . rolled
pretend . . . blew
break . . . drifted
adhere . . .wafted
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."
Example Question #2121 : Psat Critical Reading
__________ the smell of fresh-baked cookies wafting through the office, Mary decided to __________ and eat a few despite the fact that she was on a diet.
considering . . . part
succumbing to . . . splurge
resisting . . . indulge
wavering . . . cook
yielding to . . . impede
succumbing to . . . splurge
For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "giving way to," because we know that "Mary decided to . . . eat a few [cookies] despite the fact that she was on a diet." Either "succumbing to" ("failing to resist (pressure, temptation, or some other negative force)") or "yielding to" ("giving way to arguments, demands, or pressure") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "enjoy oneself," and either "splurge" ("to indulge oneself extravagantly") or "indulge" ("allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "succumbing to" and "splurge" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "succumbing to . . . splurge."
Example Question #1441 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Sam ___________ most of his energy when he dashed down the sidewalk and ___________ his friend John so that John would not arrive home before his friends were finished setting up his surprise birthday party.
forgot about . . . apologized to
used up . . . ignored
deleted . . . followed
regained . . . stopped
exerted . . . intercepted
exerted . . . intercepted
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."
Example Question #1444 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Verbal Reasoning
Which pair of words best completes the sentence?
Although he __________ running, the brisk air and bright sunshine __________ him to get outside and exercise.
avoided . . . prevented
despised . . . motivated
learned . . . pushed
is hating . . . cultivates
loved . . . got
despised . . . motivated
Although "to hate" and "to cultivate" are both appropriate words, however the verb tense is not proper grammar for the context of the sentence. The other options do not make sense with the sentence structure, so the correct answer, which give the sentence the correct meaning, is "despised . . . motivated," since "to despise" means to hate or strongly dislike, while "to motivate" means to encourage or push to do something.
All PSAT Critical Reading Resources
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