Vocabulary
Sentence Completion
Grammar
Improving Sentences
Test-Taking Strategies
100
disruptive
What is causing disorder or interrupting?
100
The professor's oldest colleague was selected to give the __________ at the funeral. a) eulogy b) elegy c) epigraph d) eponymy e) epitaph
What is (a) eulogy?
100
This is the type of grammar error found in the following sentence: Much of the success of Frank Capra and George Stevens as a director of motion pictures can be attributed to the technical work of talented film editors.
What is agreement in number (should be "as directors")?
100
Mr. Chung would like to retire, but retirement is unable to be afforded by him. a) Mr. Chung would like to retire, but retirement is unable to be afforded by him. b) Mr. Chung would like to retire, but he cannot afford to do so. c) Mr. Chung would like to retire, but he is unable to afford that. d) Retirement is what Mr. Chung would like to do, but he cannot afford it. e) Retirement appeals to Mr. Chung, but he cannot afford stopping working.
What is (b) Mr. Chung would like to retire, but he cannot afford to do so.?
100
This is the total cumulative number of points that you can gain on the SAT Essay rubric.
What is 12?
200
synonym of assiduous
What is diligent?
200
By the end of the campaign both candidates had resorted to ______________ the other. a) commending b) denigrating c) mollifying d) conceding e) swindling
What is (b) denigrating?
200
This is the type of grammar error found in the following sentence: It was fortunate that Ms. Seward attended the committee meeting, for only she was able to examine the problem calm and thoughtfully.
What is faulty parallelism (should be "calmly")?
200
The Usuri tiger, a relative of the Bengal tiger, has been described as [the strongest tiger and also the most peaceful of them.] a) the strongest tiger and also the most peaceful of them. b) not only the strongest tiger, but also more peaceful than any. c) the strongest tiger at the same time as it is the most peaceful tiger. d) at once the strongest and also the most peaceful of them. e) the strongest and yet the most peaceful of tigers.
What is (e) the strongest and yet the most peaceful of tigers?
200
This is the name of the method that you should use when you have a sentence-completion question with a pair of words.
What is the one-blank-at-a-time method?
300
To relieve, lessen, or mitigate?
What is assuage or mitigate?
300
The life of a lightening bug is _____________ to human eyes: they live only twenty-four hours. a) ludicrous b) ephemeral c) epic d) ecstatic e) incandescent
What is (b) ephemeral?
300
This is the type of grammar error found in the following sentence: My colleague and myself received an award for our paper on the accuracy with which a polygraph measures physiological processes.
What is pronoun issues (should be "My colleague and I"; rule: when in doubt, knock the other one out)?
300
Great literature, such as the Greek tragedies or the novels of Jane Austen, endures [by their speaking directly and freshly] to each new generation of readers. a) by their speaking directly and freshly b) by its speaking direct and fresh c) because it speaks directly and freshly d) because of speaking direct and fresh e) since they speak with directness and freshness
What is c) because it speaks directly and freshly?
300
Once you've identified the connector in the sentence completion question, look for the part of the sentence WITHOUT the blank for this type of word, which the blank must be similar or contrary to.
What is a clue word?
400
Enigmatic
What is mysterious, puzzling?
400
Alston was impressed by the philosopher's lecture, but Mario thought the lecture was better characterized as ______________ than as erudite. a) translucent b) recondite c) impeccable d) specious e) fictitious
What is (d) specious?
400
This is the type of grammar error found in the following sentence: In the United States, the industrial use of plastics are greater than steel, aluminum, and copper combined.
What is subject/verb agreement (should be "the industrial use of plastics is greater...)?
400
[Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist, whose renown as a pioneer] in the field of psychoanalysis almost equals that of Sigmund Freud. a) Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist, whose renown as a pioneer b) Carl Jung, who was a Swiss psychologist and whose renown as a pioneer c) A Swiss with renown as a psychological pioneer, Carl Jung d) Carl Jung was a Swiss psychologist whose renown as a pioneer e) A Swiss, Carl Jung who was a psychological pioneer and whose renown
What is (d) Carl Jung was a Swiss psychologist whose renown as a pioneer?
400
In a passage-based reading question, this is a 3-part strategy used to eliminate wrong answers.
What is: Is the choice mentioned in the passage? Is it true according to the passage? Does the choice answer the question asked?
500
Aesthetic
What is having to do with a sense of beauty?
500
The executive charged that the whistle-blower's actions were so self-centered that they were not just ________ but even ________. a) self-involved...altruistic b) ill-tempered...narcissitic c) egocentric...solipsistic d) unduly...respectable e) erratic...destructive
What is (e) erratic...destructive?
500
This is the type of grammar error found in the following sentence: As a student becomes familiar with both early and contemporary Native American literature, one may notice that traditional stories have influenced recent ones.
What is pronoun agreement (should be "he/she many notice..."; rule: any singular noun ==> he/she/it)?
500
Readers of the novice writer's recent book have said that it is at once frustrating because of its chaotic structure [but its originality is still a delight.] a) but its originality is still a delight b) although it is delightfully original c) and it is delightfully in its originality d) while being so original as to delight them e) and delightful because of its originality
What is (e) and delightful because of its originality?
500
This is the recommended sequence in approaching a series of passage-based reading questions. Hint: There are four steps.
What is 1) read the italicized introduction, 2) read the questions and mark line-numbers in passage, 3) do line-number questions, and 4) do general questions?
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