SAT Sentence Completion: Test 2

NOTE: The new SAT 2016 no longer has these questions. Click here for our updated SAT Reading practice questions.

Directions: Each sentence completion practice question has either one or two blanks where words have been omitted. Below each question there are five words or sets of words labled A through E. You will need to choose the word or words that best fits the meaning of the entire sentence. This SAT sentence completion practice test is designed to test your vocabulary as well as your reading comprehension.

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Question 1
Heeding the small craft warning transmitted over the radio, the captain of the motorboat turned back from the fishing ------- due to ------- weather conditions.

A
foray…pristine
B
trip…positive
C
expedition…adverse
D
exploits…defensive
E
advent…hurricane
Question 1 Explanation: 
Expedition means a journey or voyage. Adverse means harmful or unfavorable. Since the captain is turning back the conditions must be unfavorable. Hurricane would also be unfavorable, but the word Advent doesn't fit at all.
Question 2
Because the sail was made of many yards of material, when it fell down, the sailor was enveloped in its ------- folds.

A
abbreviated
B
scanty
C
taut
D
voluminous
E
cacophonous
Question 2 Explanation: 
Voluminous means large in volume. Since it had "many yards of material", voluminous is the only answer that works.
Question 3
Prone to depression and generally having a grave rather than a smiling -------, President Lincoln was perceived to be ------- at times.

A
countenance…lugubrious
B
aspect…bubbly
C
demeanor…vivacious
D
glower…menacing
E
prospect…incomprehensible
Question 3 Explanation: 
Countenance means a person's facial expression. Lugubrious means mournful or gloomy. Demeanor would also be a good fit for the first blank, but vivacious doesn't match with the grave look on his face.
Question 4
After the death in the renowned family, the mistress of the household thanked the reporters for their ------- at the funeral.

A
boisterousness
B
indiscretion
C
paucity
D
unobtrusiveness
E
turbulence
Question 4 Explanation: 
Unobtrusiveness means inconspicuous, or not sticking out in an unwelcome way. This would be the respectful way for reporters to behave at a funeral, and since she is thanking them, this answer makes the most sense.
Question 5
Once the professor had ------- his criticism of her paper with some praise, the student felt -------.

A
ameliorated…reviled
B
mitigated…mollified
C
tempered…abused
D
heightened…justified
E
intensified…vilified
Question 5 Explanation: 
Mitigated means made less severe. Mollified means soothed or calmed in temper. Ameliorated, mitigated, or tempered would fit for the first blank. But since the professor is providing some praise, the student would not feel reviled or abused.
Question 6
The ------- of some American brand names is understood when a person encounters the products in far-flung places in the world with little ------- to the United States.

A
universality…distance
B
ubiquity…proximity
C
unpopularity…resemblance
D
anonymity…propinquity
E
dearth…adjacency
Question 6 Explanation: 
Ubiquity means presence everywhere at the same time. Proximity means closeness, or the state of being near. Universality or ubiquity work for the first blank, but "little distance" would not fit with "far-flung places."
Question 7
With a mixture of good and bad traits, “Devil” Anse Hatfield is depicted in the History Channel mini-series “The Hatfields and the McCoys” as having some ------- as well as some ------- in his character.

A
malignance…wickedness
B
benignity…graciousness
C
malfeasance…comeuppance
D
benevolence…malevolence
E
revenge…vengeance
Question 7 Explanation: 
Benevolence means a desire to do good to others. Malevolence means showing spite or hatred. This is the only answer that includes one good trait and one bad trait.
Question 8
Many fine artists, singers, composers, and writers have pursued their crafts in ------- because of a lack of opportunities and marketing skills.

A
obscurity
B
obsequiousness
C
public
D
obstreperousness
E
publicity
Question 8 Explanation: 
Obscurity means the state of being unknown. If they lack opportunites and marketing skills then they are probably unknown.
Question 9
The municipality faced ------- due to state budget cuts and its own ------- spending.

A
bankruptcy…abstemious
B
ruin…parsimonious
C
insolvency…profligate
D
prosperity…stringent
E
abundance…miserly
Question 9 Explanation: 
Insolvency means a lack of financial resources. Profligate means extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources. Since state budget cuts were one of the reasons, we know that the municipality has a financial problem. So bankruptcy, ruin, or insolvency would work. For the second blank, profligate spending is the only option which would contribute to financial problems.
Question 10
To ------- whether the obscure painting auctioned off at Christie’s was an undiscovered work by Leonardo da Vinci, specialists from many different fields employed their -------.

A
discern…expertise
B
determine…amateurishness
C
describe…logic
D
demonstrate…exploits
E
judge…jurisprudence
Question 10 Explanation: 
Discern means to recognize. Expertise means expert skill or knowledge. The options for the first blank all fit except for describe. For the second blank, expertise is the best fit for the skills needed to analyze an obscure painting.
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