Sentence Sentence CompletionCompletion

*Critical Reading (Reading Comprehension)*Critical Reading (Reading Comprehension)

Section of Section of SATSAT

Ms. AmorinMs. Amorin

How is How is sentence completionsentence completion formatted?formatted?

A sentence with either A sentence with either one wordone word OR OR two wordstwo words missing missing from the sentencefrom the sentence

Desiring to ____ his chatty children, Mitch gave them taffy in hopes it Desiring to ____ his chatty children, Mitch gave them taffy in hopes it would keep their mouths shut.would keep their mouths shut.

A. eliminate B. satisfy C. overcomeA. eliminate B. satisfy C. overcome

D. ridicule E. silenceD. ridicule E. silence

While the ____ student openly questioned the teacher’s explanation, While the ____ student openly questioned the teacher’s explanation, she was not so _____ as to suggest that the teacher was wrong.she was not so _____ as to suggest that the teacher was wrong.

A. complacent…suspicious B. inquisitive…imprudentA. complacent…suspicious B. inquisitive…imprudent

C. curious… dispassionate D. provocative…respectfulC. curious… dispassionate D. provocative…respectful

E. ineffectual… brazenE. ineffectual… brazen

How is the How is the sentence completionsentence completion section divided up on the SAT?section divided up on the SAT?

Questions are arranged in groups of Questions are arranged in groups of fivefive, , sixsix, and , and eight eight sentencessentences

- Questions usually go in order of difficulty:Questions usually go in order of difficulty:- First third are the easiest and last third are the First third are the easiest and last third are the

most difficultmost difficult

Strategies to assist with Strategies to assist with sentence sentence completioncompletion

Strategy #1Strategy #1

Read the sentence carefullyRead the sentence carefully without without looking at the answer choices.looking at the answer choices.

Get an idea as to what the Get an idea as to what the TOPIC*TOPIC* is is aboutabout

Strategy #2Strategy #2

Re-read the sentence and Re-read the sentence and come up with come up with a worda word that makes sense (your “own that makes sense (your “own word”) word”) to insert in the blankto insert in the blank

Look at the answer choices to see if any of Look at the answer choices to see if any of the choices are similar to “your own word”the choices are similar to “your own word”

Strategy #3Strategy #3

Review Review answer choicesanswer choices

Read the sentence and insert each Read the sentence and insert each ‘word’ in the blank‘word’ in the blank

Read ALL answer choices Read ALL answer choices

Strategy #4-Strategy #4- Trigger wordsTrigger words

CLUES-----------------CLUES-----------------

Be aware of Be aware of negatives negatives in sentencein sentence

Ex.) not, no, non-, un-, dis-, none, in-Ex.) not, no, non-, un-, dis-, none, in-

Negatives Negatives cont…..cont…..

The damage to the car was The damage to the car was ininsignificant.significant.(“Don’t worry about it; it’s just a scratch”)(“Don’t worry about it; it’s just a scratch”)

The damage to the car was The damage to the car was notnot ininsignificant.significant.(“Oh no, Bart! We totaled mom’s(“Oh no, Bart! We totaled mom’s car!”)car!”)

NoteNote: The use of a : The use of a negativenegative word or prefix can word or prefix can change the meaning of the sentencechange the meaning of the sentence

Example Example sentence completionsentence completion with with negativesnegatives

Madison was Madison was notnot ______ person ______ person and and thus made few public addresses: thus made few public addresses: but but those she made were memorable those she made were memorable andand filled with noble phrases.filled with noble phrases.

A.A. a reticent a reticent B.B. a stately a stately CC.. an inspiring an inspiring

D.D. a meticulous a meticulous E.E. a communicative a communicative

Strategy #5 - Strategy #5 - Trigger wordsTrigger words

Pay attention to Pay attention to comparison comparison wordswords

andand, also, besides, for example, likewise, , also, besides, for example, likewise, furthermore, in addition, moreover, in other furthermore, in addition, moreover, in other words, etc…words, etc…

Example sentence with Example sentence with comparisoncomparison words words

During the Middle Ages, plague During the Middle Ages, plague andand other other _______ decimated the populations of _______ decimated the populations of entire towns.entire towns.

A. pestilencesA. pestilences B. immunizationsB. immunizations

C. tendencies D. C. tendencies D. inindispositions E. demisesdispositions E. demises

Strategy #6 Strategy #6 Trigger wordsTrigger words

Note Note contrast/ oppositecontrast/ opposite words-- words--

but, however, yet, although, except, not, nor, but, however, yet, although, except, not, nor, in contrast, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless, on the other hand, rather than, even though, despite, etc…rather than, even though, despite, etc…

Such words can change the meaning of the Such words can change the meaning of the sentence.sentence.

Example sentence completion with Example sentence completion with contrast contrast wordswords

In sharp In sharp contrastcontrast to the previous night’s to the previous night’s revelry, the wedding was _____ affair.revelry, the wedding was _____ affair.

A. a ferventA. a fervent B. a dignifiedB. a dignified

C. A chaoticC. A chaotic D. an ingeniousD. an ingenious

E. a jubilantE. a jubilant

Strategy #7- Strategy #7- Trigger wordsTrigger words

Pay attention to Pay attention to cause/ effectcause/ effect words words

because, consequently, therefore, thus, as a because, consequently, therefore, thus, as a resultresult

Example sentence completion with Example sentence completion with cause/ effectcause/ effect wordswords

Margot studied veraciously for the SAT Margot studied veraciously for the SAT and and as a resultas a result, her score was shown to , her score was shown to have been _______.have been _______.

A. improvedA. improved B. dissatisfying C. B. dissatisfying C. strenuousstrenuous

D. obscure E. ephemeralD. obscure E. ephemeral

Strategy #8Strategy #8

Use Use context cluescontext clues to assist with understanding to assist with understanding the sentence and answer choices.the sentence and answer choices.

What is the subject of the sentence?What is the subject of the sentence? What is the “blank” talking about>What is the “blank” talking about>

Ex.) Shaquille O’Neal is such a physically Ex.) Shaquille O’Neal is such a physically intimidating basketball player that his opponents intimidating basketball player that his opponents focus on his ____ and thus underestimate his focus on his ____ and thus underestimate his surprising quickness. surprising quickness.

PRACTICE TIME!!!!!PRACTICE TIME!!!!!Keep strategies in mind!Keep strategies in mind!

Even though it is a dead language, rather than fading away, Latin is now being _______.

A. forgottenB. excavatedC. mortifiedD. revitalizedE. revealed

Sentence CompletionSentence Completion PRACTICE PRACTICE NOTE: Use NOTE: Use contextcontext clues! clues! What is the sentence referring to and who is it directed to?What is the sentence referring to and who is it directed to?

The opportunist woman told the man, “You’re The opportunist woman told the man, “You’re very _____.”very _____.”

A. rich B. correct C. preposterous A. rich B. correct C. preposterous

D. cloistered E. sickD. cloistered E. sick

The doctor told that man, “You’re very ______.”The doctor told that man, “You’re very ______.” A. rich B. correct C. preposterousA. rich B. correct C. preposterous

D. cloistered E. sickD. cloistered E. sick

pg. 42- pg. 42- SAT PR textSAT PR text

Sentence CompletionSentence Completion PRACTICE PRACTICE

Lavender has a ______ effect; its aroma Lavender has a ______ effect; its aroma alleviates tension and anxiety.alleviates tension and anxiety.

A. fragrantA. fragrant

B. joyousB. joyous

C. iridescentC. iridescent

D. soothingD. soothing

E. painfulE. painful

pg. 43- SAT PR pg. 43- SAT PR

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Sentence CompletionSentence Completion PRACTICE PRACTICE

Some developing nations have become Some developing nations have become remarkably _____, using aid from other remarkably _____, using aid from other countries to build successful industries.countries to build successful industries.A. populousA. populousB. dryB. dryC. warlikeC. warlikeD. prosperousD. prosperousE. isolatedE. isolated

pg. 44- pg. 44- SAT PR textSAT PR text

Sentence CompletionSentence Completion PRACTICE PRACTICE

Because theaters refused to show it when it Because theaters refused to show it when it first released, first released, Citizen Kane Citizen Kane was was _____ _____ failure, though now it is considered one of failure, though now it is considered one of the greatest American films ever made.the greatest American films ever made.A. a revolutionaryA. a revolutionaryB. a personalB. a personalC. a commercialC. a commercialD. an aestheticD. an aestheticE. a perennialE. a perennial

Pg. 48_ Pg. 48_ PR SAT textPR SAT text

Sentence CompletionSentence Completion PRACTICE PRACTICE

Most of Rick’s friends think his life is Most of Rick’s friends think his life is unbelievably _____, but in fact he spends unbelievably _____, but in fact he spends most of his time on ______ activities.most of his time on ______ activities.A. fruitful…. productiveA. fruitful…. productiveB. wasteful… uselessB. wasteful… uselessC. scintillating… mundaneC. scintillating… mundaneD. varied … sportiveD. varied … sportiveE. callow… simpleE. callow… simple

pg. 51- PR pg. 51- PR SAT TextSAT Text

Remember the strategies!Remember the strategies!

Good Luck! Good Luck! Fortune Favors the BoldFortune Favors the Bold..

CHS mottoCHS motto