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●Sentence Completion 28 (low-advanced SAT level)
Directions: Choose the best word(s) to complete each sentence.
1. Though of substantial import to the small
and ______ field of experimental physics,
the scientist holds a more ______
position in society as a whole, which
explains why he is not a household name
like Einstein.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
immediate ... momentous
specific ... obscure
localized ... abundant
general ... nebulous
definite ... manifold
2. It was not difficult for the obsequious
underling to ______ his boss into giving
him a promotion, since his boss was
highly susceptible to flattery.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
browbeat
engender
acquire
cajole
hustle
3. The employees found it easy to ignore
their boss when she digressed into her
______ rants during every meeting, but
they often found it hard to focus again
when she returned to her original topic.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
tangential
abnormal
esoteric
outspoken
didactic
4. The habitually ______ Lucinda surprised
everyone at the party by being rather
verbose.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
bombastic
aloof
loquacious
circumlocutory
laconic
5. The author provides keen insight into the
history of Protestantism in American
culture; her ______ observations help
underscore her point about the
pervasiveness of the religious movement
in American history.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
amateurish
floundering
trenchant
opaque
obtuse
6. Because James Dean’s film characters
were always ______ rebels, he was seen
as the embodiment of a new type of
American youth, one who was unruly and
disdainful of authority.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
recalcitrant
subservient
histrionic
toadyish
obeisant
Answers and Explanations
1) B
To figure out what the missing words are, try to predict their definitions by using
key words from the prompt. In this prompt, each missing word has its own key
word, and both key words are in different clauses from the missing words. The
prompt as a whole relies on a contradictory relationship with the first clause
presenting contrasting information from the second, so the key words for both
missing words are in the opposite clauses and have opposite meanings of those
of the missing words. Thus, the first missing word relies on the word “small.” Both
this word and the first missing word define the size of the field in which the
scientist has relative levels of import. The second missing word’s key word is
“substantial,” which, like the missing word, describes the relative import or
position of the scientist. Since the scientist is only famous in a small field, he
must not be well known to “society as a whole.” Thus, choice (B) is the right
answer, as specific means of a particular kind and obscure means not unknown
or hidden.
(A) is incorrect because neither word works in context. Immediate means of the
moment and does not relate to the idea of a certain field of physics, while
momentous means of great consequence, though the prompt implies that the
scientist is not important in the grand scheme of things.
(C) is incorrect because only the first word works in context. Localized means
confined to a specific area and could work in context to describe the field in
which the scientist’s import is “substantial.” However, abundant means richly
supplied, something that does not describe the scientist’s position in the grand
scheme of things.
(D) is incorrect because only the second word works in context. Nebulous means
vague or unclear and could work to describe the scientist’s import in the grand
scheme of things, but general means referring to most or all things. The field in
which the scientist is important is “small” and not part of “society as a whole,” so
he is not well known in general.
(E) is incorrect because only the first word works in context. Definite means
confined to a specific position, a phrase that could describe the “small” “field of
experimental physics,” but manifold means numerous and varied and, as such,
could not possibly describe the scientist’s relative import to society as a whole.
2) D
To figure out what the missing word is, try to predict its definition by using key
words from the prompt. Here, the key words are “obsequious” and “flattery.” The
first word describes the underling himself, while the second word explains how
the underling got the promotion—he got the promotion by using “flattery.” The
missing word likewise describes how he got the promotion and so must also
mean flattery, something an obsequious sort would be used to giving. Thus,
choice (D) is the correct answer, as cajole means to persuade by flattery.
(A) is incorrect because browbeat means intimidate by bullying, and the prompt
implies that the underling used the very opposite tactics to get his promotion. He
used flattery, not threats.
(B) is incorrect because engender means produce or cause. While this could
theoretically describe what the underling did to win his promotion, it does not
capture the fact that the employee used “flattery.”
(C) is incorrect because acquire means earn or get and in context would imply
that the underling earned “his boss,” not his promotion. Moreover, the prompt
implies that the underling did not really earn a promotion, as the employee
instead resorted to “flattery.”
(E) is incorrect because hustle means to be aggressive or pushy, and the prompt
implies that the employee was the opposite, using “flattery” to get ahead rather
than aggression.
3) A
To figure out what the missing word is, try to predict its definition by using key
words from the prompt. Here, the key word is “digressed,” a verb that describes
how the boss began her “rants.” Her “rants,” then, must be off topic, an idea
further proven by her return “to her original topic” later. The missing word is an
adjective describing her rants, so it must be a word meaning discursive or off
topic. Choice (A) provides such a word: tangential means divergent or digressive.
(B) is incorrect because abnormal means uncommon, but the prompt implies that
the boss “digressed” into her “rants” in “every meeting,” implying that it happened
all the time.
(C) is incorrect because esoteric means understood by a select few. Though the
prompt makes it clear that the employees did not feel the need to listen to the
boss after she “digressed” into one of her “rants,” the prompt suggests that this
was because they were digressions, not because the employees could not
understand them.
(D) is incorrect because outspoken means expressed with frankness. While the
boss may have been frank in her views, the prompt does not give enough
evidence to support this, as all it states about her views is that they were “rants”
and “digressions” from the main topic.
(E) is incorrect because didactic means intended for instruction. The prompt does
refer to a meeting that may have been for the purposes of instruction, but the
prompt refers to the boss’s speeches as “rants” that were not the “original topic”
of the meetings, implying that they were not really part of the main course of
instruction.
4) E
To figure out what the missing word is, try to predict its definition by using key
words from the prompt. Here, the key words are “verbose.” The fact that she was
verbose “surprised” people at the party, so she must usually have been the
opposite of verbose. If she was usually verbose, it would not be a surprise for her
to be talkative during the party. The correct answer is, therefore, choice (E), as
laconic means concise or using few words.
(A) is incorrect because bombastic means pretentious in tone. The prompt states
that it was surprising for Lucinda to be “verbose” and use many words, but it
does not suggest that she usually sounds pretentious.
(B) is incorrect because aloof means standoffish or held at a distance. The
prompt states that it was surprising for Lucinda to be “verbose,” but it does not
imply that she is usually unfriendly or standoffish. There is not enough
information in the prompt to support such an interpretation.
(C) is incorrect because loquacious means extremely talkative. If she were
“habitually” talkative, Lucinda would not have surprised anyone at the party by
being “verbose.”
(D) is incorrect because circumlocutory means indirect in speech. Indirect speech
is typically similar to “verbose” speech, as both involve using too many words to
express an idea. Thus, if Lucinda were “habitually” circumlocutory, she would not
have surprised anyone at the party by being “verbose.”
5) C
To figure out what the missing word is, try to predict its definition by using key
words from the prompt. This prompt hinges on a semicolon, and semicolons are
used to separate two related but independent sentences. Thus, the key word for
the missing word is found in the first clause. “Keen” is the key word, because like
the missing word, it describes the author’s “observations” and “insight.” Both of
these words refer to the same arguments and information presented by the
author. Thus, the missing word is one that means keen, and choice (C) is correct,
as trenchant means keen or incisive.
(A) is incorrect because amateurish means similar to something done by a nonprofessional and is, as such, not something that would describe the
“observations” made by one who provided a “keen insight.”
(B) is incorrect because floundering means struggling clumsily and is, as such,
not something that would describe the “observations” made by one who provided
“keen insight.”
(D) is incorrect because opaque means not transparent. It would imply that the
writer’s observations were not easy to understand, though there is no evidence in
the prompt to suggest this.
(E) is incorrect because obtuse means not sharp or keen. It is, thus, the opposite
meaning of the missing word, as the missing word must mean something akin to
“keen.”
6) A
To figure out what the missing word is, try to predict its definition by using key
words from the prompt. Here, the key words are “unruly and disdainful of
authority.” This phrase is used to describe the new type of youth Dean’s
characters embodied. The missing word describes the “rebels” played by Dean,
so the missing word must also mean unruly and disdainful of authority, as his
“rebels” were the “embodiment” of the unruly youth. Therefore, choice (A) is
correct, since recalcitrant means disobedient and resistant toward authority.
(B) is incorrect because subservient means servile, the very opposite of a
character who is the “embodiment” of an “unruly” individual.
(C) is incorrect because histrionic means overly emotional, especially for an
actor. It could, perhaps, describe Dean himself but not the characters he played.
(D) is incorrect because toadyish means obsequious or sycophantic. It would
imply that James Dean’s characters strove hard to please authority figures, but
the prompt implies the opposite, as his characters were the embodiment of one
who was “disdainful of authority.”
(E) is incorrect because obeisant means respectful, the very opposite of a
character who is the “embodiment” of one who is “disdainful of authority.”