LC2 10-04 p32 SAT FC
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SAT/ACT/
PSAT>>
Filling in the Blanks
LC GIVES YOU A FOOLPROOF METHOD FOR FINDING THE RIGHT ANSWERS
ON SAT SENTENCE COMPLETIONS
The four steps for sentence completions are:
1. Read the sentence and identify clues.
2. Predict the word that will fit in the blank.
3. Select the answer that best matches
your prediction.
4. Read the sentence with your selected answer.
1
READING THE SENTENCE
Take your time reading the sentence itself so
that the choices don’t cloud your judgment. In
addition to reading for the general meaning of the sentence, you should also read for
structure. Both the punctuation marks and certain key
words can give you clues as
to the meaning of the word
that fits into the blank.
Words and phrases like and,
as, furthermore, and in addition indicate continuity. A sentence that uses one
of these words usually expresses one main idea, so the
missing word will be consistent with the tone and
meaning of the rest of the sentence.
On the other hand, words like but, although, despite,
while, and however indicate contrast. These words are
like hinges that form the transition from one thought to
another. If a sentence starts out positive and then you
see a transition word, you can bet that the second half of
it will have a negative connotation.
A third set of words and phrases implies conse-
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OCTOBER 2004 Literary Cavalcade
quence. Because, so, as a result, after, therefore, and
hence are all words that indicate a cause-and-effect
relationship. When you encounter these words in a sentence, you will need to ensure that your answer choice fits
logically into the relationship described.
2
PREDICTING THE ANSWER
Once you understand the meaning
and structure of the sentence, you
can predict the answer. For example, in
the sentence “As a former beauty
queen, Mary had an exceptionally ____
smile,” you can guess that whatever
word fits in the blank will be a synonym
for “pretty.”
3
SELECTING AN ANSWER
As you tick through the answers, eliminate
those that do not match your predicted meaning. If none of the answers matches your prediction,
then it may be off. Go back to the sentence and see if
there are clues you have missed, or words
that you misinterpreted.
4
REPLAY
Once you’ve settled on an answer,
don’t just circle it! Take a second to read the sentence back to
yourself with your answer inserted in
the blank.
ONE BLANK AT A TIME
Some sentence completions on the SAT contain two
blanks. The best way to deal with these questions is to
deal with one blank at a time. Predict the answer for
that one blank, and look for the choices that contain a
word that matches your prediction. Eliminate the
choices that don’t match. Then, predict the answer for
the other blank and look at your remaining choices for
a match.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ELWOOD SMITH
A
lthough the new SAT no longer
includes analogies, sentence completions remain. These verbal puzzles
can be baffling at times, but LC’s
simple four-step method makes the
sentences—and their answers—clear.
The key is to approach each sentence with the same
logic and not to let your personal opinions creep into
your answer-selection process.
LC2 10-04 p32-33 SAT FC
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Page 3
SAT QUIZ
PRACTICE THE FOUR-STEP METHOD ON THESE SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. Computer technology _______ so quickly
that most consumers and laypeople have a
hard time staying abreast of it.
(A) regresses
(B) transforms
(C) outpaces
(D) advances
(E) grows
6. After the great stock-market crash of
1929, businessmen who had once been
_______ became ______.
(A) rich, unhappy
(B) wealthy, indigent
(C) poor, desperate
(D) destitute, successful
(E) passionate, penurious
2. Because today’s car buyers are looking for
maximum style at minimum cost, automotive companies must _______ these competing qualities as they develop new cars.
(A) consider
(B) deliver
(C) balance
(D) necessitate
(E) dissipate
7. Emerging economies like China’s have
boomed in productivity over the past 50
years, but still face a great challenge in
building the infrastructure required to
_______ their growth.
(A) sustain
(B) facilitate
(C) spur
(D) slow
(E) preempt
3. After a large influx of immigrants threatened to _______ public resources, the government _______ restrictions for foreigners
seeking residency.
(A) overrun, tightened
(B) overwhelm, loosened
(C) impose, revised
(D) outweigh, relaxed
(E) overhaul, outstripped
4. Although best known for pasta, Italian cuisine also _______ an artisanal tradition of
preparing and curing meat.
(A) possesses
(B) denies
(C) resolves
(D) boasts
(E) develops
5. While the _______ of Congress are not
visible to the average citizen, they have a
_______ impact on citizens’ lives.
(A) politics, negligible
(B) workings, disastrous
(C) sessions, positive
(D) members, notorious
(E) machinations, significant
8. Although _______ as the miracle drug of the
century, the new cancer treatment actually
produced terrible side effects and had only
_______ rates of success with patients.
(A) promoted, finite
(B) heralded, outstanding
(C) touted, marginal
(D) decried, limited
(E) produced, advertised
Fill in your answers here.
1
A
B
C
D
E
2
A
B
C
D
E
3
A
B
C
D
E
4
A
B
C
D
E
5
A
B
C
D
E
6
A
B
C
D
E
7
A
B
C
D
E
8
A
B
C
D
E
Literary Cavalcade OCTOBER 2004
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