English Name:______________________
S.A.T. Practice
Sentence Completions Class:____________
Instructions for the Sentence Completion section of the S.A.T.:
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank
indicating that something has been omitted.
Beneath each sentence are five lettered words or sets of words labeled A
through E.
Choose the words or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best
fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
The
man was really smelly, so I plugged my _________:
A.
ear
B.
toe
C.
eye
D.
mouth
E.
nose
Step One: Read the whole sentence. Then guess, without looking at the answer choices.
Try it out! Below each sentence here, write a definition of the missing word.
She insulted
The missing word means ugly
Physical
laws do not, of course, force bodies to behave in a certain way, but merely
_____ how they do, in fact, behave.
The
psychologist set up the experiment to test the rat’s _____; he wanted to see
how well the rat adjusted to the changing conditions it had to face.
Some
developing nations have become remarkably _____, using aid from other countries
to build successful industries.
Although
the critics agreed that the book was brilliant, so few copies were sold that
the work brought the author little _____ reward.
The
plot of this story is so _____ that I can predict the outcome.
Now, try these “double blank” sentences:
Although they are _____ by traps, poison, and
shotguns, predators _____ to feast on flocks of sheep.
As
a scientist, Leonardo da Vinci was capable of _____,
but his mistakes are remarkably few in light of his _____.
Known
for his commitment to numerous worthy causes, the philanthropist deserved _____
for his _____.
As
a girl, Emily Dickenson was _____, but also _____; extraordinarily intense
about her poetry, yet exceptionally inhibited socially.
Surprisingly,
it is more difficult to write about the _____ than about the _____ and strange.
While
the _____ student openly questioned the teacher’s explanation, she was not so
_____ as to suggest that the teacher was wrong.
DON’T TURN THIS PAPER OVER UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO!
Physical
laws do not, of course, force bodies to behave in a certain way, but merely
_____ how they do, in fact, behave.
A.
determine
B.
preclude
C.
counteract
D.
describe
E.
commend
The
psychologist set up the experiment to test the rat’s _____; he wanted to see
how well the rat adjusted to the changing conditions it had to face.
A.
reflexes
B.
communicability
C.
stamina
D.
sociability
E.
adaptability
A.
a reticent
B.
a stately
C.
an inspiring
D.
an introspective
E.
a communicative
Some
developing nations have become remarkably _____, using aid from other countries
to build successful industries.
A.
populous
B.
dry
C.
warlike
D.
prosperous
E.
isolated
Although
the critics agreed that the book was brilliant, so few copies were sold that
the work brought the author little _____ reward.
A.
theoretical
B.
thoughtful
C.
financial
D.
abstract
E.
informative
The
plot of this story is so _____ that I can predict the outcome.
A.
intricate
B.
theoretical
C.
pivotal
D.
trite
E.
fictitious
Although they are _____ by traps, poison, and
shotguns, predators _____ to feast on flocks of sheep.
A.
lured…refuse
B.
destroyed…cease
C.
impeded…continue
D.
encouraged…attempt
E.
harmed…hesitate
As
a scientist, Leonardo da Vinci was capable of _____,
but his mistakes are remarkably few in light of his _____.
A.
error…accomplishments
B.
artistry…failures
C.
genius…works
D.
trivia…lapses
E.
innovation…achievements
Known
for his commitment to numerous worthy causes, the philanthropist deserved _____
for his _____.
A.
recognition…folly
B.
blame…hypocrisy
C.
reward…modesty
D.
admonishment…wastefulness
E.
credit…altruism
As
a girl, Emily Dickenson was _____, but also _____; extraordinarily intense
about her poetry, yet exceptionally inhibited socially.
A.
zealous…gregarious
B.
ardent…repressed
C.
prudent…reserved
D.
rash…intuitive
E.
impulsive…dedicated
Surprisingly,
it is more difficult to write about the _____ than about the _____ and strange.
A.
specific…foreign
B.
abstract…prosaic
C.
commonplace…exotic
D.
simple…routine
E.
ludicrous…dejected
While
the _____ student openly questioned the teacher’s explanation, she was not so
_____ as to suggest that the teacher was wrong.
A.
complacent…suspicious
B.
inquisitive…imprudent
C.
curious…dispassionate
D.
provocative…disrespectful
E.
ineffectual…brazen
Now, your job… Start today on a
piece of paper; it’s homework if you don’t finish in class.
Look over your vocabulary lists, and make TEN sentence completion questions for a classmate to complete. Make the sentence, with the blank or blanks, and list five possible correct answers. Only one answer will be correct. An example:
The plot of this story is so
_____ that I can predict the outcome.
A. captious B. affable C. trite
D. arrogant E. garrulous